One of the biggest compliments I can get about my home is that it feels warm and welcoming with rooms that you’re dying to cozy on into. I’ve never wanted it to have that perfectly designed, untouchable “showroom” look – home wouldn’t be home if my whole family (dog included!) wasn’t piling onto the sectional watching TV together or I didn’t have my cozy living room swivel chair to curl up in and enjoy my coffee on those rare Saturday mornings where we don’t have somewhere to be. I’m guessing you guys feel the same or you’d be sitting down with a high-end design magazine instead of scrolling through my little blog 🙂
The casually elegant style I love developed slowly over time and with lots of trial and error (there was definitely not a trace of it in our first house – some day I’ll dig up my scary first home photos to show you!) but now it’s second nature. I’ve always felt that adding the “elegant” part is pretty easy – linen fabrics, brass finishes, furniture with graceful lines, and a soothing, neutral color palette will give you that look. But finding ways to mix in the “casual” without it looking like you’ve got two competing styles is where it can get tricky. So I thought I’d share a few ideas that have worked for me to add the “cozy” and “casual” to the “elegant” to create a casually elegant style in your home. Here we go… (post includes some affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here}).
Bring on the Texture with Rattan and Jute!
Furniture and accessories made of rattan, jute, and other natural sources are perfect for adding texture, interest, and warmth to any space. When I look around my home, it’s actually pretty crazy seeing how much rattan and jute I have sprinkled about. One of my favorites is {this rattan chair} that I added to our family room as part of my One Room Challenge makeover last year:
The texture and natural color add the casual vibe I wanted while the gorgeous lines of the chair add some design wow factor as you walk into the room. And I like that she’s a leggy gal since it balances the slipcovered bottom of our sectional (having a mix of leggy furniture pieces with skirted ones is another favorite design tip!).
Another rattan furniture piece I have and love is {this bar cart} in our living room which would also work beautifully for a coffee station in a kitchen nook:
And if larger rattan pieces aren’t up your alley, using some smaller rattan or jute accessories is another way to go. I actually have a crazy number of them in my home (I’m pretty sure there’s not a single room without a few) but my hands-down favorite is {this woven jute basket}. I have two of them and have used them everywhere including as a “pot” for my (now sadly dead 🙁 ) fiddle leaf fig tree:
to store logs by my fireplace, hold blankets and throws, corral shoes at the front door, for dirty laundry in my girls’ rooms and more. I few great baskets like mine or these are must-haves:
I also love woven trays and have one very similar to {this one} that I’ve used on both my family room ottoman and on the console in our home office and I have this great woven tray from HomeGoods that’s part of the little coffee station in our kitchen:
A few other smaller woven accessories to think about are mirrors, placemats, or stools – I picked up this small stool last week (another HomeGoods find!) to use in our bathroom and love the look of it even more than the function of it (we wanted a spot other than the floor to leave a towel to grab when getting out of the shower!):
Natural Woods for the Win!
Natural wood furniture pieces and accessories are total winners for warming up a room! When I decided on an acrylic coffee table from Wisteria and {this chandelier} for our family room, I knew that I’d need a media console for our TV that oozed warmth to balance out these more modern (and in no way warm or cozy), streamlined pieces. I ended up choosing a reclaimed wood media console from Wisteria and was sweating bullets about whether it would “marry” well with my coffee table but I love the two together:
Add Rugs… and Rugs on Top of Rugs!
I’ve lived in homes with wall to wall carpet and also in homes with hardwoods and definitely prefer having hardwoods since they’re easier to clean and they add a more of the clean-lined elegance that I love. But they don’t have the same cozy factor as carpet does so if you have hardwoods, adding some rugs is key! The more plush or chunky the better! I’m a big fan of chunky jute rugs and have three of them in my home, the biggest of which is in our home office with a cow hide layered on top (you can spy the woven jute tray I talked about earlier in this pic too!):
My exact rug isn’t available anymore but {this herringbone jute rug} is similar. Jute rugs are great because not only do they bring in lots of cozy texture but you can get large ones for a lot less than most other rugs. And they’re softer on your feet than you might expect! The only bummer is that they definitely do shed small fibers – when you lift them up, there’s always some fine debris underneath so I vacuum under the edges of mine whenever I’m doing my floors (unlike my other rugs where I cheat and only get under them every now and then).
I’ve also got {this super cozy braided cable rug} in our master bedroom because getting up in the morning is rough enough – I need some instantaneous cozy on my feet when I finally make the move to scrape myself out of bed (and Hope totally agrees!):
Another idea to play around with is adding a smaller rug over a larger rug or a rug over carpet. I layered {this rug} over the carpet in our family room to add some warmth and coziness to the space and it made a huge difference!
The Right Lighting Can Do the Trick!
