Calling a place your official home is difficult, especially for young adults who are constantly moving from their childhood home to university dorms, to whatever comes next. Growing up in my family, there was always a comfortable space to fall back into, and we had the privilege of just existing in a space that always felt like home. Unfortunately, now the cost of living does not compare to how it did when we were growing up. We are struggling to get by, living in rooms the size of a walk-in closet. The idea of a small space used only to sleep in and get ready for the day in sounds depressing and uncared for. It’s uninviting and cold in hindsight, but it could change to be a place that can be cared for. 

To rearrange or revitalize your space, you don’t have to spend a fortune on these changes. It is still enough if you make a few small, yet thoughtful changes that could make a huge difference. If the room can flow with warm, clean, and enjoyable elements, you can make it cozy as well.

The Science Behind Cozy Spaces: Why Comfort Feels Like Home 

The psychology of cozy spaces shows that home comfort is not just visual, but emotional, too. Your environment, of course, affects your mental health. Factors in your home, including its aesthetics, the space provided, privacy, roommates, perception of space, and finances come into play when deciding how to make the space livable and comfortable. While there are negative side effects to a smaller environment—prone to messiness, crowded areas triggering claustrophobia, increase of stress—there are many positive side effects.

Our brains significantly respond to environmental cues that signal security and belonging through interior design that we automatically recognize as safe and welcoming. The science behind cozy spaces reveals how lighting, textures, spatial awareness, and temperature hit a part of our brains and trigger a response that makes houses a true home. These feelings aren’t just emotional—they’re physical and well-deserved. 

How To Curate Cozy Apartment Decor 

There are a number of ways to make the best use of a small space. My most important thing to have in a room in a well-lit window that has a view of nature’s green and thriving life. It has already been proven plenty of times that plants and foliage in the home increase serotonin. This was proven even further in a recent cross-sectional study where scientists explored participants’ risk for anxiety and depression if they had views of green spaces. Results ended up showing that these views did, in fact, reduce anxiety and depression in adults.

For the sake of your mental health, clean regularly and prioritize privacy within a smaller area, especially within a space with many people. Messiness—in even a bigger space—can lead to tension and irritability, so it feels immensely messier in a smaller space. Cleaning can assist in creating a clearer mind, helping with figuring out the layout of said cozy apartment decor; the feng shui and arrangement of the place. Along with privacy from roommates, it gives you time to self-reflect, which is pretty valuable when living with constraints of a small apartment space. 

Styling like a pro is a benefit. No matter what the vibe or aesthetic of the home is, a bookshelf is always a great addition. It can be used to add plants, as I mentioned earlier, memorabilia given by loved ones, candles that can strengthen a warm, cozy atmosphere, and many more little trinkets to fit the energy of the room. Along with bookshelves, the furniture in general is a big key point, as even a single bad piece of furniture can ruin the flow of your day-to-day life. Preference is everything, and, as long as it matches the tone of the room, it can all come together to create a nice and cozy environment. 

Calling any place home can seem to be difficult to some people, but with the right mindset and advice given, it should not discourage you from trying to create your own cozy apartment.

Do you have cozy apartment decor? Let us know in the comments!