Homing 2.0: Tips and ideas for a cosy retreat

Meetings no longer take place in the restaurant or bar. Instead, the kitchen becomes the centre of a social gathering. A film evening together in front of a projector and screen replaces a visit to the cinema, a games evening replaces an event concert. At the same time, people exercise in the home gym and relax after a day in the home office by gardening or cooking. 

• Organise your home into clearly defined (semi-)public and private zones. For example, the dining room and kitchen are ideal for socialising, while the bedroom and living room remain private. 

• Create meeting points. Cooking evenings are held together in the island kitchen, and you can play, laugh and chat with your loved ones at the large dining table - or would you prefer the XL couch for cosy film evenings? 

• Multifunctional, flexible furniture can be transformed in no time at all and adapted to the respective requirements: Thanks to the pull-out function, the desk becomes a large dining area, folding wall tables transform your bedroom into an office zone if required, folding chairs enlarge the socialising table in seconds. Rollable shelves and flexible partition walls create space and privacy as required. 

• Rely on the power of nature: Home textiles made of cotton and linen radiate cosiness and are pleasant to the touch. Linen in particular creates exciting effects thanks to its coarse yet delicately shimmering texture. Arrange green plants and favour solid wood furniture. 

• Use light colour tones to create a sense of space: If life takes place primarily at home, space and width are important factors for your sense of well-being. Wall colours such as cream, rosé or greige, light parquet flooring, curtains or blinds in cream or white make even small kitchens and living areas appear spacious. 

• Utilise the effect of light: Warm light appears golden yellow - which is relaxing and immediately creates a cosy atmosphere. Cold light, on the other hand, is similar to daylight and is ideal for concentrated work. 

Tip: In combined living and working areas, luminaires with variable colour temperature score highly. This allows you to switch flexibly between concentration and mood lighting.

• Create contrasts: Arrange striking individual pieces or eye-catching colour accents to catch the eye. This adds depth to the room and tension to the overall picture. 

• Favour homely furniture: Who says that an office always has to be strictly functional or that the "easy-care" factor has to prevail in the kitchen? Create a feel-good kitchen with wooden cabinets, atmospheric decorations, warm lighting, green plants and cosy seating. 

• Design multifunctional rooms: Whether a room furnished with shelves and a solid wood desk, couch and reading corner with floor lamp serves as an office or living room is hardly recognisable at first glance - and you can look forward to a greater sense of well-being at the workplace.