I know… it doesn’t seem like lighting can be cozy, right?! But there are certain light fixtures that can add the perfect dose of coziness and warmth such as {this woven pendant} in the darling kitchen nook of our local Serena & Lily store:
Traditional wood lamps or even ones with a little twist like the tree slice lamp in our master bedroom (my exact one is no longer available unfortunately) can have the same impact:
Go Slipcovered!
My final tip is to choose slipcovered furniture for some of the pieces in your home. The looser, relaxed fit is so warm and welcoming and I love being able to take slipcovers off to either throw them in the wash (which is what I do for my slipcovered IKEA EKTORP) or have them professionally cleaned (which is what I do for my other slipcovered pieces). And if you move with any frequency, it’s so nice to be able to take your slipcovers off your furniture, pack them separately and then not worry about any dirt or grimey hand prints on your furniture pieces from the whole moving process. In addition to the slipcovered linen swivel chairs and slipcovered IKEA EKTORP sofa in our living room,
the sectional in our family room (see a few pics up!) and the loveseat in our guest room are slipcovered as well:
(And psst… on a total side note, isn’t it wacky how our guest room has both an outlet and a switch in the middle of the wall? Our old house is full of quirky things that I’d love to know the story behind!)
That wraps up this post – hope you guys found it helpful! Let me know if you have any other great tips to add! I’m off to enjoy my weekend and hope that you all will too! I’m crossing my fingers that this weekend will be a little less eventful than the last one was (last weekend my clothes dryer, vacuum, and one of our toilets all broke in the same day – how does that happen?!). I’ll see you back on the blog next week!
Marty Oravetz says
May 19, 2017 at 9:31 pmA great post full of wonderful tips. I love your style and your house, it all looks so pretty and yes cozy and inviting.
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 9:51 pmYou’re so sweet Marty – thank you! I’m glad that you enjoyed the post! 🙂
Tamara says
May 20, 2017 at 7:06 amKris, I always love your tips and everything you do! Your style is inspirational!! xo
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 9:52 pmThanks so much for stopping by Tam! XOXO
Lisa says
May 20, 2017 at 7:11 amMixing natural woven pieces in definitely helps with the casual vibe, and to warm up a neutral color palette, and you’ve done it so beautifully Kris!
Paula Moreshead says
May 20, 2017 at 11:03 amI really like your rug suggestions. I’ve been looking for something warm and natural looking for my living room, so I’ll check those out. I’m totally in agreement with what warm lighting can do for the atmosphere of a room. Great post….thanks!
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 9:52 pmThank you Paula! Good luck with your rug search!
Hailey says
May 20, 2017 at 12:25 pmThank you for the wonderful tips! The rattan furniture idea is amazing!
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 9:52 pmThanks Hailey!
Angie Riley says
May 20, 2017 at 1:17 pmThank you, Kris, for sharing your wonderful decorating style! I accidentally came across your blog looking for suggestions on paint colors, and I’m so happy I found it. I purchased charges, a tray, and a basket from Pottery Barn after seeing how beautiful they looked in your home. You are so right. They definitely added texture and a casual elegance to my home. I never would have tried that look without seeing it work so well in your home. And I love that you make it so easy to shop for your special pieces. I’m a fan!
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 9:53 pmAngie, that’s one of the sweetest comments ever – thank you so much! Happy accidents are the best! 🙂
Janet says
May 20, 2017 at 5:11 pmThanks for the great post. Your home is exactly that, warm & elegant. I’m curious, I’ve wanted a natural rug in our master bathroom, I see you have one in your bathroom. Does it hold up to water? Our PB 8×10 jute rug in kitchen is ruined by water from ice maker near by (water stains & deteriorated). Do you happen to recall where you got your bathroom rug if it does hold up?
Thanks & happy weekend!
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 10:17 pmThank you so much Janet! Our rug in that bathroom actually has held up really well – it’s only my husband who uses that shower so it’s not like there’s ever a sea of water in there (like there can be in my girls bathroom 🙂 but there are no stains at all on it. I have the had three of this exact rug over the past many years and they do shed a lot of fibers at first but otherwise I really like them. I got it on Amazon – I added a direct link to it under the picture of that rug in my post!
classic•casual•home says
May 21, 2017 at 12:09 pmLOVE LOVE LOVE your baskets and natural wood, Kris.
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 10:17 pmThank you sweet friend! XOXO
Susan Champion says
May 21, 2017 at 11:34 pmI decorated my first home with baskets and plants because they were inexpensive and filled the empty corners and even the walls. I fell in love with the natural, warm look of fibers then and still love it now in my slightly more traditional home, although I have upgraded to nicer baskets and trays. I enjoy seeing the photos of your warm, casual, and elegant home. Thank you for sharing it.
Kris Jarrett says
May 22, 2017 at 10:18 pmI love that story Susan – just shows that you don’t have to break the bank to add some beautiful touches to your home! 🙂
[email protected] says
May 23, 2017 at 9:52 amKris, these are wonderful tips. What I love most about them is they are accessible and affordable for all!
