There's no place like home - especially one that invites you to relax. One's abode should be a haven at the end of a stressful day, a place so cosy that it puts you instantly at ease.
We know that such homes exist - you can feel it the moment you walk into one. How does yours measure up? One way to gauge the 'cosy factor' is to consider the prospect of arriving home before you actually get there. Think about how it makes you feel during the commute home. Can't wait to get there? Or maybe you don't look forward to coming home as much as you'd like.
Di White, an interior decorating consultant and the founder of InSite, says a home's appeal has to do with a sense of belonging. It's human nature to want that - whether you live alone, with family or with friends, she says.
'Cosiness within your own environment helps to achieve this sense of belonging,' White says, adding that it also helps create a feeling of calm.
'If you are surrounded by objects that you like or have collected, this will automatically create a feeling of familiarity and therefore comfort.'
Home then becomes a place to escape from the stresses of everyday life. 'Having a cosy home will balance out the sometimes chaotic world we live in. That balance is important to reduce stress levels.' A cosy home should be 'the ideal place to regroup and reflect, before heading back out into the world refreshed and energised'.
