by Eileen Le Guillou
Around this time each year, once the sparkle of the holidays has faded, the temperature drops and early nightfall remains. We wake in the dark and come home in the dark, and in place of the summer sun we need our homes to envelop us with warmth, softness and ease. Small details are what create the cozy feelings, and each of these can be sustainably acquired and adapted to any budget.
As rug and textile lovers, we appreciate the value of a cozy home. And as handmade rug lovers, we also understand that craftsmanship and sustainable materials need not be sacrificed for cost. Creating an oasis that feels indulgent is less about throwing together a few luxurious pieces - warmth is a physical sensation, but it is also a mental state of being.
Hopping between cities and homes, from my childhood bedrooms to my first apartment nearly ten years ago, it has been my mission to create peaceful, indulgent comfort wherever I go, with help along the way from the master craftspeople and collectors who reside close to us.
Each of these suggestions may seem straightforward, but finding deeper meaning in each specific piece, sourcing them practicality and sustainability, and combining them thoughtfully, contribute to increasing our connection to these items and therefore the value and warmth they bring us.
Throws
I consider throws a great investment as they can serve a multitude of aesthetic and practical purposes. As decoration for a chair or a bed, they create an inviting sense of softness. For those who are not yet ready to incorporate colorful furniture, they add a risk-free pop of boldness. As a neutral, they can enhance a tone-on-tone palette with a new texture. I like to wear mine as a shawl on an extra cold evening for a dramatic, oversized look. Plus, as a travel blanket they allow you to bring a piece of home comfort along with you (and spare you the airplane blanket). While pricier, natural materials like wool, cashmere and mohair are more sustainable and will last years longer than artificial blends. Inexpensive throws can be found at amazon and target, however, many are made from artificial materials that may soon pill or wear, and are ultimately not as warm or breathable. For a budget find, shop second hand. Many older pieces found second hand were constructed before the invention of plastics as fibers and therefore have nearly guaranteed durability. Just be sure to give them 48 hours in the freezer and a good hand wash so they feel fresh as new. Alternatively, I recommend seeking out local artisans on places like Facebook marketplace or etsy, or at your local flea market. Going to the source will always reduce costs, and meeting the maker or collector infuses your new possession with the love and care of another human.
I like to explore the craftsmanship native to each place I pass through. I had the pleasure of visiting Mongolia years ago - the cashmere capital of the world - and hauled back as many blankets, scarves and socks as I could fit :) Saving yourself a trip around the world, you can find them on sale here.
Candles
Candles are so special because they are multi sensory - beautiful illumination, physical warmth, and transporting scents. Practically, they can also support routines and rituals. Delineating a start and finish for practices like journaling, meditation or even creative work helps us to create clear delineations in our day so that we can drop in quickly, focus intently, and close out peacefully and calmly rather than abruptly. We can even see how this applies to anything we want to dedicate our full attention to such as a dinner party - a candle glows illuminating the table spread and the faces around it, and when blown out at the end of the evening it memorialize the conversation, laughter and intimacy shared.
Luxe brands like Diptyque and Jo Malone can make wonderful gifts or treats, but candles can also be so easily and sustainably homemade using essential oils and upcycled jars or shells. Adding dried herbs and flowers infuses our connection to the natural world, and these can be picked and hand dried for free, or bought inexpensively online.
A neighbor of mine started making candles during the pandemic that she now sells to local restaurants and shops. I was kindly gifted one that I’m saving for a special, blistery evening.
Bonus: Incense is often more potent, all encompassing and is self timed. I like to light it first thing in the morning to wake up my senses while I adjust to wakefulness and ease into the budding day, or between work and social plans to transport me to a new mindset. Similarly, palo santo and sage bring a jolt of fresh scent and clear the air.
Lighting
Lighting has a profound ability to change our mood instantly. Our eyes are less sensitive to higher wavelength light (warm red) as opposed to shorter wave length light (cool blue), thus leaving us less stimulated and therefore calmer. As a baseline, whenever I move I like to change out any fluorescent light for warm Edison-style LED bulbs that can be bought inexpensively and last for years.
Researchers even believe that certain lighting levels can make us perceive heat and actually feel warmer. Factors like positioning are also at play - intense, central light can make the atmosphere feel strained while lights around the perimeter of the room can make it feel more expansive. Similarly, light positioned below eye level creates a more informal atmosphere. Adding accents like fairy lights and warm table lamps to your burning candles can achieve this. And if you’re a fireplace lover like I am, portable tabletop appliances are available inexpensively.
Throw pillows
Embellished, patterned, plush, and fine, there are infinite combinations of piping, fringe, fabrics, and ruffles to suit any style. Like throws, they offer another opportunity to take risks with color and pattern that may be intimidating on larger, more permanent pieces. Using spare fabrics - even patches of old suits and ties - and a sewing machine or local upholsterer, you can easily and inexpensively create a piece customized to your needs and personal creativity. We had irregular sized rug pieces from one our weavers that we wanted to upcycle and enjoy in a new way. I went to my local fabric store and picked out a stunning velvet backing to complement my woven pieces. Two weeks later I picked up my pillows from my upholsterer and had my own creations adorning my living room.
Ritual tray
Not a soft good, this one might be surprising. But coziness doesn’t only pertain to aesthetic and material, it has to do with feeling held, contained, cared for. Gathering objects that inspire and uplift you - your scented candle, a loving card from a friend, rose water face mist, a motivational book, and perhaps your favorite crystal or tarot deck - can enhance your favorite ritual, whether it be simply sipping a cup of coffee or following a guided meditation and breathwork. Having a gorgeous tray to hold these treasured pieces eliminates the need to reinvent your routine every morning and serves as a visual manifestation and reminder of the care and thoughtfulness you give yourself.
From your grandmothers cabinet to your corner vintage store, this container can take any form, as long as it brings you a little boost of joy.
I can’t stop thinking about one vintage brass tray I spotted recently on consignment recently, similar to this.
While blooms rest in winter and snow obscures nature paths, house plants bring new life into our home. The ritual of caring for them provides an emotional coziness, and they gift us with oxygen to combat the dry heat of our radiators. For lower maintenance, dried plants last indefinitely and remind us of the imminent cycle of spring.
So take a seat on you plush new pillow, drape your soft throw over you, light the aromatic candle on your glistening tray, sip some warm tea or cacao and enjoy the early dusk. Drop us a line or share a photo of your custom creation so we can pass the inspiration around.