Cozy Corners: 10 Easy Home Refresh Ideas For Transforming Small Spaces

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What is a “Cozy Corner”?

This week was the first week of Fall and yesterday, I felt it. There was a constant heavy, cold rain falling all day and everything in my being was screaming “STAY HOME today!!!”

Sadly, I had errands to run and work to do so I was out in the weather all day instead. But the SECOND I returned home that afternoon I made a beeline for the living room. I flicked on the fireplace for the first time in months and curled up under the soft, cozy blankets I had recently draped over the sofa. Then, I burrowed down under them and surrendered to a much needed, luxurious nap.

When I woke up I felt like my body had absolutely melted into the comfort of the moment. I was relaxed, at peace, and so grateful to just be at home.

Have you ever felt that? Where you completely surrender to enjoying a space you’ve created?

If you haven’t felt that way in awhile, I have a few quick + easy home refresh ideas for you in today’s post.

True to my home styling and decorating philosophy, these are all small projects that you can do in an afternoon, whenever the mood strikes. I call them “cozy corners” because most people don’t know what to do to fill in the corners of rooms and these are some of my favorite suggestions.

Just know that these don’t literally have to be in a corner. They can be anywhere that you have some extra space!

Quick + Easy Home Refresh Ideas: The Basics

• First, start by using what you already have (just rearrange things a bit!).
• Then, add a new accent or two if you feel like something’s missing or needs an update after you’ve styled the initial vignette.
• Finally (and this is KEY!), make the time to actually sit down and enjoy the cozy corner you’ve created.

10 Styling Formulas To Help You Confidently Achieve These Easy Home Refresh Ideas

1. Book Nook

The Formula: Chair + Blanket + Side Table + Lamp.

This is a classic combination that works in any room of the home.

I especially love it in the corner of a bedroom or home office! It will soften the space and make it instantly feel more cozy.

Here are a few more things to consider if you want to create a book nook.

Interior Styling Tips:

• Think out of the box with your side table. You can use garden stools, small dining/cafe tables, or even a flat barstool as a side table! Get creative.
• If your side table is on the smaller side, consider a floor lamp to get reading light without taking up too much space.
• If you read a lot, you might consider investing in a chaise lounge, recliner, or a chair with a matching ottoman. Or, simply pull up a footstool or pouf to prop your feet on!
• If you have a lot of books, magazines or study materials, you can also add a small basket on the floor nearby to keep them tidy!

2. Game Table

The Formula: Small Table + 2 chairs + An Activity

You see this in a lot of design magazines (it’s a designer trick to fill an empty corner), but not a lot of actual homes.

I’ve played around with it in my own house and I’m happy to say that my family LOVED the addition of a small game table to our living room. It’s a great place to play games/do puzzles (obviously) but it’s also a great spot for homework or having a snack.

If you are on the fence about this, test it first.

Steal 2 dining chairs from your table and some other piece of furniture approximately 24-30″ wide (like a round barstool or a side table). Move it around to different places in your living room to test what it might look like. You might have to rearrange your other furniture to find a good layout!

I talk a little more about having a table in this article: Do This If You Feel Stuck Decorating Your Open Concept Living Room – if you’re feeling stuck decorating your living room in general, you might want to check it out!

3. Coffee or Tea Ritual Station

The Formula: Console, Cart, or Tray + Mugs + Drink Making Supplies

I’m obsessed with this particular decorating project, so much so that I’ve already written several blog posts about it. The basics here are just putting your daily supplies out in a pretty container on a cart or blank surface in your kitchen with some pretty seasonal mugs.

But if you want to go a little bigger, you can read very detailed posts about creating different kinds of beverage stations by clicking one of the posts below:

4. Baking Prep Corner

The Formula: Baking Staples + Mixer + Pretty Utensils

If you love baking, freshening up your baking supplies and arranging a baking prep corner is one of the most satisfying easy home refresh ideas.

In the photo above you can see my actual baking station, which I planned when I organized my kitchen. I keep all my baking supplies in this bank of drawers and use the countertop above as my baking surface. If you are interested in learning more about setting up a home baking station you can get more organization details by clicking here and here.

If you’re looking for quick + easy home refresh ideas though, focus more on the design aspect of this project.

Interior Styling Tips:

• Fill some earthy stoneware jars with baking staples like flour + sugar and display them on your counter within easy reach.
• Deep clean your stand mixer (or upgrade to one of the fun new colors- I love this deep green one with a wood bowl!). Display it on the counter.
• If your baking utensils have seen better days, replace them. I am obsessed with this line. They come in a variety of neutral colors, feel good in your hands, and are a low-cost update that makes a big difference in your daily kitchen experience. Place your new set in a vintage crock or copper jar for seasonal warmth.
• Add a stack of pretty hand towels or some new potholders in fabric that matches your seasonal palette to bring some texture to your display!

