Along with all the fun and frolics, the holiday season is also a time for relaxing and making beautiful memories. We all want to make our homes feel warm, cozy, and inviting during the holiday, especially when having guests over. The good news is there’s no need to spend a lot to give your home a cozy festive makeover. Here, we’ve gathered a few pocket-friendly tips to add to your Christmas décor this year to create a comfy cozy space that everybody will love!

Calming, Earthy Tones to Soothe the Senses

Color tones set the whole mood in décor and nothing beats earthy neutral shades to emanate a sense of serenity. These cozy shades deliver a vibe of assurance and settlement by making us feel in harmony with nature. Choose the rustic earthy color palette and combine shades like muted white, brown, beige, etc., while picking home accessories or throw blankets for this holiday.

Soft Lighting for a Relaxing Mood

Creating a soothing environment is easier than you think. All you need to do is just to swap the bulbs in your room with warmer hues. Pick the bulbs labeled 3000K or less, they give off a yellowish tone resulting in a gentler cozy mood. Another fun option is to exclusively light a room only with Christmas lights, as they exude a welcoming hue along with a festive cheer.

Use the ‘Rule of Three’ for a Sedate Environment

Experts say that the ‘rule of three’ creates a calming symmetry in home décor. From placing candles to stacking towels, always choose three different variations in size or type. You can imply the rule and play with textures too. Drape your sofa or bed with three covers in different materials, showing parts of each one. It’ll add a homey and cozy layer of softness to your room.

Round Shapes for a Soft Ambience

The shapes of room décor can hugely impact the ambiance. As we commonly perceive sharp angels as harsh, rectangular wall art, rugs, or square pillows can make the interior space look more formal. So, soften the ambiance instead with touches of oval mirrors and a few round throw pillows. This little trick will work wonders by creating a coveted cozy feeling in your room.

Spirit-Lifting Spray for a Festive Vibe

Lastly, bind everything together with a welcoming festive room spray. Spritz a DIY all-natural air freshener to infuse your home with a cozy and inviting aroma, quickly and inexpensively. Just combine one tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water, and some drops of orange essential oil. Finish with sprinkling some dried rosemary, and you’re all set!

Believe it or not, grilled summer produce can taste equally good as a burger. The trick is to follow certain techniques and easy-peasy pointers, and ta-daah – a grilled cabbage can be as good as a juicy steak. Grilling releases umami – that is the fifth taste after sour, sweet, bitter, and salty.

The Marvels of Umami

The umami taste elevates the flavor profile of a food item and lets the brain perceive that the food before us is high in taste value. It also helps the taste to linger long in our mouth. Tomatoes, for instance, are a high source of umami. And, they taste like pure heaven when grilled. Mushrooms, corn, potatoes, green peas, garlic are some of the other food items that come abundant with the umami flavor. The good news is that you can eat them in their grilled avatar and savor a hearty meal with your near and dear ones. For instance, before grilling mushrooms, clean them lightly with a clean cloth. As mushrooms release a lot of water while cooking, avoid soaking them in it before putting them on a grill.

For corn, add butter, red chilies to taste, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of kecap manis. You will feel the multitude of these flavors coming together in every single bite you take. Yum, to say the least! Overall, grilled corn takes less than ten minutes, and is an ideal option for snacking purposes. Now you know what to eat for an evening snack.

Grilling Fruits

For those feeling a tad adventurous, there are juicy peaches and red watermelons to grill. To grill, a peach cut the fruit in half, and douse it with a coating of cooking oil. Wait till you see grill marks on the fruit. Grill the watermelon in a similar way. Garnish it with a hint of lime juice and some walnuts. Don’t forget to enjoy and take pictures for your ‘gram.