7 Simple Steps to Creating a Comfy and Cozy Home Retreat

I am a card-carrying homebody. Always have been. While I wouldn't say I like cold weather, I love winter because it's synonymous with coziness. In addition, the idea of a retreat lights me up. Unfortunately, my time and finances don't allow me to traispe off whenever and wherever I want ... not yet.

However, I've found a way to create retreat spaces wherever I am.

Even if you live south and in a warmer climate, winter means shorter days and longer nights. Anyone can benefit from these house cozy ideas!

1. Purchase and light all the candles that have ever been made

But not just any candles, you guys. If you haven’t experienced the wonder that is a wooden wick candle, you need to stop reading this post, drive to Target, and buy three of them right now. I’ll wait.

Are they a bit expensive? Yes. Are they 100% worth it? Also yes. They make audible fire sounds, dudes. That is worth $18 when it’s sleeting outside. Also of note: this candle allegedly smells like campfire and I can personally vouch that soy candles do last a lot longer than wax. Which matters when you’re burning three at a time for 12 hours a day.

Also, add cozy, warm lighting

By now we’re probably all using fluorescent bulbs because we care about the earth, right? I think it’s okay if you use a few rosy, lower-wattage incandescents here and there around your home. If you’re fancy/handy install a dimmer switch or just pop on a more opaque lampshade.

One of my favorite things to do in these darker months? String fairy lights through the branches of my big fig tree. It’s festive and warming and since they’re white lights I don’t feel like I’m preemptively decorating for the holidays.

2. Swap in warmer, textured furnishing

There’s a trend on social media where influencers are paid to show you how they clean and organize their home with these amazing products you can get on Amazon.

While tempting, I know from my work as an unclutter expert, that buying even more stuff to organize your home, doesn’t clean, or organize your home on its own. YOU’RE going to have to do it, and who has the time?

What you can do is make some easy seasonal changes

A: lined, velvet or heavier-weight curtains immediately cozy up a room. Adding velvety, corduroy pillows and the perfect bed couch blanket, or throw, does wonders. I also pull out my fuzzy slippers and I have a pair of fur-lined leather slippers I bought on the street in Peru but my mom swears by these and I steal them every time I’m home.

We’ve heard of a house dress. How about a ‘house sweater’; a drapey sweater that serves the same purpose as a robe but you always look, not just for yourself, but if unexpected company stops by.

3. Simmer some good-smelling things on the stove

Have you heard about or made stove simmers? Thrift an old pot, fill it with water and good-smelling things, turn your stove to low, and all of sudden your house smells wonderful and you don’t even need to cook. Here are some ‘recipes’ for stove simmers.

4. Run your humidifier

If you don’t have one, get one. If you do but are not using it, start. Dry air means dry skin, more colds and flue, and your home feels even colder. Run a humidifier! You can get a good one everywhere, they have one for every budget. Make sure you run it in your bedroom, it’s a game changer. Make sure to clean it regularly so you’re not recycling germy air.

5.. Turn on your stove + oven

I use my air fryer, and crockpot far more than I use the oven. It’ll make your house smell good and feel warmer. Here are a couple of wonderful soup recipes and cookie recipes to get your started. Nothing beats the smell of something baking in the oven.

6. Start a fire or watch a fireplace DVD

While we do have a fireplace, it’s not functional at the moment. I fell in love with the smell of burning wood at a winter retreat I took years ago. To recreate that cozy feeling, Tune into this crackling fire video on Youtube or buy some of those woodwick candles I just found out about. They sound like crackling firewood as they burn! I have one burning while I write this!

7. Turn on the cozy music

Growing up the radio and playing records on my bedroom record player was an endless source of joy for me. I’d sit in my room for hours, reading and waiting for my favorite song to be played. With the invention of the iPod, we have every song we ever wanted at our fingertips, I find I listen LESS to music. It was the anticipation and longing that created the magic.

My new joy is listening to podcasts and playlists–ones that I create myself, or pre-made ones on Spotify or Apple. Putting on music that fits the mood you're in or want to create is right at your fingertips.

Here are my Autumn and Winter playlists. Enjoy!

Extra: Bring your cozy with you

If you regularly spend the night somewhere else – like your partner’s house or you travel a lot for work – make yourself a little cozy bag filled with duplicates of all your favorite stuff: slippers, house sweater, travel candle.

For your office you can bring in a little desk lamp with soft lighting; using that instead of that bright office light. Bring a soft scarve that is office-appropriate but still warm and comfy.

How do you keep your home cozy during these long and gray months?