No matter what form it takes, we all crave a little comfort in our surroundings. For some, it’s a warm blanket, a cup of tea, and the sound of rain outside. For others, it’s sunlight streaming through the windows, colorful paintings on the walls, or a room full of plants. And while our tastes may differ, there’s something beautiful about how this simple desire brings us together.
On the subreddit r/CozyPlaces, people share pictures of their favorite little corners and hideaways, and they all have their own charm. We’ve rounded up some of the most inviting ones below. Scroll down to see what cozy looks like to everyone!
#1 I See Your Violin And Music Studio And Raise You A Lookout/Wood Carving Workshop
Image source: seloki
#2 Made This Corner Of My Fave Room Extra Cozy
Image source: maybe_caro
#3 Celebrating 1 Year In Our Sunny Chicago Apartment!
Image source: ig_gnome_inious
Everyone has their own idea of what makes a place cozy, but there are a few things most of us seem to agree on.
Usually, cozy means having somewhere to settle in without being disturbed, where we feel safe enough to let our guard down. It’s the kind of spot we enjoy being in, even when we have nothing in particular to do.
And there may actually be an evolutionary reason why we’re drawn to such surroundings, one that goes all the way back to how our ancestors lived.
#4 My Parents Place In The North Of Sweden During Winter!
Image source: FutureBreak
#5 My Apartment During Sunrise!
Image source: Howdy_the_frog
#6 Some Of You Asked To See More Photos Of My Moms House
Image source: Alternative_Pie_875
In 1975, British geographer Jay Appleton developed prospect-refuge theory, which suggests that humans may naturally prefer places that offer both shelter and a good view of their surroundings.
For our ancestors, choosing where to rest was an important part of staying safe. An open area made it easier to spot approaching predators, but it also left them exposed.
A sheltered spot with a clear view, such as a cave entrance, could offer the best of both worlds, allowing them to see potential danger without being easily spotted themselves.
#7 I Passed By This Restaurant In Saigon And Had To Stop Just To Stare
Image source: unanatkumot
#8 My Girlfriends Cozy Farmhouse In Norway, With A Winter & Summer Comparison:)
Image source: Babajengis
#9 My Wife And I Painted A Mural In Our Baby’s Nursery
Image source: __RebelRebel__
Of course, these days, we don’t really have to worry about predators sneaking up on us while we’re getting our eight hours of sleep or working on our laptops. But some of those old instincts may still be with us.
They might help explain why it feels so satisfying to sit by the window on a bus and watch the world go by, or curl up in a little reading nook tucked away in the corner of a room.
Both offer that pleasant feeling of being sheltered while still having a view of what’s happening around us.
#10 We Transformed Our 90s Entertainment Center In A Reading Nook
Image source: payneinthemike
#11 My Self-Converted School Bus
Image source: sloppyjoesaresexy
#12 How I Separated My Bed In My One Room Apartment
Image source: auradasos
Thankfully, we now have plenty more ways to make ourselves comfortable, and we’re free to experiment with whatever makes us happy. Different cultures have also developed their own traditions around enjoying a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
In Denmark, for example, there’s a whole concept dedicated to it called hygge. It’s such an important part of Danish culture that the word has become popular around the world.
#13 This Little Corner At A Hotel I Was At
Image source: silenceinthismeyham
#14 The Daybed In Our Living Room On A Sunny Day
Image source: Lotan
#15 I Live On A Boat, It’s My Cosy Place
Image source: elizabethanyay
Hygge is all about taking time away from the daily rush to enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
That might mean having a relaxed dinner with friends or spending a peaceful evening at home. Candles are particularly popular for creating the right atmosphere, especially during the country’s long, dark winters.
But hygge isn’t limited to cold weather, as Danes also enjoy it during summer picnics and outdoor gatherings. And perhaps the nicest thing about the idea is that you don’t need anything expensive to take part.
#16 I’m A Fire Lookout And Violin Maker. My Workbench In The Mountains Of Montana
Image source: Both-Invite-8857
#17 My Balcony Where I Spend All Of My Time Ft. My Cat Tater
Image source: mynameisfritz
#18 My Dad Made A Lamp For Me That Made My Den 10x More Cozy
Image source: damestillmen
Meanwhile, in Japan, there’s a philosophy called wabi-sabi, which is all about finding harmony in imperfection. Wabi refers to simplicity and natural beauty, while sabi means appreciating the charm that comes with age and wear.
Together, they teach us that nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect. Although the idea applies to many aspects of life, it can also influence how we think about our homes and the things we surround ourselves with.
#19 My Late Grandfather’s Personal Library/ Study And My Favorite Place In The World
Image source: melkor237
#20 My Neighborhood Is So Pretty
Image source: lemonsnakey
#21 Repurposed Old Color TV From The Early 90’s Into Cat Apartment
Image source: blind-prostitute
For example, a handmade bowl with an uneven shape might look like a mistake to some, but through the lens of wabi-sabi, its irregularities make it one of a kind. A wooden table covered in scratches tells the story of years of use and all the meals enjoyed around it.
Even a birthday bouquet that’s starting to wilt after a week can be appreciated for what it represents: a lovely gesture from someone who cares, made all the more special because the flowers won’t last forever.
#22 A Corner Of My Old Bedroom
Image source: SnoozyRelaxer
#23 First Fall In Our New Home!
Image source: SCC852
#24 My Well-Loved And Lived-In Home (Minneapolis, MN)
Image source: FriskyGatos
There’s a lovely story that illustrates this idea in The Book of Tea, written by Kakuzō Okakura in 1906. It tells of the famous Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyū, who asked his son to clean a garden path.
