5 Tips on How to Make your Home Cozy During the Winter Holidays

How to Make your Home Cozy

The holiday season is around the corner. Pacific Palisades realtors collaborated with interior design experts Jaqueline Hamilton and Nicola Rodriguez to reveal tips on how to make your home cozy this Winter.   

Candles and Scents

“Candles can change the atmosphere and ambience of a room instantly” says interior designer Jaqueline Hamilton

“Not only the glow of a beautifully lit candle can cast a lovely feeling of coziness to a room but also the scent can do that too. Choosing a scented candle can create a gorgeous smell in a room and can evoke a feeling of warmth and wellbeing and bring back memories of past winters.” 

Designer Rodriguez adds: “Adding a fragrant reed diffuser, oil/wax burner or plug-in gives the room a cozy feeling before you have even opened your eyes. Fragrances such as pine, cinnamon, spiced apple, clove, mulled wine and woody aromas are a must for this season!” 

Garlands and Accessories

“Using Christmas accessories such as bowls of pinecones or winter floral arrangements is a great way to make your room inviting and cozy” says designer Rodriguez. Whether it be faux foliage or fresh that you have gathered from the garden, this is a wonderful way to bring texture and the outside in to your living area” adds designer Hamilton.

“Having a fireplace is not necessary, as garlands can be placed on a sideboard or in the form of a wreath on a wall. Adding twinkling lights is another idea to create another lovely mood and display.”  

Lighting 

Jacqueline explains: “A room should have at least one or two lamps depending on the size of it. During the holiday season, mood lighting is so important and can soften a room, as using the main pendant light in the room can at times be too strong.”

According to designer Rodriguez, a good way to make a home cozy is merging mood lighting to the use of candlelight. This can really help creating that snug feel and atmosphere. It also helps cutting the cost of electricity, which is a plus in our current financial crisis.  

Rugs, Blankets and Cushions 

“Rugs are such a focal point in any room” says designer Hamilton.  

“Rugs are not only for wooden or hard floors, but for carpets too. The shaggier and softer the rugs, the cozier they will make a home feel. They also help to keep the heat in during cold winter afternoons.” adds designer Nicola Rodriguez. 

“Adding cushions, throws and blankets on your sofas as well as lined heavy curtains also add that cozy feel to a room. Not only do the blankets keep you snug and warm but by adding textures such as knit, sheepskin, chenille and velvet also combine the cozy look and feel.”

Paint Colors

According to designer Hamilton, pastel colours can look cold and harsher in the winter months and one way of warming up a room can be using a warm dramatic paint color. She recommends colors that are taken from nature in the autumn months, such as rich reds, terracotta and warm mustards, which can all bring a depth and coziness to a room.  

Designer Rodriguez adds “If you have areas in your room that look bare, invest in a statement chair or sofa and create a cozy corner by adding a soft lamp on a small side table. This will help maximize your home space and create a welcoming atmosphere.” 

A spokesperson for Pacific Palisades realtors comments:  

“With the holiday seasons around the corner, people tend to spend most of their time indoors enjoying the warmth and comfort of their homes.  Therefore, we want to create an environment where we can relax and feel cozy, away from the harsh weather. Whether it is an old family home or a newly purchased one, decorating your home for the holidays can be a joyful individual or group activity to set the mood for the winter months ahead.” 

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Everything you need to know about restaurant decor

restaurant decor tips for beginners

First impressions matter and if you are in the food business you want to make the right one. Here are some quick tips to help improve your restaurant decor.

Create Efficient Restaurant Layouts

The overall layout of a restaurant is a crucial aspect of any interior design task because you do not want restaurant staff members and customers colliding everywhere in the restaurant. The most efficient restaurant layouts are organize to help staff members operate smoothly while granting customers easy access to their tables and the restroom. Additionally you can alter your restaurant’s layout to improve circulation. Here’s how:

  • Focus on the tables and seats ensuring there is sufficient room to accommodate your preferred restaurant capacity. If your restaurant doesn’t have enough floor space, consider the position of your counter and whether or not it could be relocated to create more room.

Focus on Concept

Your restaurant’s concept is equally important to the layout because it helps set you apart from other culinary services within your locality.

If you can easily overcome the temptation to keep things ordinary, you will have the opportunity to create the right balance between a bit of unique inspiration and the typical expectations of any restaurant.

Often restaurant owners prioritize the best cuisine when opening up a restaurant. By focusing on concept, you will create an opportunity to develop a concept that will be a true reflection of the regular meals you will serve. Remember, links to any foreign country must be accompanied by an interior that has the same atmosphere.

Decorate with a theme in mind

Decoration often goes together with your concept of choice. Once you have settled on an overall restaurant theme, you should think of ways to enhance its atmosphere with several decorative features.

For instance, if you’re based in a period… maybe 17th century London locality, you will want features distinctive to the 17th century – artwork, walls or vintage furnishings. The same applies to a classic 50’s Italian bar, which would likely have artwork from Pablo Picasso and tons of Mediterranean colour schemes. Alternatively, a modern looking space may work well with one of these water walls from Luxe Water Walls.

Take Advantage of Window Displays

While window displays are hugely underrated, the truth is that they have the potential to attract bypassers who initially had no interest in checking into your restaurant. Window displays are one of the first things a customer will see when standing outside your restaurant. A unique and attractive window design has a greater chance of enhancing the curiosity of a customer.

Window displays should have no shade so that your potential customers will have the chance to peep through the inside and imagine what it would be like if they went inside. While displays can be huge and imposing, they should not block out natural light because it will decrease the attractiveness to potential customers.

Professional Assistance for Restaurant Decor

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make when starting their restaurant business is seeking assistance from amateur services in the build and interior design industries. You do not know how much this move could cost you, so it is always advisable to hire knowledgeable, skilled and reputable experts to help with opening your restaurant.

Although your budget will be expensive from hiring professionals, it is worth it. You can complete the whole design process with the aid of specialist architectural designers and experienced professionals. Better yet, having all experts on site at the same time will help enhance the final results.

By adhering to this help guideline, you will achieve the best possible results with your restaurant. Yes, that means having an attractive interior design that is capable of infatuating any passersby or potential customer looking for a place to have a quick meal. Remember, the appearance of your restaurant must be complemented by food that matches the interior design’s level of quality. If you’re able to complete a breathtaking restaurant interior design job, you must also be sure to please your customers with a delicious cuisine. Good luck with your restaurant decor adventures.

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