:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Screenshot2025-12-24at11.33.07AM-fd102bae6a4848bfbb160a5d31f302a0.png?ssl=1 "Don’t Touch the Thermostat—Designers Swear These Design Choices Make Rooms Feel Warmer")
Key Points
- Layer warm materials and textures to make spaces feel richer and less stark.
- Use moodier colors and personal details to create a cozy, lived-in feel.
- Avoid all-white rooms and work with your home’s architecture to add warmth.
Is your home feeling rather cold these days? Regardless of what it says on the thermostat, a colder-feeling home might be traced back to your current interior design choices.
Believe it or not, colors, finishes, materials, and styling all play a part in how warm and welcoming your home feels. Without certain elements, your home might feel anything less than cozy and inviting.
Creating a warm home doesn’t have to require touching the thermostat at all (unless you’re actually freezing). We spoke to two professional interior designers for their advice on styling a home that embodies the cozy, welcoming aesthetic we love. Here are five ways to do it.
Meet the Expert
- Alena Capra is the Owner and Principal Designer at Alena Capra Designs in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- Lindsey Jamison is the Principal Designer at Rumor Designs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Layer Different Materials
Ashley Montgomery Design
Arguably, the best way to make a room feel warmer through design is to layer various materials. Both of our experts say that incorporating a mix of elements helps the room feel less stark and flat. One of the ways Lindsey Jamison, Principal Designer at Rumor Designs, suggests elevating the feeling of warmth in any room is through a combination of brick tiles and creamy neutrals.
“This adds organic warmth through earthy tones,” she says. “The combination is neutral but rich in character, with brick tiles offering a timeless appearance and cream neutrals highlighting the bricks’ focus while enhancing the overall ambiance.”
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Choose Moodier Hues
Ashley Montgomery Design
Of course, you can never go wrong with darker colors to increase the cozy feel in your home. According to Alena Capra, Owner and Principal Designer at Alena Capra Designs, painted finishes are a great way to bring warmth to any space.
“Warm neutrals work beautifully, but I’m also seeing homeowners gravitate toward deeper, moodier hues like forest green, navy, and merlot,” she says.
To enhance the cozy feel, she recommends pairing these richer shades with natural stone or dramatic veining.
“This can also completely transform a space and make it feel more inviting,” she says. “Even adding an upholstered banquette or built-in seating adds softness and warmth through texture.”
Curate Thoughtful Details
Ashley Montgomery Design
For a home that truly feels warm and cozy, our experts say you shouldn’t forget the thoughtful details and self-customization that make your home feel welcoming to guests.
“Try personalizing the setting to make guests feel welcome with small, personalized touches like handwritten place cards, tied napkins, or a treat to enjoy,” says Jamison.
This makes your home feel intentional and personal instead of sterile and unoriginal.
Additionally, Capra says customizing your hardware is one detail that shouldn’t be overlooked to add warmth through personalization.
“Homeowners can easily change out their hardware finishes, which makes it simple to keep the space feeling warm and current as their style evolves,” she says.
Work With the Home’s Architecture
Ashley Montgomery Design
Whether your home features curved archways, trim, or no trim, finding ways to soften the environment’s natural architecture is another way Capra says makes a home feel warmer through design.
“A warm room also has elements that soften the architecture, whether that’s a built-in banquette, integrated shelving, or rich textures used throughout,” she says. “It’s not just about color, it’s about combining materials in a way that feels personal, inviting, and lived in.”
To practice this, spend some time looking at the unique features in your home. Make sure your furniture is set to scale the room’s size and find pieces that embrace details like vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, or beams.
Skip the All-White Fad
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The all-white trend had its time, but our pros say this should be avoided if you want a home that’s welcoming and warm.
White spaces are great for those who want a home that feels clean and pristine, but it has a habit of making rooms feel overly sterile. Don’t feel afraid to play with bold (but dark) colors and various materials.
Jamison recommends accent colors instead of stark white to evoke warmth, personality, and a natural connection using materials with organic undertones.