Cocooning spaces do not need to be limited to bedrooms. I am actually thinking of the whole house. You know you’ve got it right when you feel that the whole house embraces you when you walk in. Or friends love coming to your place because they feel such comfort and ease. When you’ve achieved that, you’d know that your house is definitely a home.
Characteristics of a Cocooning Space
I know there are some who prize homes that reek of wealth or give visitors an impression of high status from the get-go. But during these times when the world is undergoing so many changes, good and bad, we need a place of comfort and safety, our very own sanctuary where we can retreat to when the going gets tough or too volatile for our peace of mind.
Enter the cocooning space to our rescue.
What characteristics does this type of space have?
1. Soothing Colors
We’ve made two kinds of palettes for you to choose from—light neutral hues and moody colors. All of the color swatches are from Boysen’s Virtuoso Silk Touch line. The reason for choosing Virtuoso is because this has the visual elegance of matte paints with the easy clean capabilities of gloss paints.
Matte gives an incredibly cozy and inviting feel, which I think makes it work better for a cocooning space instead of any other kind of paint finish that reflects light.
Light Neutral Hues
These four paint swatches are light neutral hues. Although they can still reflect light, they are more subdued than the all-time favorite Boysen Tulle White.
For those who prefer a lighter color for their homes, the four suggested paint swatches can give you that warm, comforting feeling similar to a dear friend’s hug or a cup of your favorite drink. Another advantage aside from the toasty feels is that it is easy to dress up the room because there are many color possibilities for your furniture and accessories.
For other paint swatches, click on Alternatives to White.
Moody Hues
Moody colors do not denote gloomy hues, but are more indicative of dark and rich tones that are full of character. Think of the deep colors of unpolished semi-precious stones like amber, jade, lapiz lazuli, and amethyst.
Maaliwalas colors like white are preferred by Pinoys, who like their homes to be bright, airy, and spacious. But if you’re ready to experiment, try any of the four dark colors. These are powerful and attractive, and they welcome you in because not only are they unexpected, they also exude a soft and calm vibe as well.
Read about the Scandinavian colors you can find in The Color Library. You can also check out the photo inspirations of rooms with deep and dark colors.
2. Soft Natural Materials
Use natural materials like cotton, linen, or velvet for pillows, throws, and upholstery. For a healthy home, choose natural instead of synthetic materials even if the latter looks better.
Make your home more interesting by choosing materials that have different textures, like a nubby bouclé throw on a wooden chair, or a plush rug on a stone floor.
3. Soft Lighting
Think warm white instead of bright white for your ambient lighting. Add dimmers so you can control the ambience. Have some accent lights to make the space more interesting and cozy.
For more about lighting, check out that section in The 7 Elements of Interior Design. You can also watch Bea’s video on how lighting can affect paint color. Also, check out what metamerism means and why it’s important when choosing your paint colors. Better yet, visit The Color Library
Place soft indirect lights around the room, preferably lamps so you can easily transfer them when you want to redecorate. The ubiquitous candles can make your cocooning space feel warmer and cozier. Just remember to light up non-toxic ones like soy, coconut, or beeswax candles. Make sure these are scented with pure essential oils. We want ambience AND health.
Benefits of a Cocooning Space
Comfort and wellness are things most of us want for our homes. Cocooning spaces offer just that. These are places that can help us dial down our stress and anxiety levels, cultivate positive thoughts, and reconnect with ourselves.
These are also places where we can connect more fully with our loved ones. Make joyful core memories like exchanging meaningful conversations with family members during meal times, or having movie nights at home on Fridays. Set no-screen times and go analog in this digital world; then, you get to know each other better and more deeply through life’s changes.
Subscribe to Let it B
Subscribe to this blog for more home and color inspirations. You will get a notification after we upload new content. If you have questions about how to use Boysen products, just send an email to ask@myboysen.com, or call (02) 8363-9738 local 417 to 418 during office hours and talk to our technical team.
