How Homey Is Your Apartment?

Whether this is your first time living away from home or you’ve been enjoying apartment life for a long time, surrounding yourself with things that make you feel comfortable is essential to happy living.

Here are three easy ways to bring a little comfort and a homey feeling to your surroundings.

There is something comforting about having a selection of your favorite books close at hand. Look for a bookshelf with some personality , such as old wood, a bright color, or a unique shape.

Secondhand stores or consignment shops are great places to find the perfect shelf at a terrific price. Be on the lookout for older copies of your favorite books, too.

2. Bring the outdoors inside.

From simple tabletop houseplants to larger free-standing trees, an indoor plant brings instant calm to any home environment. “An indoor garden can be your refuge from the outside world, and for many people, it is a source of great joy,” wrote Sophie Lee .

Best of all, houseplants have been known to improve concentration and productivity, reduce stress levels, and give a blue mood a lift.

3. Add a couch cover and plenty of pillows.

Did you know Americans spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors? Why not spend that quality time snuggled on a comfy couch that feels like new and is easy to clean too? A couch cover and a batch of throw pillows are a simple and affordable strategy for adding an instant pop of color or more of a cool, calming hue to the living room.

Having a connection with our homes makes us happy. And creating a comfortable and homey appeal by adding some classic style, freshness, and total comfort and color makes us even happier.