How to Create a Comfortable Living Space
- Yuichiro Noguchi
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
When people think of a comfortable room, many probably imagine a stylish interior, but just as fashionable stores and clothing inevitably become ordinary over time, style alone quickly grows tired. So what, then, makes a room genuinely comfortable?
If you search online, you'll find descriptions like "a relaxing room where you can unwind and feel soothed." Concretely, advice often includes things like leaving breathing room in the layout, coordinating around calm, natural colours, placing houseplants, using room fragrances, choosing comfortable sofas or chairs, and using warm, incandescent-like lighting. Even just listing these ideas gives you a pretty clear image of a cosy room.
Creating breathing room in a space is as simple as clearing out unnecessary items so things look tidy, so start by organizing storage. Be ruthless with things you haven't used for more than a year. Reducing possessions to only what you need will make both your body and mind feel lighter.
Calm, natural colours refer to tones inspired by earth and plants, khaki, beige, brown, and green are representative examples. Changing non-furniture surfaces, like wallpaper, to earth tones is also effective. Compared to white, these colours reflect less light (about two-thirds or less), so at first the room may feel a little dim, but once you get used to it, you'll likely find it more comfortable. Incidentally, many Starbucks locations use earth tones in their interiors.
Houseplants are indispensable in interiors that tend to feel sterile. A single green plant with natural form can do a lot to restore a sense of wellbeing in a room.
A signature fragrance is standard in upscale hotels. Scents blended from cedar wood, for example, have calming properties: they soothe the mood and can even improve sleep quality.
A seat that invites relaxation is essential for a comfortable living space. A large, soft sofa with a deep seat can make you feel as relaxed as if you were lying in bed; if space is limited, a small lounge chair is a good alternative. Because lounge chairs allow you to sit deeply and have a low seat height, they can be far more comfortable than you might expect.
Finally, the most important element in creating a pleasant atmosphere is lighting. A restful space requires the right degree of dimness. Humans are influenced by the sun's movements, bright daylight encourages activity, and darkness signals stay. Warm-toned lamps like incandescent bulbs promote melatonin production, which not only induces relaxation but also improves sleep quality.
Placing light sources lower than eye level is even more effective than relying on ceiling lights. Consider removing most ceiling lighting except for a pendant over the dining table, then add floor lamps and table lamps where needed, that simple change will transform the whole mood of the room.
By applying these suggestions, you can dramatically change how a room feels and make it much more comfortable. Time spent at home will feel calmer and more relaxing, and dinner or family time will likely become something you look forward to more than before. Keep in mind, though, that interiors aren't as easy to "change outfits" as clothes, so choose carefully.
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