One of the best ways to end a day is to walk through a warm and welcoming home. Step inside the inviting threshold of your Harmarket VA home and you feel comfort seep in through your bones, and the stress and worries of the day slowly fall away. Sounds ideal, right?

In real life, not all homes are warm and inviting. Even inviting homes for sale in Haymarket vary in their levels of coziness and warmth.  

If you are style-challenged, it can be difficult to create a cozy Haymarket home. You can either get a professional to do it for you, or you can do it on your own with the help of online ideas and magazines.

It’s not that hard, really. If you are planning to make some immediate changes,  to improve your home’s welcoming appeal, check out the suggestions made by houzz.com.

Try These Ideas to Make Your Home Feel Warmer and More Welcoming

1. Sway on a porch swing.

Can you think of anything quite as welcoming as a good old-fashioned porch swing? Sway on yours while waiting for a friend to come over for dinner, or take your morning coffee out to the porch on a summer morning. Even if no one is sitting in the swing, neighbors strolling by will appreciate the cozy scene.

2, Add a neighborly front-yard feature.

Hanging out in the front yard is a great way to meet your neighbors. But if your yard is like most, there’s probably nowhere to sit!

Make your front just as appealing as the back by adding a pair of Adirondack chairs, a picnic table or even a fire pit. When surrounded by lush plantings, your front-yard hangout can feel both welcoming and just private enough.

3. Strike a warm note at the threshold. 

The entry is the first part of your home visitors see. Set a warm and welcoming tone by making sure the entry is well-lit and clutter-free. Supplement an overhead fixture with a table lamp for more even lighting, and provide a seat for setting down bags or taking off shoes.

4. Put family photos on display.

What you choose to put on your walls tells a story, and while artwork you adore certainly has its place, it’s the family photos and kid-made art that will really give your home a personal touch.

5. Warm up your kitchen.

The kitchen is so often the central gathering place of the home. Make yours more pleasant for cooks and guests alike with fresh flowers on the table, a comfy spot to sit, colorful tea towels and small speakers so you can stream music.

6. Channel cozy bed-and-breakfast style. 

It’s so easy to let clutter collect in the bedroom: a pile of books here, a basket of laundry there, and pretty soon it’s a mess. 

Reclaim your bedroom as a peaceful, cozy space to recharge in by channeling the look and feel of a charming bed-and-breakfast. Remove the clutter, make the bed with fresh linens, hang an art print on the wall, launder the curtains and open the window to freshen the air.

7.  Invest in cushy couches.

In the living room, comfort is king. 

If you have space, consider a big, comfy sectional — these modular pieces can seat a crowd and instantly make a space look more inviting. Or pair a sofa of any style with an upholstered ottoman that invites kicking back and putting your feet up. No matter the size of your space, opting for the most comfortable couch you can afford is a wise place to prioritize in the budget.

8. Choose materials that improve with age.

Good-quality natural materials such as leather, solid wood, woven baskets and pure wool blankets tend to age well. 

In fact, the dings and scratches that come with their normal wear and tear actually put guests at ease — instead of worrying about where to sit or set down a cup, everyone is free to relax!

9. Book yourself a reading nook.

A warm and welcoming home isn’t just about welcoming family and friends — it’s about creating spaces that make you feel completely at home and at ease too.

10. Create a warm glow indoors and out. 

If you change just one thing about your home to make it more warm and welcoming, let it be the lighting.

To create a warm, welcoming glow, aim to have lots of soft light sources rather than a single bright one. Indoors, put dimmers on overhead fixtures, and supplement them with table and floor lamps, ideally with at least three light sources per room.

Read more here: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/108690430/list/try-these-ideas-to-make-your-home-feel-warmer-and-more-welcoming

Which of these ideas have you tried? Which one will you try?