How comfortable is your house?

Scent   

Most of us are sensitive to chemicals. One secret to a cozy and comfortable home lies in sticking to as many all-natural products as you can such as beeswax and lemon furniture polish, and the earthy smell of all-natural rugs.

Sight

1. Nothing says "home” like the sight of soft warm light from beeswax candles, firelight, or lamps. If you don’t have a working fireplace, the glow of beeswax candles will do beautifully to create that soft light our ancestors associated with the safety of home. Lamps set invitingly on tables are often a better choice for room lighting.

2. Colors that are pleasing to you are a vital element in the cozy home. Warm colors in the cooler months and cool colors in the warmer months tend to make our bodies feel more balanced, but your favorite colors–whatever they are–will always be pleasing to you.

3. Items of interest, like paintings, art objects, and things from nature–can make a home feel cozy and special. Beauty is a very subjective thing, but our eyes enjoy resting on things we consider beautiful; it makes us feel at peace.

Touch

1. No matter how good a house smells or looks, if the surfaces you sit or lie down on are hard and unpleasing, it just won’t feel cozy. Soft, natural fabrics are essential to a cozy home.

2. Textures that are interesting invite us to explore, and we feel at home in the delights of discovery. Try bringing in different natural textures–stone, marble, wood, leaves, shells–that invite touch.

3. Surfaces that feel dusty, dirty, or sticky won’t lend themselves to coziness. The degree of cleanliness is a personal matter, but most of us agree: too much dirt doesn’t feel very good.

Hearing      Try just sitting still with your eyes closed and notice what sounds you hear. Is there a lot of noise pollution in your home? Such as a refrigerator that rattles loudly, a television or radio blaring, the noise of construction or traffic outside? A tabletop fountain might help to give a serene note to the sounds in your home. Do what you can to reduce the noise pollution in your home and keep volumes turned down whenever possible.

Sixth Sense     Then there is that "something” that can really add or detract from a home’s cozy-rating. Call it energy or atmosphere–if the people in your home are tense and unhappy, chances are the house won’t feel all that cozy. It is truly a circular thing: the more of an effort you make to keep a cozy home that pleases all the senses, the happier its inhabitants will be–and the cozier your home will become.

 Home, safe home.

Be prepared

Have telephones in easy reach

Place emergency phone numbers near every phone in your home.

Buy a first-aid kit.

Avoid Fires

Install smoke alarms throughout the house.

Never smoke in bed.

Turn off appliances when they are not in use.

Run electrical cords along walls, not under rugs.

Don't overload outlets and extension cords.

Never store flammable liquids near heating un

A Recipe for Careful Cooking

Keep flammable objects such as curtains, aprons and dishtowels away from stoves.

Never wear loose clothing near a stovetop while cooking.

Never leave cooking unattended. 

Heat oil slowly. Heating oil too quickly can easily start a fire.

Always clean appliances and surfaces after cooking to prevent grease buildup.

Make sure handles on cookware are secure.

Avoid bumps, burns, bruises and falls

Install rubber mats in bathtubs and showers.

Close cabinet doors and drawers when they are not in use.

Keep staircases and hallways free of clutter.

Never go up and down stairs carrying things that could put you off balance.