How to make your home cozy on a budget
Struggling to make your home cozy and relaxing on a budget? This post is for you.
I’ve been watching influencers for years redoing their homes over and over again. Their wordrobes, their offices, and I am always shocked how you can just rip perfectly new floors and cabinets, just because you want a different color or style.
What happened to using things until they break down, or repurposing them, painting them? What would happen if we all decided to just buy and throw away perfectly good and new furniture just because the color isn’t trendy anymore?
This post is not going to be about spending more money or new things. It’s about how you can use small items to make your home more relaxing and more welcoming.
What’s my home like?
For me, as a parent, my home is never going to be Instagram-perfect. There are toys, pens, and books everywhere, and I have to tidy it up every single day.
The quiet moments are short-lived and often replaced by the sounds of kids playing, laughing, and arguing.
When the house is quiet during school hours, I try to focus and get as much work done as possible.
Creating a relaxing atmosphere at home doesn’t require a big budget or a complete makeover.
In fact, the purpose of this post isn’t to encourage you to buy more things. It’s to inspire you to see your home with fresh eyes. Small tweaks, like adding a plant, introducing a soft cushion to your favorite chair, or rearranging items to create a sense of harmony, can make a big difference.
Ultimately, your home should feel like a place that you really enjoy spending time in.
How to make your home cozy on a budget?
Here are several steps you can take to make your home more cozy on a budget and instantly feel calmer and relaxed as you come back from work.
Step 1: Declutter your home
The first and most important step to creating a peaceful home is to declutter your rooms. That means no hiding boxes or bags behind doors, no laundry baskets piling up in the corner, and no cluttered tables or countertops.
A clean, open space has the power to instantly make your home feel calmer.
Let’s be honest, it’s hard to feel relaxed or focused when you’re surrounded by piles of stuff. Toys, books, random knick-knacks, and all the little things that tend to accumulate can quickly overwhelm both your space and your mind.
The key to decluttering is to give everything you own a proper place. If you find items you haven’t used in months or don’t genuinely need, it might be time to let them go. Donate, recycle, or toss them. Be ruthless, it’s all about keeping only what serves you.
A clutter-free space doesn’t just look better. It feels better. When your surroundings are clean and organized, your mind naturally becomes calmer and more focused. And you don’t need fancy storage solutions or new furniture to fit all your things.
What you need is fewer things in the first place. Simplify your space, and you will be surprised how much relief that brings into your life.
I struggled with my cluttered and messy home for years. Kids’ toys, papers, you name it, everything was always everywhere around the house.
But this year, things have changed. I introduced a very important habit of doing small cleaning-up tasks during the week.
I talk more about it in my post A simple weekend routine for a stress-free week. But by cleaning every day for small bursts of time, I keep my house organized, and I no longer waste my weekends.
Step 2: Add plants to your home
Bringing a touch of nature into your home is one of the simplest and most effective ways to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere. A few carefully chosen plants in each room can make a world of difference.
Green is a naturally soothing color that promotes a sense of peace and balance. I really like spaces with a lot of plants. Somehow they bring every room to life.
And make you feel more relaxed.
If you’re someone who travels often or struggles to keep plants alive, choose more low-maintenance plants. Snake plants, for example, are a great choice. Not only are they incredibly easy to grow, but they also come with a host of health benefits. Snake plants can filter indoor air and even boost your mental health by creating a more tranquil space.
The beauty of adding plants to your home is that they’re versatile and adaptable. From small succulents on a windowsill to a larger statement plant in the corner of your living room, there’s something for every space and lifestyle.
I have several plants in my living room: Ficus Microcarpa, Maranatha, and Chlorophytum. I adore them, and they add some nature to my home in the gummy winter months. In the summer, I place the largest plant on my balcony.
In my bedroom, I have one large Sansevieria. It is a great plant, very resilient, and I forget about it all the time, yet it thrives.
Step 3: Use natural materials
Incorporating natural materials into your home is also a great way to create a more cozy space. Materials like wood, wool, linen, cotton, and stone can make any space feel more connected to nature.
Somehow, I am always drawn to Instagram photos of homes with a lot of wood, stone, rattan lamps, and wool blankets.
The good news is that you don’t need to invest in brand-new furniture or undergo a big renovation to achieve this look.
Consider adding a woven basket, swapping out a pillowcase for one made of linen, placing a simple wooden cutting board on your kitchen table, or adding a bamboo lamp in your room.
I did something similar in my home. I bought several bamboo pieces for my bathroom. Added a woolen blanket over my couch. And I bought a wooden cutting board with a bamboo fruit basket for my kitchen.
The key is to focus on balance. By mixing natural materials into your existing décor, you’ll completely change the atmosphere of your home. It’s proof that even the smallest changes can have a huge impact on how a home feels.
The key here is, again, not to clutter your home with new things.
Just add these elements naturally, as they break or get worn out.
Step 4: Natural and warm light
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and atmosphere of your home. The right lighting can make a room feel warm, cozy, and inviting, while harsh or overly bright lighting can create a cold and unwelcoming vibe.
To achieve a calming and balanced ambiance, try layering your lighting. Use a mix of soft, warm lights, such as table lamps or floor lamps, to complement natural light during the day. Dimmer switches are also a great option to adjust the brightness based on the time of day or the activity.
Avoid white lights at all costs. They feel cold and unpleasant.
I have a lot of lamps in my home, and I rarely turn on overhead lights.
I feel that lamps give a cozy vibe, especially in the winter.
Step 5: Use neutral colors
Shades like soft beige, creamy whites, muted greys, and warm taupes provide a calming backdrop that works well in any room. The key is to reduce visual clutter and stress.
Neutral tones are also very versatile. They pair nicely with natural materials like wood and stone and complement pops of color from plants or decorative accents. You can layer different neutrals to add depth and texture, such as a light grey sofa with cream-colored throw pillows and a beige area rug.
I guess it all comes down to avoiding strong colors. They make nice accents, but if the whole room is in bright colors, then that can be too much.
But again, this does not mean you need to buy a new couch, for instance. You can use a beige blanket to soften the color of the couch.
Final Thoughts
To make your home cozy and relaxing on a budget is not that hard. You need to start decluttering and then add small changes like plants, pillows, and lamps.
Don’t bother following trends you see online; just pay attention to what type of homes make you feel best. What draws your eye? Maybe you noticed that you really like your friend’s home? What is it that you like? Maybe certain colors, or the fact that it is tidy?
Use Pinterest and pin several images of homes you like. This will give you an idea of the style you want in your home.
Make your home your own by adding items that bring you joy. For me, these are plants, photographs, and books. And my cat on the couch 🙂