5. Fireside Chat

The Formula: Two Chairs + Lumbar Pillows + Footstools

Most of the year I don’t have chairs near the fireplace in our living room, but sometimes in Fall and Winter, I like to rearrange things and put a pair of chairs in front of the fireplace. I don’t know why, but it instantly makes the space feel so cozy.

I’ve always been obsessed with inglenooks, so maybe that’s why?

If you already have a pair of matching chairs, why not try putting them closer to your fireplace in a dedicated conversation area?

You can have them face each other with an ottoman between as in the image above (so cozy!) or angle them both toward the center of the room.

If you don’t already have chairs and are looking to buy them, I suggest SMALL scale swivel chairs for this particular project because they’re more versatile to find homes for during other times of the year. Plus, the swivel feature makes it easier for people to move toward/away from the fireplace heat as needed.

6. Crafting Corner

The Formula: Work Table + Craft Supplies + Washable Rug

I chose a kids’ project table in the graphic above, but this concept can work just as well for adults…just use a bigger table!

Whether you’re scrapbooking, coloring, or making a needlepoint masterpiece, it can be fun to have a dedicated craft station in your living room.

One year during the holidays I pushed our dining table up against the back of our couch so my daughter and I could craft and wrap presents while we watched Christmas movies. I liked it so much, I left it for most of the season!

Interior Styling Tips:

• Check Facebook marketplace or your local thrift shop for a small table- vintage tables tend to be smaller in scale than a lot of what is available today. Plus, they’re usually priced well and add warm character to your decor!
• If you’re setting up this area for kids, put a washable rug underneath to catch paint, glue and glitter.
• Also, adding a cute organizer caddy can keep your supplies organized!

7. Music Moment

The Formula: Pretty Plant + Record Player + Vinyl Storage

Truly, a perfectly curated playlist is the best shortcut to transforming the mood in your home. Why not set up a listening station in an empty corner?

Interior Styling Tips:

• Modern record players offer the best of both worlds: they can play new and vintage vinyl albums AND stream your favorite tunes via bluetooth. They are such a fun way to add some nostalgia to your space.
• Choose a dedicated record player cabinet or simply place this vignette on an existing bookshelf or console table.
• Hearth + Hand often has pretty record storage solutions that change with the season.
• Add a cute house plant to finish off the grouping!

8. Warm Welcome

The Formula: Bench + Knit Blanket + Floor Basket

Next up, consider this cozy alternative to an entry console. A pretty upholstered bench or settee is a great spot to sit and take off your shoes!

Interior Styling Tips:

• Drape a chunky knit blanket over one corner with a coordinating throw pillow for added layers of texture/color.
• Place a large floor basket next to the bench to hold shoes or other odds and ends that accumulate in the entryway.
• A large mirror or a group of framed prints would look great on the wall above the bench!

9. Writing Table

The Formula: Small Desk or Table + Chair + Pretty Cup of Pens/Markers

I have an office with a full desk, but for awhile I set up a small writing desk by the window in our bedroom and I really enjoyed journaling there.

A small, uncluttered writing desk is a perfect spot for journaling and you can tuck this into so many areas. If you don’t have a dedicated office, make sure to choose one with a drawer or two to store essential desk supplies.

Interior Styling Tips:

• Choose a comfy yet unique chair that coordinates with your home decor. This is a great place to use a one-of-a-kind vintage find or a vintage-look piece like this one.
• Add a vintage pencil cup with a set of matching pens so you always have one handy (I like mint Julep cups and brass plated options- search “vintage julep cups” on Etsy or EBay)!
• Additionally, you can add a small candle to this for a nice am/pm writing ritual.

10. Scent Station

The Formula: Tray + Scenting Device + Supplies (Melts, Pretty Matches, Oil)

Scent is also very important when you’re crafting the atmosphere of your home, so setting up a pretty “scenting station” is one of the easy home refresh ideas that will have a big impact on the way your home feels.

Interior Styling Tips:

• Start with a pretty tray to define the vignette and protect the surface from spills and drips! I love metal trays for this.
• Add your preferred scenting device (essential oil diffuser, wax melter, candle) and any required supplies.
• If you need matches, make them pretty with a decorative match holder!

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As you can see, focusing on small spaces is a great way to experiment with some easy home refresh ideas! All of these projects can make cozy corners in your home without breaking the bank or taking so long to complete that you lose steam.

If you’re ready to dive in, plan to pick ONE project to start this weekend. Remember, you don’t have to buy a thing…just have fun playing with what you have and being creative!

I’d love to know… which corner will you refresh first? Add a comment and share your plans with me—I’d love to hear what you’re thinking.

xoxo,