Claire Douglas, DIY and home interiors blogger, tells Bored Panda that for your home to feel good, it has to be personalized to the owner’s taste and tailored to suit their lifestyle. “Getting the color palette right makes a huge difference, and the 60:30:10 rule is a great place to start. 

To achieve a cohesive flow throughout your home, use the same palette of colors but in varying proportions using this ratio, and each space will feel unique yet connected to the others.”

She also suggests including layers of texture to add depth, interest, and a grounded feel to a space. Natural materials like wood, rattan, and seagrass are perfect for that. 

For a home to be comfortable, she urges homeowners not to overlook lighting as well. “Layer your lighting with a mixture of ambient, task, and accent lights, as this will allow a space to be functional yet aesthetically pleasing and offer you the flexibility to relax and adapt in the space,” she explains.

Luxury designer Eddie Rider seconds the importance of color, texture, and lighting in our homes. “I think that warm colors and natural materials make a place truly comfortable and inviting. This would mean not using highly polished cabinets, countertops, or floors. When possible, use more floor lamps and less overhead recess.”

Something else Douglas believes is important in the creation of a feel-good space is embracing the idea of dopamine decor and filling the home with carefully curated items that bring joy and evoke happy memories. “Unique and personal touches will always create a more inviting space than mass-produced, fast fashion. Invest in preloved items to save money and access better quality items than your budget might allow when buying new

One of the most common design mistakes Douglas sees that throws off the whole atmosphere of the space is not taking into account the style of the home. “You don't want your rooms to feel themed or like a set because they aren't sympathetic to the house's style, so there is usually an element of compromise between picking an interior style you like and adapting it to fit your space.”

She continues, “Before you get into the details of planning a room scheme, you need to take a step back and look at the space as a whole and also how it fits into the rest of the house because if you don't properly assess the room's needs, it doesn't matter how pretty it looks or how perfectly the shelves are styled; it won't work for you overall, and you won't be happy.”

Additionally, Douglas recommends against rushing into things. “Get samples of paints, materials, and textures and test them in every light, as they will look different at different times of the day as the sun moves and they will look different in natural vs. artificial light.”

She emphasizes again that people shouldn’t overlook the power of color and how it can affect our mood, energy, and happiness. “Consider how you want to use a space and how you want to feel when you're in it and look for colours that promote these feelings. For example, green is a great colour known for its calming effects, whereas red is very energizing and can easily lead to overstimulation of the senses.”

For those who want to make rental properties more welcoming and comfortable, Douglas advises emphasizing the strengths of the home and distracting the eye from the negatives that can’t be changed. Moreover, she suggests, “Set a colour palette for styling, e.g., cushions, sofa covers, throws, stick-on tiles, rugs, art, flowers and plants, lamps, ornaments, books, accessories and freestanding furniture.”

“Add character by using a mixture of old and new by adding vintage and preloved,” she mentions. “Console tables or sideboards are also a great way to add style to a rental, as they are freestanding and come in a huge range of shapes and sizes, so they can be squeezed into narrow or shallow spaces.”

Lastly, Rider concluded by saying, “Think about your budget and plan, plan and plan ahead of time. Have a game plan. You do want an overall vibe and cohesiveness.”