You have created a lovely home. And yes, it is warm and inviting but also speaks to the family that lives there. Great job!
Kris Jarrett says
June 2, 2017 at 6:14 pmLauren you are so super sweet – thank you!
cindy hattersley says
May 23, 2017 at 4:46 pmTexture before pattern always wins in my book. Patterns can get old real quick…texture just gets better with age! Great post!!
Kris Jarrett says
June 2, 2017 at 6:14 pmI couldn’t agree more Cindy!
Kristen says
May 24, 2017 at 7:03 pmThese are such great tips! I totally agree with wanting my home to be beautiful but also comfy and cozy for people visiting. A friend told me she felt welcome and cozy at our house once and it was the nicest compliment!
Kris Jarrett says
June 2, 2017 at 6:15 pmI agree, that is totally the nicest compliment!! Enjoy your weekend!
Meredith Conley says
May 26, 2017 at 11:27 pmYou are so talented! I love how you demonstrate that beautiful decor is attainable. I was wondering if you have a post on your upholstery- how you’ve liked it and how it has held up. Specifically, the IKEA sofa above and your swivel chairs and family room sectional. I am perplexed by finding family friendly sofas that are quality and look fresh and clean. Basically, I’m searching for the unicorn of sofas/sectionals. Thank you!
Kris Jarrett says
June 2, 2017 at 6:18 pmHa! I hear you on the unicorn of sofas/sectionals! I really don’t have a post on this but it would be a good one to do! I think the IKEA sofa is a great bang for the buck – we’ve had it four years now and it’s held up really well. But it’s certainly not the quality that you’re going to get from other more expensive brands. My swivel chairs and sectional are all by Lee Industries – LOVE them! American made products that last forever – not the cheapest but definitely not the most expensive either. Crate & Barrel actually sells several of their products and Serena & Lily upholstered pieces are by Lee Industries too!
Laurie Carpenter says
May 27, 2017 at 6:47 pmHi Kris,
Thanks for the wonderful post. I enjoyed your blog several months ago & neglected to add it to my favorites list & have been searching for it again. So happy to have found you & definitely added you to my faves list.
I was guessing about that mystery outlet in your guest bedroom. I had a house built in the late 70’s that had one as well & was told it was to mount a TV on the wall which was a ‘big’ design feature. Who knows, maybe that’s what your’s was for as well.
Keep the great posts coming. I’m a fan!
Laurie
Kris Jarrett says
June 2, 2017 at 6:19 pmAhhh… never though of that! It would make total sense though because while our house is 60+ years old, the guest room was a later addition. Glad you found your way back to the blog! 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!
Hilda Thorpe says
June 2, 2017 at 2:02 pmWhat a great read. Thank you so much for your tips! I’ve been trying to incorporate some elegant pieces in my home but it was difficult making it work. Everything feels much easier now. Thank you!
Kris Jarrett says
June 2, 2017 at 6:20 pmI’m so glad that you found it helpful! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend!
Deb Hoover says
June 19, 2017 at 1:40 pmLove your site! I was looking in your shopping area for the leather bracelet keychain, but could not find it. Could you please let me know where they can be purchased? Thank you so much. Take care.
Kris Jarrett says
June 19, 2017 at 9:55 pmHi Deb! Sorry about that – some of the items on that page are set to rotate to keep things fresh 🙂 I made sure it’s up to stay for a few days so you should find it there now (http://www.drivenbydecor.com/shop)
Kris
Kris Jarrett says
June 19, 2017 at 9:56 pmUnfortunately the exact lamp shown on my bedroom dresser is no longer available 🙁
Kathy Anderson says
July 4, 2017 at 9:15 pmLove your style and your wonderful talent. Thank you for sharing.
I think I made a mistake when buying tables and lamps. The tables are simple clean lined dark wood and the lamps are a greyer brown and look like carved wood. They tend to not go well with the tables. Wish I could send a picture. I’m thinking maybe a light colored textured mat under the lamps to separate them from the tables. The tables look like they are growing lamps! What do you think.
There are pics in my blog listed below. I”m pretty sure a light colored something under the lamp will do the trick. I”m hoping.
Kris Jarrett says
July 21, 2017 at 4:45 pmHi Kathy! Sorry for the late reply! I agree that usually wood accessories (or ones that look like wood) on top of wood furniture usually isn’t the best look. I like your idea of putting some color or texture between the two to break things up – maybe even try a table runner!
Bernadette Faulkner says
August 28, 2017 at 3:44 pmI need great drapery rods for my dining and living rooms. Please advise.
Kris Jarrett says
August 28, 2017 at 10:49 pmHi Bernadette! The type of drapery rods that are best depends a lot on your space but Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware are two of my favorite sources!
Daphne Hendricks says
June 14, 2019 at 7:10 amHi Kris, Great tips! What is the wall to wall carpet in the Family Room? Looks like a low pile loop/berber. Do you know the brand and color? Thank you!