Welcome to the coziest time of the year! The truly cozy stretch of autumn and winter is when we fluff our nests a bit and curate the small changes that make our home individually our own as I discuss in Embracing the Simplicity of Homemaking. If you have copies of ideas from my shop, it’s time to revisit some of them for fresh inspiration. These might include Make Your Home Cozy and some of the other homemaking lists that will help you tidy up your home as we head toward the holiday season.
I’ve been in full cozy mode here, changing things in my home to enjoy the season as much as possible. If you are ready to make some small changes for cozy season, here are ten ways to be cozy at home.
Gather Your Cozy Books
Gather all of your favorite cozy books. Put them in a basket near a favorite reading spot or pile them on a table. They could be favorite:
- novels
- picture books
- recipe books
- holiday books
- seasonal books
Put them in one easy-to-access place and then take a few minutes to enjoy them each day. If money is tight and you need some new reading material for the coming months, check out my post 100+ Free Old-Fashioned Cozy Books for Kindle.
Lamps, Candles, & Twinkle Lights
Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive changes you can make to your home. If you struggle with the darker months of the year, changing your lighting scheme can be a big mental boost. Turn off the overhead lights and use lamps. Light a few real or flameless battery operated candles. Find a few places to hang strands of twinkle lights. Star shaped twinkle lights are adorable and would cheer anyone up to look at them each day!
Snuggle Under Something
Wash up your throw blankets and make them available for snuggling under. I have often put ours in a large basket on the floor in the family room or living room (depending on where we were living).
If you are fortunate enough to still have younger children in your home, pull some picture books or a cozy children’s novel from the book basket each day and snuggle under a blanket together while you read. If you need inspiration, check out these book lists and collections I’ve compiled:
- Homeschooling with Cozy Books
- 100 Classic Children’s Picture Books
- 75 Children’s Books About Farms & Agrarian Life
Bake Something
When the weather turns cooler, it’s so nice to be able to use the oven freely. Bake something yummy for your loved ones using one of your long-time favorite recipes or try something new such as one of these recipes from my favorites:
- Caroline’s Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Muffins
- Loaded Oatmeal Cookies
- Pecan Pie Mini Muffins
- Cranberry Orange Nut Bread
Put Something in the Slow Cooker
I know that InstaPots are all the rage (and even use one myself at times), but I still prefer using my Crockpots (yes, plural). Maybe it’s because the InstaPot is just one more thing that’s based on speed and I’m weary of everything being about speed? I’m not sure. I do know that I enjoy smelling the aromas from the slow cooker for hours at a time and that’s something you simply don’t get with an InstaPot. In any case, here are two easy slow cooker meals.
Cook Something Yummy in the Oven
Now is the time to make all of those wonderful baked dishes you and your loved ones enjoy. Here are a few favorites in our home.
Make Soup
Soup is one of my favorite meals. Here are four that I have made countless times over the years.
This Golden Sweet Cornbread pairs well with many kinds of soups and is made with pantry staples.
Use Your Bread Machine
A bread machine is such a handy kitchen tool as many people have newly discovered. Here are my two favorite bread machine recipes which I have made countless times over the years. These would be wonderful paired with the soups or baked suppers above.
Take a Nature Walk and Bring It Indoors
Go for a walk and look for small bits of cozy to bring into your home. Depending on where you live, you might find:
- pinecones
- acorns
- colored leaves
- autumn flowers
Gather these treasures from God’s creation and put them on a small plate to display or feature them on your mantle if you have a fireplace.
Enjoy Quiet Activities
During the summer, it can be hard to slow down and do quiet activities. Here are some ideas for a cozy hour or two at home.
- Turn on some quiet music and pick up one of your favorite hobbies.
- Write a hand-written letter to someone.
- Call someone for a real phone conversation.
- Write in your journal or even start a journal in a simple three ring binder with these lovely pages.
- Spend time writing out and reflecting on God’s word such as 21 Days of Scripture for Simple Living or Scripture Themes for Simple Living – Peace, Understanding, and Joy
The important thing it to give yourself permission to enjoy this special time of year and help your loved ones do the same. Make the most of what you have. Whatever you do with love will make a difference.
Our Cozy Home No. 44
What lovely ideas! I think I need to find a place to put some twinkle lights!
Just what I needed to read tonight, Sallie🙂. I’ve gotten our favourite quilts and knitted blankets out and have been switched to our burgundy “mid-autumn candle for the table (I have some traditions around which candles we cycle through☺️), but we were just talking today about looking for a few new cozy recipes. I think Caroline’s Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal muffins and your baked potato soup will do the trick nicely.
My daughter and I are enjoying A Quiet Simple Life Planner and Guidebook.
Hygge. Great cultural concept.
What a glorious list of homey and loving ideas! I have all the twinkle lights going here .. want to find some of those stars you talk of too … how enchanting… and also the books for Christmas and Thanksgiving are around ..have many from the forties and fifties I love and cherish from Augsburg Press …. here in Minnesota… and love collecting tiny leaves have many pressed and get them out each year too.. those muffins of Caroline’s are in the thinking of supplies stage to make soon.. and soft blankies too on my wicker couch for me and the cat… how is the doggie you have or is it a cat … lucky whoever it is to be in your loving precious home. love to you and your beautiful family.. bet your leaves are beautiful there…ours still are too .. deep red maples are so gloriously painted and gold Ash and Elm still hanging on smiling. Much Love from us here Merri and my spirit cat Bart.. and soon our own Children’s book coming out ..Miracle for Merri … hope you like it. blessings and Love,Merri x
I love your inspirations for cozy living Sallie! Two thoughts. I use the instant pot a lot. First for pressure cooking of frozen meat followed by the slow cooker button for the all day simmer. I am the worst at pulling meat out of freezer but the IP fixes that problem. Secondly, I have given up buying bread. The lack of nutrition in less expensive bread v the pricey organic breads motivated me to bake my own…every other day. I will never go back, the Lord willing. Thank you again for the inspiration. I am going to try the nature walk. 🙂
Ham and Cheese potatoes. Good recipe I think I will give it a whirl. Another cozy addition to the list for us is music. Mostly classical but I am occasionally fond of a good opera. Another is a glass or two of fine Tuscan or French wine (normally red and either Bordeaux or Burgundy) with a well appointed cheese board. On the weekends I treat myself to a snifter of excellent French brandy, strong coffee and some Belgian chocolate or Italian biscotti. My wife may pamper herself with a class of quality Spanish sherry. Lovely way to meet a Saturday dusk in the fall or winter.