The young man carefully swept the path and washed the stones, repeating the task several times until everything looked spotless. But no matter how hard he tried, his father was never satisfied.
Finally, Rikyū stepped into the garden and shook a tree, scattering colorful autumn leaves across the freshly cleaned ground. To him, a little natural imperfection made the garden even more beautiful.
#25 I’m 30 And Finally Able To Live On My Own In My Own Place
Image source: Oatmeal_Warrior69
#26 My Grandparents Sun Room Is My Favorite Spot In The World
Image source: brandamam
#27 My Front Patio For The Next Two Months While I Work Remotely
Image source: FallacyDog
And perhaps that’s a nice lesson to take away when thinking about our own cozy spaces. They don’t have to look like something from an interior design magazine or be perfectly clean and spotless to be a pleasure to spend time in. The furniture can be mismatched, and a favorite old armchair might have seen better days.
What matters is that you enjoy being there, whether it’s because of the atmosphere you’ve created or the memories you’ve made.
#28 Finished My Mural In My Bedroom!
Image source: ig_gnome_inious
#29 My Parents Bath Space
Image source: RangerJack420
#30 We Made A Lifelong Dream Come True Last Week And Bought A Cabin In The Woods
Image source: JNJP76
#31 The Kitchen In My First House
Image source: ceciliaeffa
#32 First Snow Day In Our Solarium
Image source: maybe_caro
#33 There Was Some Good Evening Light In Minneapolis Last Night
Image source: tenglempls
#34 Hung These Candles For Halloween, But I Am Definitely Never Taking Them Down
Image source: jerm930
#35 My Brand New Apartment Here In Mexico!
Image source: muan2012
#36 2 Years And A Lot Of Salvaged Materials Later We Are Done With Our Kitchen
Image source: seannash1
#37 Just Moved Into My New Place
Image source: j0shuakleach
#38 Finally Finished Decorating My Cozy Garden Unit In Chicago, IL!
Image source: ig_gnome_inious
#39 Slow, Sunny Mornings At My Apartment In Baltimore, MD
Image source: AffectionateDevice
#40 My Little Bathroom Sanctuary
Image source: sacralsight
#41 My One-Year-Old’s Bedroom After Dark
Image source: __RebelRebel__
#42 This Is Our Little Hideaway In This Big, Crazy World
Image source: Ezrafina
#43 First Home Owned And It’s 97 Years Old
Image source: 940guy
#44 Coziest Place I Know: My Mom’s City Garden
Image source: edith_hbr
#45 Snowy Sunday Morning In Maine
Image source: Atticus248
#46 Adult Pallet Sesh In My Living Room
Image source: spiritualaroma
#47 My Teen Sons Bedroom ( Swipe For Before)
Image source: ohhomelygirl
#48 Once Upon A Time, I Lived In A Converted Shed In New Mexico
Image source: No-Werewolf-8092
#49 My Wedding Last Night
Image source: Phineous
#50 My Grandparents’ Living Room
Image source: JTKSR1
#51 My Wife’s Little Office
Image source: mlewis03614
#52 I Woke Up To The First Snowfall Of This Winter
Image source: Thick_Basil3589
#53 Since We Are Moving, I Had To Say Goodbye To My Reading Nook Today
Image source: gummibaumchen
#54 My 70s Sunken Living Room – St Paul, MN
Image source: ongnoi
#55 The Interior Of My 33′ Sailboat
Image source: Lowcountry25
#56 My 1903 Wisconsin Home After A Heavy Snow
Image source: RK_mining
#57 Getting Snowed In At Grandma’s
Image source: shepherdish
#58 My Friend’s Kitchen In Ireland
Image source: No-Geologist1568
#59 Our Coffee Spot For This Rainy Morning In The Mountains
Image source: OverEasyGoing
#60 Nighttime Version Of Our First Apartment Together
Image source: troubleseemstofollow
#61 Waking Up With This View In A Warm Down Sleeping Bag
Image source: 5HT2C
#62 My Current Build In Red River Gorge KY
Image source: donedoer
#63 I Love My Kitchen
Image source: Defiant-Scale-3348
#64 Moving Out, I’ll Really Miss This Place:’)
Image source: colorwaved
#65 Little Cafe Nook Overlooking A Norwegian Waterfall And Mountain
Image source: CondoleezzaVice
#66 My Catio During The Day And Night
Image source: OneManFiveCats
#67 My Grandma’s House In Southwestern Sweden (Part 2 With More Pics!)
Image source: Quzga
#68 Glimpse Into My Treehouse
Image source: dahtdy
#69 I Just Moved Last Week And I’m In Love With My New Backyard
Image source: bowie_nipples
#70 Couldn’t Afford The Wallpaper I Wanted, So Painted Instead. Can You Spot My Cat?
Image source: Pinkpurplegreentea
#71 My Beautiful Hallway, The Last Picture I Took Before We Sold The House
Image source: ceciliaeffa
#72 My First Apartment In Amsterdam
Image source: uncomfortoble
#73 Enjoying My First Spring In This House
Image source: santajoanaprincesa
#74 Coziest Golden Hour
Image source: orlandoplantlady
#75 Morning Sun In Portland, Oregon
Image source: Fig_Fanatic
#76 My Kitchen In The Mawnin’
Image source: spiritualaroma
#77 The Bookseller’s Cottage
Image source: Meg_Bookslinger
#78 Rainy Nights In Singapore
Image source: updootboi
#79 The View From My Living Room
Image source: SorryLifeguard7
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