Designing A Home Sanctuary: How To Craft An Intentional Space You Truly Love

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Chances are, you’ve heard the saying, “There’s no place like home”—as Dorothy famously said longing to be back home in Kansas rather than the chaos of Oz. We think she’s exactly right: there really is no better space of refuge than your home, which is why we at The Spruce are so passionate about helping you decorate, organize, and design it.

Life becomes so filled with business that it’s easy to overlook what is happening around the house. But, your home can function as much more than a messy landing pad or bland sleeping space. It has the ability to become a haven and sanctuary, a place you are longing to come back to after a tiring work day or weekend away—and you hold the power to create that feeling.

We’re focusing on the idea of your home as your sanctuary as we move into the colder months. Below, you’ll find everything you need to craft the cozy home of your dreams, including the “little luxuries” our editors love, tips for making any space serene, and one writer’s personal journey to creating a peaceful space in the midst of chaos.

Temperatures are dropping, evenings are getting snuggly, and our homes are becoming our happy places. Now is a great time to bust out the small, cozy accents that really make our spaces feel like a sanctuary. Even the simple additions of candlelight and a comfy throw blanket can turn your living room into a haven, though we rounded up much more than that. 
Curating our spaces to feel special can often be a daunting task especially when it comes down to the price. However, all it takes are a few items to transform your space to feel luxe (without breaking the bank).

Whether it’s spritzing a new room spray to refresh your senses or swapping out your old, boring vase for a statement piece, the possibilities are endless for creating a luxurious experience that feels right for you.

Everyone loves a cozy living room, but creating a cozy bedroom that makes you feel safe and warm and sheltered from the chaos of the world is one of the most important things that you can do to increase your well-being and upgrade your living situation. Check out these inviting bedrooms in a range of sizes and styles for inspiration on how to create a cozy oasis that will feel like a giant hug.

If you’ve ever walked into a messy dark room versus a beautiful light-filled space, you know that your environment affects your mood. And after long days out and about, there’s nothing more you want than to come home and relax. 

Luckily, a few considerations go a long way in curating a serene space. So, to take the stress out of the process, we called on interior designers to share their top tips for creating a calming corner of your home—whether you’re using it for meditation, lounging, or connecting with loved ones. Their advice spans the gamut from what colors to use to the best furnishings and more.

Every home deserves a cozy reading nook that is outfitted with comfortable seating, good lighting, a side table for reading glasses and drinking glasses, and soft textiles like throw pillows, blankets, and plush rugs to keep you comfortable while you lose yourself in a book.

When it comes to reading nook design, you can choose a built-in space like a window seat or equip a quiet corner with a comfortable armchair (don’t forget an ottoman or a pouf so you can put your feet up) and task lighting. Read on for tips on how to design a stylish reading nook that will become a peaceful oasis that will make you feel calm and grounded and help you relax and recharge.

If you’re looking to nix the unnecessary items in your home to create a minimalist space, here’s your new mantra: fewer is better. “Less is more” also works, and so does “quality over quantity.” Minimalist spaces clear the clutter, instead focusing on high-quality and much-loved pieces.

There’s an art to creating a minimalist space that still feels warm, inviting, and distinctly you. From carefully curated bookshelves to textured accessories and emphasizing architectural features, there are plenty of ways to create a calm, minimalist space.

If your home has caught a case of the winter blahs, it’s time to embrace your hibernation era. With the addition of a few items—a throw blanket here, ambient lighting there—you can instantly create a warm, comfortable feel in any space. To tap into the cozy vibes from now until springtime, we asked interior designers for their top tips. 

So go ahead, rev up the Netflix marathon. Using texture, color, and candles (lots of candles), you won’t even mind that it’s freezing outside.

After suffering through one of the toughest years of her life, one writer describes how everything in her home soon felt foreign. Her own sliver of a space in Minneapolis that she’d spent seven years tweaking to feel the most her no longer did. As a home and decor writer, she usually finds ample joy in writing all day about ways to beautify your home. But rather than being comforted by the concept of home, she was lost in her grief and suffocated by her own belongings. 

This is her story of how she redefined the concept of a home and soon found “home” all around her.