If your place isn't a warm retreat, don't stress. These decorating tricks will turn it into a welcoming sanctuary. 1. Personalize it. "Inviting means seeing a bit of you in your home," says Judith Wilson, designer and author of Private Places: Creating a Peaceful Space of Your Own at Home. So put out a few special objects, like your favorite books. However, "there's a fine line between homey and cluttered," Wilson warns. Grouping a bunch of similar items pulls the collection together. But if you want to show off an assortment of objects, scatter them throughout the room, rather than having one chaotic area. 2. Let the sun in. "Plain unlined curtains filter sunshine and fill your room with a cheery glow," explains Wilson. "Plus, when your windows are open, they'll float in the breeze and make your space feel airy." Wilson suggests using fabrics like linen, cotton or even muslin. 3. Opt for a single colour. To create a relaxing boudoir, Wilson advises painting the walls, floor and ceiling the same hue. "Sticking with a monochromatic color scheme eliminates jarring boundaries between different tones, so everything visually comes together, and the room appears easygoing and open," says Wilson. Hint: Cool colors like blues, grays and whites — as opposed to hot tints like reds and oranges — are more serene. 4. Choose lamps wisely. Forget all-metal lamps or recessed lighting. They have a cold, sterile look. Instead, "go with shades in gentler, natural materials, and for a place that's pleasing to the eye, hang a glass chandelier," suggests Wilson. "When it's lit, the crystal scatters the light in a pretty, upbeat way." To find an affordable chandelier, check out flea markets and thrift stores. 5. Get big, squishy pillows. A couple of extra pillows in smooth, touch-me textures like cotton make a bare couch welcoming and work for the winter and summer. "Use oversize and slightly understuffed ones so you can sink right back into them," says Wilson. 6. Spread a furry bedside rug. "An important element of an inviting home is how it feels, in addition to how it looks," advises Wilson. "And you want your bedroom to be soft and comfy." A fuzzy shag rug placed close to wherever you wake up in the morning changes a cold, hard floor into a snuggly spot. 7. Display a gorgeous bouquet. "Any living addition from the natural world — especially flowers — visibly makes your surroundings more cheerful and friendly," says Wilson. You can also fill a vase with evergreen foliage. Source: Cosmopolitan