It’s not even half way through September here in Ottawa and the weather has taken a cool turn. While in my mind, the windows should still be open, we should all still be wearing shorts and t-shirts and enjoying some drinks on patios, the breeze has gotten a little too brisk for my liking. One way to make yourself feel better about sweater weather is thinking about spending those cool afternoons curled up on the couch at your home. Living on your own either in a house or an apartment might make feeling ‘cozy’ difficult, but I’m going to provide you with a few different ways you can feel right at home and keep warm as the summer breeze turns into a fall crisp.
My parents joined me for an annual trip to Ottawa as they have every labour day weekend for the past three years. There’s always a sense of sadness as I leave home and my family to head to school for a year where the luxuries of home are no more and we have to ‘make do’ with our budgeted lifestyles at school. We made our way to Ikea to see if we could spot some key pieces that could turn my apartment from cool to cozy and found a great rug! Rugs are a good way to fill some space, warm up a room and add a touch of interest to the colour palette and texture of a space. Head out to an Ikea, Home Sense or other home décor store to pick up a rug that will warm up your living space in no time.
I have been on the search for a perfect faux fur blanket for a few weeks now, even before the weather was appropriate to be using such a heavy blanket. These can be sometimes on the pricey side but as the winters in Ottawa are so cold for so long, I consider it another investment piece for survival. I have seen some fabulous fur blankets at Pottery Barn and Chapters.
Last but not least, candles are an easy and inexpensive way to warm up any living space. The smell of pumpkin spice or apple pie fills the room and for a second may even make you believe there is a baked good in the oven! Usually when I come home from class, one of the first things I do is light a candle and shortly after turn on the kettle for a nice cup of tea.
How do you make your home feel cozy? Comment below to share your ideas of how to feel at home this fall while you’re away at school!
Photo Creds:
Photo 1: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/250160954271140323/
Photo 2: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/272678952410927820/