Warm paint colors, natural elements up the cozy factor  

by Emily Canning-Dean 

If you’re looking to create a cozy home, Zillow data suggests you’re not alone. The online home site listed “coziness” as a top priority for many prospective buyers.

Local experts, like Kris Toth from Toth Painting Solutions, advise that using darker, warmer paint colors is a simple way to make your space feel cozier and more inviting. 

“We are seeing warmer paint colors increase in popularity,” he said. “Benjamin Moore has a color that is popular right now called Cinnamon Slate, which is a mix of plum and brown, and Behr has a deep red that is very popular.” 

Toth said warm wood accents are also gaining popularity, and it is becoming more common to see brown accents as opposed to black or gray, which were favored a few years ago. 

“The stark whites are starting to go away, and we are seeing more off whites and tans used on trims and doors,” he said. “Also, we have clients who want to warm up their spaces, but they don’t want to use darker colors on their walls, so we are seeing a trend of using warmer whites on the walls.” 

Lanaya Van Tilburg with Ohio Hardwood Furniture agreed that paint colors can make a big difference. 

“People are moving away from cold gray colors and more toward beige or colors with warmer undertones,” she said. “Sometimes you can bring warmth with little pops of color like burgundies and burnt oranges.” 

A more natural flooring with a clear stain that shows off the natural wood can also add that cozy factor, Van Tilburg said. 

“It’s becoming popular to see those beautiful imperfections in the wood. The knots and sap marks and wormy maple tracks,” she said. “I think the idea of bringing nature indoors can really warm up a space. Even dried flowers can make a space feel warmer, and there are so many shades of green with different plants [that] you can make part of your space.” 

Van Tilburg said adding fabric, especially with different textures, can create cozier spaces. 

“I have throw blankets on all my sofas and chairs, and I like using thick, woven baskets on my floor,” she said. “Throw pillows and fabric curtains can add a softness to a room, and a rug can really anchor a room and tie all those cozy elements together. I also like to add antiques to a room, whether it is an heirloom from my grandmother or a piece from an antique store. They bring a cozy sense of childhood nostalgia to the space.” 

Van Tilburg said one of her favorite ways to warm up a space is to add decorative lighting. “Candles and wall sconces can add a lot of warmth … or I even have lights over my artwork,” she said. “I think decorative lighting is something a lot of people don’t think about.”