"Cocooning" Is the Monochromatic Design Hack Making Homes Cozier

Your home design may be a representation of you, your interests, and your style, yes, but it should also make your home feel like just that — a home. Making a space cozy can work wonders on one's mood, and so, it's no surprise that the latest interior design trend, "cocooning," encourages all that is warm and fuzzy.

Cocooning quickly circulated on TikTok, proving that people are yearning for ways to make their home more inviting and cozy. Ahead, we explain what cocooning is exactly and get advice from the experts on how to achieve the design trend.

Kathy Kuo is an interior designer and the founder of her eponymous design studio, Kathy Kuo Home.

Aino Heinäsuo is an interior designer and the head of design for the decor game, Redecor.

"Similar to color-drenching, cocooning is an intentionally monochrome interior design motif," interior designer Kathy Kuo tells PS. "The idea is that by limiting your color palette and employing it across the board in your home design, you create a sense of coziness and safeness, like you're literally in a cocoon of your favorite color." At its core, cocooning is about feeling safe and nurtured at home.

There are several benefits to an aesthetic design like this. For one, using one color throughout a room can make a space appear larger. "When the walls, ceilings, furniture, and decor are all in the same color family, the lack of visual breaks and contrast creates a continuous flow, which can make the boundaries of the room feel less defined and more expansive," explains interior designer Aino Heinäsuo.

If you're looking to give the illusion of more vertical space, using the same light paint color on your baseboards, walls, window frames, and ceilings is a great way to trick the eye into seeing that the ceilings are taller, Kuo adds. "The monochrome effect helps to hide some of the dividing lines and architectural quirks that might otherwise contribute to making a space feel more cramped."

Since cocooning involves focusing on just one tone, it's easy to curate pieces for it, making this a great trend for those who often feel stressed styling their home. "If you're looking to cut down on stress by simplifying the decisions involved in a home refresh, cocooning is a clever way to do that," Kuo says. "Focusing on one anchor color is going to give you a narrower range of choices, and that can be helpful if you're looking to make fast decisions that you can still feel confident in."

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, cocooning contributes to a more soothing, relaxing space. Not only can a cozy home boost your mood, promote relaxation, and lower stress levels, but it can also offer physical comfort, leading to better rest and sleep quality.

Curious about how to achieve the look in your own home? Read on for six hands-on tips.

First things first, choose your base shade. If you have a smaller space (or you're only cocooning one room of your home), Kuo recommends sticking with warm neutrals (cream, beige, and sand), lighter earth tones (like sage green, ice blue, or dove gray), and pastels (lavender, mint, peach, and baby blue). "Lighter colors will keep the space from feeling heavy or claustrophobic, and they'll invite natural light and a sense of additional depth," she says.

For a bolder, moodier ambiance, you can opt for darker shades like charcoal, navy, and deep plum, or deep jewel tones such as emerald, sapphire, and burgundy, Heinäsuo adds.

The accents you choose will enhance the overall aesthetic by offering visual interest and balance. For a truly monochromatic motif, Kuo says to go with decorative accents in the same color family but a few shades lighter or darker. "For example, if your anchor color is sage green, you could bring in some decorative forest green pillows or an emerald rug," she says.

You can also play around with various patterns, so as long as they're in the same color range as your base shade. Heinäsuo explains that incorporating accents from a different color family can disrupt the cohesive illusion, making the item feel out of place.

Afraid of your space looking too matchy-matchy? Creating subtle pops of contrasts is a good way to prevent that. "Achieving contrast is most effective through variations in shades," Heinäsuo says. "Try experimenting with darker and lighter tones of the same color to create visual interest, incorporating diverse textures and patterns to enhance the contrast, and mixing smaller and larger patterns in the same color to add depth to the design."

The furniture you choose can make all the difference in making your space feel welcoming and comfortable. Heinäsuo says to choose plush, inviting pieces like cloud sofas and deep-seated chairs that encourage relaxation.

Incorporating texture into your cocoon aesthetic is the single-most way to ensure your space doesn't appear flat. "When a space is drenched primarily in one color, the eye is going to gravitate towards all of the small moments of texture and dimensional contrast — and this can be a beautiful thing," Kuo says. "Creating contrast with different textures and silhouettes all rendered in the same colorway is a great opportunity to be really intentional about your upholstery, rugs, and decor because every surface has the potential to make a statement."

Also, think about adding a diverse range of textures to break up visual uniformity, using materials like wood, metal, and fabric to add layers of intrigue, Heinäsuo says. Some ideas to play up texture in your space include fluted accent chairs, velvet cushions, wool throws, and linen curtains.

Adding curved elements to your space, such as rounded chairs or loveseats, are your best bet for really nailing down the cocoon aesthetic. These pieces create a softer, more inviting look that adds to the snug, enveloping feel, Heinäsuo notes.

This doesn't have to be done solely via furniture. Something like a curved lighting fixture (think: a large floor lamp that extends over the seating area) can help create a sense of enclosure, tying the space together. On the flip side, angular furniture or decor pieces can appear harsh and less welcoming, so avoid those if possible.

Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based beauty and wellness contributor with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She began her career as a publicist, content writer, and social media manager, representing beauty brands and industry professionals. Currently, she is a writer and editor on all things makeup, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle.