A quick search on the definition of ‘home comforts’ tells us it can be defined as ‘something that you usually have in your home that makes your life easy and pleasant.’ A lovely concept that fully captures the feeling of being at home, our chosen home comforts - and how we style them - certainly impact the feeling of a space. Above all, comfort is largely subjective. What feels and looks like heaven for some might be torture for others. One person will be right at home amongst riots of colour and mixed materials, while another needs minimalism to keep their sanity intact.

What makes a space ‘comfortable’?

When it comes to being comfortable in a dwelling and in the individual rooms within that house/flat/boat/van/anything else you can make a home from, comfort is both an emotional and physical thing. For example, how you feel physically will be down to how soft the cushions are on your sofa and how well-insulated the walls are. The emotional mood of a space is much more personal, which is exactly why your home should be filled with the things you love.

Golden rule - comfort starts with you

Our first rule in creating a comfortable home is that both the decor and furniture choices should be a reflection of whoever lives there - i.e. you, your family, your dog, your parakeet - you get the gist. What it shouldn’t be about is your cousin who comes to visit once a year or your fussy in-laws who try to rearrange the furniture every time they drop in. Your home is yours, and so every choice you make about how it looks and feels should be yours too.

Pick what you like based on what makes you comfortable both physically and emotionally. You might prefer a firmer sofa that stays immaculate and gives your aching back decent support without the need for fluffing up, or you might be drawn to a sofa that feels more like a bed, with battered, down-filled cushions that can be plumped to your heart’s content.

Soft touch - comfort as a visual concept

Soft furnishings straddle the boundary between emotional and physical comfort. While things like rugs, blankets, cushions and throws undeniably provide warmth, softness underfoot, and a tangible comfort, they also bring a sense of emotional delight and wellbeing that wouldn’t be there without them. We all know how good it feels to snuggle up atop the sofa, wrapped in a blanket with our head lolling atop a cushion. This goes beyond physical comfort into emotional contentment. Just add biscuits.

Another alternative way that soft furnishings can be leveraged to create comfort is by rethinking the art on your walls - textile wall hangings and artworks can completely change the way a space feels and add another layer of depth.

Lighting - instant ambience

We humans are sensitive beings, which is why having the overhead light switched on can make us feel like we’re either being extracted by aliens or operated on. While overhead lights do serve their purpose (dropped an earring on the floor, want to see what presents you’ve got on Christmas morning, etc), they are also huge mood killers and are often not that flattering. Instead, floor lamps, table lamps and even fairy lights, if you’re feeling extra whimsical, can have a soothing, comforting effect. Wall sconces are another good option, as are opaque lampshades, which are great for diffusing bright light. 

Personality - knick-knacks, trinkets and more

We’re big believers that your home should be a perfect reflection of who you are and what you like. Opting for an eclectic style will help make way for beloved antiques and treasures. If you’re much more of a pristine Scandi-minimalist, it’s still possible to communicate your personality through subtle prints, sculptures and colours. Interestingly, you might find yourself subconsciously selecting the same colours, artworks or textures from your happy childhood home. This is thanks to the exposure effect, or familiarity effect, which has proven that familiar stimuli are less likely to provoke fear or anxiety and more likely to induce a relaxed state. 

Allow for spots of negative space, but not too many…

Negative space (i.e. parts of the room that are left bare) will ensure the room doesn’t become overwhelming. However, having too much negative space can cause a room to feel sterile or cold. Unless ultra minimalism is really the vibe you’re after, you should aim for a 60/40 ratio of occupied to unoccupied space. Here’s how you work that out:

• Measure the entire floor space of a room
• Measure the furniture footprint in that room to see how much floor space is occupied
• If the furniture fills more than 60% of the overall floorspace, it’s over furnished

Choose your colours - and how you apply them - carefully

Colour-drenching has been a major theme recently, and there is nothing quite so divisive as colour preference. While on one level, colours are subject to trends, they are also timeless - in fact, some shades have quite literally been loved for centuries. We say, if a colour makes you feel happy, content and perfectly at home, then you should be painting at least one room of your house with it. Alternatively, pick your colours based on the light of the house and the feel of individual rooms - for example, subtle pinks and light browns can help add warmth to east-facing rooms, while dark, moody hues can bring additional drama to spaces that are naturally dark already.

Plan ahead - how will the room be used?

Futureproofing is an undeniable part of home design, and so thinking ‘around corners’ can help you remain comfortable in a space instead of constantly planning your next move. Planning to start a family? Don’t dedicate your spare room to a king-size bed - instead, opt for a pull-out sofa or daybed that can stay put when you transform it into a nursery, but will also suffice for guest sleeping in the meantime. Similarly, with living rooms, think about what makes you comfortable when you welcome extra guests. Would you rather the informality of bean bag chairs that you can stow away, or transport to wherever they are needed, or do you want rigidity and order in your spaces with additional armchairs or a love seat? Above all, it’s what makes you feel the most at home.

Shop stylish home comforts at Where Saints Go

Our ethos of ‘Anything But Ordinary’ translates directly into crafting the home of your dreams. No two of us are exactly alike, which is why your home deserves unique furniture that is literally anything but ordinary. From dramatic statement seating to rustic boho rugs, our affordable design-led furniture is about making your home comfortable.