According to the explanatory dictionary, comfort is a convenient order, a pleasant arrangement of life, the environment. And what it consists of, including in a country house, is a moot point:
- From cleanliness, order and a minimum of details?
- From a bunch of cute knickknacks and creative clutter?
- Or design renovation and interior design ?
In the first case, there is a risk of turning your house into
a “cold” room, where everything seems clean and laid out on the shelves, but it will be extremely unpleasant. In the second – in the warehouse of various, and maybe not too necessary things. Well, not everyone can afford the third.
In my opinion, the comfort formula looks like this: clean (do not draw dirt a priori) + correct (corresponding to the rhythm of your life, but deposits of objects, of course, must be avoided) + those items that make the house really cozy and warm. They may well be budget or even handmade. Well, since it’s summer outside, and many still have a long-awaited vacation, it’s time to work on the comfort of a country house.
1. Aroma
Have you noticed that every country house smells in its own way? So fragrance is an important component of comfort. Of course, not every smell creates a pleasant atmosphere. There are pungent odors of chemicals (during cleaning, repairs), as well as some products (for example, fried onions or garlic during cooking). They are best avoided. But the aroma of coffee, pastries, pine needles, herbs, fresh flowers is what you need.
Important: An overabundance of any smell, even the most delicious, will tire. Therefore, you need to ventilate the room regularly. Fresh air, especially after rain, also has its appeal.
Also, do not abuse artificial flavors and air fresheners. And if you want to experiment with aromatherapy, you can buy an aroma lamp or make it yourself. Lavender, citrus, mint and wood oils, including coniferous, are best suited for a country house. Heavier ones should not be used.
Important: Incense sticks to create comfort are not suitable. First of all, they are based only on heavy woody, tart, musky aromas. Secondly, the sticks fill the room with a rather specific smoke.
2. Interior style and tone
The most convenient styles are considered: country, English, Provence, vintage. No minimalism, art Deco and avant-garde.
As for the tones, the designers unanimously recommend two types: neutral or warm.
- A warm slightly narrow space, but creating the right feeling of comfort. Especially with the right lighting.
- Neutral shades (gray, white, cream, beige, wood) are close to natural. For example, in a house you can leave the walls and floors made of wood and carefully work out the interior details.
Important: when choosing furniture, you should pay attention to the fact that the most comfortable is wooden (chairs, stools, tables and tables for coffee / magazines, dressers, sideboards, cabinets) and, of course, upholstered furniture (chairs, rocking chairs, sofas, ottomans, etc.). Plastic and glass should be avoided.
3. Interior element
You can “soften” almost any interior with well-chosen details. These include soft (fur) carpets, decorative screens and partitions, sofa cushions, paintings on the walls, handmade trifles, baskets and boxes for small things, jewelry boxes, candles, soft toys.
Important textiles: blankets, bedspreads, chair covers, curtains. It is better to choose soft natural fabrics, comfort is associated with them for the most part, and not with rigid synthetics.
The color scheme can be any. If the color of the room is calm, you can focus on bright pillows and, conversely, smooth out the rich warm shade of the walls with neutral chair covers or sofa upholstery.
4. Lighting
It’s no secret that lighting can dramatically change the appearance of a room. Comfort is added by warm spectrum lamps yellow. Additional light sources can be added to the main chandelier: sconces, floor lamps or night lights. Spot lighting lamps look good.
5. A fireplace or stove
Textiles, lighting and other details can be easily used in a city apartment, but the comfort of a country house depends on the presence of a fireplace or stove. At the mere mention of these words, a country house with its unique warmth and aroma appears before my eyes.
6. “Living area”
There are always fresh flowers in a cozy house. In summer, they can be cut from flower beds or collected in the field. In autumn, you can replace them with a bouquet of leaves. In winter – potted options. Indoor plants are even better called a year-round option: they will decorate the house in winter and in summer will not be superfluous. Pots and vases you can choose from different colors and interesting designs.
And finally, the most important thing is a sense of goodwill and the fact that you are welcome in this house. Perhaps the most budget term: you don’t have to buy and mess around. But without this, comfort is impossible even in the most beautifully furnished house. Agree?