6 Secrets to Balance Comfort and Style in Your Home

Posted on July 8, 2021

When designing our interiors, we want them not only to look beautiful but also to be functional and feel comfortable. However, we often sacrifice comfort for aesthetics.

Yes, that mid-century style sofa might look amazing, but are you really willing to spend hours sitting on it while watching a movie with your family? Fortunately, these days, a lot of furniture pieces are made to be both comfortable and stylish. If you play your cards well, you won’t be forced to sacrifice comfort for stylishness.

Here’s how to create the perfect balance.

Mix and Match

Some design styles are famous for their cold looks and not-so-cozy furniture. This especially goes for modern directions, such as industrial and contemporary. If you’re a fan of this design approach, consider mixing up two décor styles – one of them being minimalistic and the other warm and comfortable. For example, you can do this by combining exposed industrial pipes with warm rustic wood and soft textures.

Create an Oasis for Sleep

The bedroom is a space where comfort matters above all, but that doesn’t mean you’ll overlook the aesthetics. You want to go for a super-comfortable, cozy space that exudes peace and calm.

You can totally “go wild” with choosing the bed frame, but when it comes to choosing the right mattress for your needs, you’ll want to take your time. Consider the most common mattress sizes and dimensions while also keeping the firmness, durability, and support in mind.

You can further complete the bedroom with other design elements and accessories. However, be sure not to go overboard because a “busy” room is less sleep-friendly.

Be Playful with Textures

Rich textures provide comfort both for the eyes and everyday use. Soft furniture materials such as velvet are comfy to sit on, plus they look warm and welcoming. Unlike them, leather can feel repulsive.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t use sharp lines and smooth textures on other elements, such as pipes, lighting fixtures, and accessories. Metallic pieces are usually a good way to add some edge to your flat, while wood, shaggy rugs, and plump pillows make a home more inviting.

Dress up Your Home in Layers

Speaking of textures, one way of really making them pop and using them to your advantage is by layering rugs. There are a few tricks to a proper rug layering technique:

Choose a room that is not too cluttered.
The colors of the different rugs should be either complementary or tonal.
Make sure all the pieces vary in size.
The bottom rug needs to be laid down straight (parallel to the furniture) while the others can be set on the bias.

Rugs are not the only thing that can be set in layers. Layered lighting sets the ambiance of the entire room and makes it pleasant to spend time in. Of course, when using different lighting types (ambient, task, and accent), you need to consider the function of the room. For example, the kitchen requires much more task lights than the entryway, while the living room can benefit from accent fixtures drawing the eyes to pieces of art or other focal points.

Of course, you will get the most out of natural light, so make sure the windows are large and that they provide outstanding ventilation.

Enhance Your Space with Greenery

According to science, indoor plants can:

reduce stress levels
help improve focus
inspire feelings of wellbeing
help boost productivity
improve the quality of indoor air

Other than that, indoor greenery adds life to any space. After all, as humans, we naturally aspire to spend time in nature. Finally, plants carefully distributed throughout the interior and arranged in sophisticated pots can elevate your home, transforming it into a chic, magazine-worthy space.

Finish up with a Touch of You

A house consists of four walls and space in between. A home consists of smiles, memories, and people. This is why you should decorate your home with meaningful accessories, such as family photos, travel souvenirs, DIY home decorations, and other pieces that mean something to you or other household members. However, when you do this, keep in mind that the space shouldn’t be cluttered with too many unnecessary things. Otherwise, it will create confusion and generate stress.

You see – designing a perfectly balanced home is not as difficult as you might have thought. Hopefully, these tips will serve to guide you, but make sure to trust your instincts too.