How to Cosy Up Your Crib: 6 Warm-Hearted Styling Tips (No Heaters or Hefty Bills Required)
Want your home to feel like a warm hug without blowing your budget? Interior designer Emma Blomfield shares six no-fuss tips to make your space feel cosier using what you’ve already got—plus a few extras if you’re feeling flash.
Comfy Without the Cash
You don’t need a McMansion or a trip to Freedom with a $10k credit limit to make your place feel warm. According to interior design pro Emma Blomfield, you can crank the cosiness without cranking up the heater or swiping your card till it smokes.
In fact, she reckons it’s more about cushions, candles, curtains and clever layout than it is about buying anything new at all.
“Cosy doesn’t come from spending money,” she says. “It comes from knowing what to do with what you’ve got.”
Whether you’re in a Sydney studio or a Brisbane four-bedder, these six tips will warm your space—and your soul.
Cosy Conversion – Styling Stats in Oz
| Factor | Aussie Reality Check |
|---|---|
| Avg. Winter Heating Bill (2024) | $390 per quarter per household |
| Avg. Price of Designer Throw | $250+ at boutique retailers |
| IKEA “warm white” bulb (6-pack) | $14.99 |
| % of Aussies using candles | 62% burn candles weekly, 35% for “cosy vibes” |
| Furniture spend per household | Avg. $2,256 annually |
| Emma’s top budget tip | “Use what you’ve got, then fluff it with confidence” |
6 Aussie-Worthy Styling Tips for Winter Warmth
1. Shrink the Sahara: Bring Your Furniture Closer
Got a lounge room that feels more like a school hall? Bring your furniture off the walls and into a “chat zone.” Add a big ol’ rug under your chairs and sofa to anchor the space. Suddenly it’s conversational, not clinical.
Designer Tip: Ditch the oversized modular sofa that swallows guests whole. Instead, mix a medium sofa with two armchairs facing each other.
2. Bin the Big Lights – Warm Lamps Only, Ta
Harsh white light is great for surgery rooms. Not your living room.
“Overhead lighting is the enemy,” says Emma.
Swap to warm white bulbs in table and floor lamps. Bonus points for smart bulbs you can dim from your phone while in full-blown doona burrito mode.
3. Throw Rugs: Chuck ‘Em With Intention
Not just couch bling—these are your arm’s-reach emergency blankets.
Drape them over the lounge or the end of the bed. Emma recommends cotton or wool for winter and linen for texture in warmer months.
Hot Tip: Fold it neatly. Don’t just toss and pray.
4. Curtains: The Unsung Cosy Hero
They soften the room, absorb sound, and can even save on heating costs.
“They finish a space. And yes, that’s worth it.”
Custom-made is best for fit and fall, but even ready-mades can work if hung tall and wide—classic styling trick.
5. Books: More Than Dust Catchers
Arrange them vertically and horizontally, colour-code them or stack a few with a candle or ornament on top. They’re not just smart—they’re style cred.
“Books make a home feel lived-in. And lived-in equals warm.”
6. Sniff Test: Light That Candle
Candles add warmth through scent, not just flicker.
Emma’s go-to? One in the lounge, one at the entry, and a fresh scent in the kitchen that won’t fight with your dinner.
Even one well-placed candle can transform a room faster than a Bunnings sausage sizzle transforms a Saturday.
About the Author
Emma Blomfield is the author of Style Your Home: Design Secrets for Styling with Confidence (Hardie Grant, $39.99). You can find more of her work at emmablomfield.com.
Final Word
If your house feels more like a fridge with hardwood floors, don’t panic—or splurge. Pull in your sofa, dim the lights, and sling a rug with flair. Because warmth isn’t just about temperature—it’s about feeling right at home in your space.
Need help curating a cheap & cheerful winter home refresh? I can build a custom styling checklist based on your layout or budget—just give me a shout.
