Adding Warmth To Your Home
Some rooms and homes just seem to naturally appear very warm, welcoming and inviting. Often these rooms are not the most elegant nor are they full of costly pieces of furniture, rather the overall atmosphere and colors used in the room just seem to strike a chord inside us to come in and relax. Making your home warm and inviting is a key point of home décor and one that is much appreciated by your guests and family.
Colors
One of the key elements in making a house or room look warm and inviting are the colors and color schemes that are used in the room. Certain colors have different characteristics that can either calm and soothe or send a message of energy and intensity. Both can be warm and inviting, it really just depends on the room. Generally cool colors such as lighter blues, greens, teals and aqua colors are relaxing and soothing, yellows and bright oranges tend to be more energetic and intense looking and reds, dark oranges and reddish-browns tend to be more intense, passionate and hot. Darker colors are more serene and dramatic and lighter colors are more airy and calming.
Patterns
The use of patterns in a room either in the wall coverings, the drapes or the furniture can also send a message of warmth. Different patterns will also seem more "homey" or comfortable to different people, mostly due to what they associate the particular pattern with. For example, a border pattern or a fabric pattern that uses fern leaves, bamboo patterns or leaves may be relaxing and earthy in appearance, while pattern that used brightly colored florals may be more summery and feminine to the viewer.
Lighting
An inviting room has the right amount of light for the purpose of the room. For example, a living room or a den area tends to have softer lighting with table and floor lamps accentuating reading areas or conversation spots whereas the rest of the room may have subtle lighting though wall sconces or smaller track lighting on dimmer switches. A kitchen or a bathroom needs to be more brightly lit to appear welcoming and inviting as well as for practical purposes.
Furniture
Your furniture will, of course, work with the colors, patterns and themes of your room. To make the room look warm consider adding throw pillows or different shapes, sizes and fabrics, some additional smaller rugs as well as couches and chairs that invite the guest to sit down and relax. Even ultra-modern type furniture can have that inviting appearance if it is placed in groupings that allow people to sit together and talk. Furniture placement towards central areas is more inviting than chairs placed on the far edges of a room.
Finally, art and accents on the walls, shelves and tables that is interesting and an extension of your personality and that of your family really helps make a room interesting and personal.
