Five Things Making My Cottage Home Cozier This Week

In the Mitten, February and March are a couple of months of waiting. The landscape around me is still a shade of grey, winter is still official on the calendar, the ground is still frozen and often tucked under a blanket a snow. Although I love the beauty and fun the winter months bring, it’s only natural that my heart and home longs for the first signs of spring. Today, I’m bringing a sense of slow spring into my cottage home. You don’t need a major renovation or a big budget to breathe new life into your space. I’ll share five things making my cottage home feel extra cozy as we bridge the gap between the frost and the flowers, together.

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A Morning Candle & Devotional Ritual

Every morning, I start my day reading a devotional. I make my favorite cup of tea and light a candle for extra coziness. Currently, I’m reading Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst. It’s packed with 100 really good devotionals and is a great way to start the day!

If a devotional isn’t really in your wheelhouse, no worries! My morning ritual is all about the pause before your day starts. You could swap the devotional for a book of poetry, a gratitude journal where you jot down three things your thankful for, or even just five minutes to enjoy the quiet. The goal is to fill your own cup before you head out to fill everyone else’s.

Fresh Blooms on Every Surface

Flowers and plants just seem to make everything a little more happy! Even though the temps are still very low, bringing some flowers into my cottage gives me the hope that spring is right around the corner.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on flowers. Places like Trader Joes and your local grocery store are a great resource often having bouquets of tulips, pussy willow, babies breath and alstroemeria (also known as the Peruvian lily). These are all budget-friendly and will look beautiful in your home.

For these beauties, I used a large ceramic pitcher and Chinoiserie vase. I’m all about using what you have and you’d be surprised what you can use to display your pretty flowers. A large mason jar or your favorite thrifted find will work great!

I also love to challenge myself to reach into the very back of the storage closet or china cabinet, pulling out a vase or heirloom piece that hasn’t seen the light of day in a while. I know we all have those pieces! Giving an old favorite new life with a fresh bundle of flowers is the easiest way to add a spring touch to your home.

If you’re looking for more ways to style your stems, I have a post Bringing the Outdoors In: Fresh & Faux Greenery & Florals. It’s packed with tips on how to mix the real with the almost real for a cottage look that lasts all season long!

Blankets That Tell a Story

In my house, so many of the blankets or quilts I have tell a story. They were lovingly made by my mother, my aunts, my grandmother, and some were even made by me. My collection of blankets are made up of purchased material, scrap material and even pieces of material given by others, who also love and share the gift of sewing. Every stitch represents a memory or a person , making a chilly Michigan afternoon feel like a little hug from the past. And who doesn’t love a good hug?

If you have a collection of blankets, or maybe you have just one that’s extra special, I encourage you to bring it out and use it. If it’s too precious to use at least display it in your home. Even if it isn’t the exact color, these items are a beautiful reminder that the most meaningful decor isn’t what we buy, but what we carry with us in our hearts and through the years.

Something Warm from the Oven

You know, there’s a specific kind of magic that comes from something baking in the oven. The yummy smells just carry through my cottage home. In these weeks between winter and spring, I find myself turning to the oven not just for more warmth, but for a taste of the seasons to come.

Nothing says ‘The Mitten” quite like cherries. Did you know that Michigan is known as the cherry capital of the world? If not, you do now! My Ultimate Cherry Oatmeal Cookies are fruity, chewy and delish. The perfect cookie for a dreaming of spring kind of day!

Another reader’s favorite is my Blueberry Buckle. This recipe is very easy to make and when it comes to baking, I’m all about easy! It’s a traditional, crumbly coffee cake that uses one of my favorite fruits. Serve a piece warm with a cup of tea and it will feel like a promise that berry season isn’t as far off as it seems!

Whether you’re baking for a house full of littles or just to brighten your own day, putting something warm in the oven is the quickest way to turn a house into a home…a very good smelling home!

A Treasure from the Past

The last thing making my home cozy this week is a thrifted treasure. I enjoy thrifting and try to get out a few times a year. Estate sales and vintage markets offer so many wonderful finds. When I go I’m so intrigued by the stories behind the pieces. Who had it before me? Where was it made? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if each piece came with a story tacked on to it?

Thrifted items and family keepsakes add so much beauty and character to a home, and the best part is they are budget-friendly home decor. This week, I pulled out a vintage frame and added a free downloaded piece of art. I styled it on the cabinet inside my front door and I love the way it looks.

Your Turn: What’s Making Your Home Cozy?

There you have what’s making my home cozy this week as I wait and dream of the spring to come. I hope these five simple touches remind you that coziness isn’t about perfection. It’s all about the intention we pour into our homes. I’d love to hear what’s making your home cozy. Drop me a comment below!

While we wait for spring, here’s to being cozy!

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