Colorful fabrics and textiles

Whether it's simple quilts, kilims, ethnic patterns, or western florals adding colorful textiles add character, make spaces look better, and more inviting. Patterns are also easier to live with. They will age better and they will hide any fading or subtle stains, making them also a very practical choice. The human animal also must find patterns cozier, homier, and appreciate the visual interest since most cultures around the world preferred to decorate with patterns rather than solid colors.

Image 1 from urbanoutfitters.com, image 2 from Tamar Schechner's flickr, image 3 from anthropologie.com, and image 4 from elledecor.com

Simple textiles with character

Textiles make a room/bed/couch/etc cozier. When picking textiles go for character and simplicity, that way they'll cheer you up and help you relax.  The fancy stuff is for show and you can't really use them comfortably for fear of staining them or pulling a thread, or something.

Top 2 images from brendan-i-am.tumblr.com, the bottom image is from anindiansummer-design.blogspot.com

Colorful patchwork upholstery

Great way to use up left-over pieces of fabric... Don't throw that stuff away, make a quilt or upholster something; cushions, chairs... anything, with patchwork. The colorful stuff adds a casual vibe... creative and fun!

Top image from QuiltsPlusColor.blogspot.com middle image from decoratrix.com and bottom image from butahouse.blogspot.com

Colorful fabrics

Add some color to your life when you can... makes a place cozy, lively, and more uplifting... Those floor tiles in the 2nd image are pretty cool, too.

Images from DenOfOpulence.tumblr.com

Rest easy

Rough stone walls, and crisp simple linens contrast well with the shiny tiles. And just like the stone walls, the tiles are low maintenance and will never need a coat of paint... That should help you sleep better.

Image from iiiinspired.blogspot.com

Kilim cushions

Kilim cushions (and rugs) always add great color and texture. They make any place cozier.

Image from PotteryBarn.com

Serene bedroom

Cool flooring and white linens...

Image from vartnyahem.se but I saw it on style-files.com first

Soothing bedrooms

The general formula = natural and easy going
Some possible specifics (in this case) = Natural textures, stone walls, rough plasters, and modest and crisp textiles

Images from MrAndMrsSmith.com

CCK (Casual Colorful kilims)

I love kilims, they have great color and texture and they're a lot easier to maintain and clean than most other rugs/carpeting. Most importantly though they make any place instantly more cozy. I also love casually layering or overlapping rugs.

Images from MechantDesign.blogspot.com

Easy going bedrooms

Cool linens, a casually made bed, a great view, some fresh air... all make for relaxing rooms that help you sleep well. Screw stuffy bedrooms with beds 3 feet off the ground and covered with decorative pillows.

Images apparently from Toast.co.uk but I saw them on MiaLinnman.blogspot.com

Use what's available

In my opinion, few things are more boring than attempted perfection. All that extra effort to create and maintain it and it doesn't look half as good or interesting... The rough and natural textures here make a strong argument against perfectionism.

Turkish home

This is the Turkish designer Rifat Ozbek's home. Intricate Turkish designs still look laid-back and warm. There is something rustic in their essence.

Images from HomeInteriorDesignThemes.com

Relaxing bedroom

This is one super cool bedroom, isn't it? It has those big windows, those exposed beams, simple and cozy bedding, that ledge by the bed where you can put all your stuff... An overall good looking, simple and very relaxing set-up.

Images from RichardPowers.co.uk but I saw them on Decorology.blogspot.com first.

The way to be

The easy-going and casual vibe of coastal homes offer a lot of inspiration for creating relaxing spaces. As tiny as it might be, that's a very cozy kitchen below, and that little bathroom is very simply put together without pretentious decorations and, it is one of the most inviting I have seen! For homes and everything else, this is the way to be: unpretentious, true to our nature, simple, but clean and well kept.

Images from so-much-more-than-nl.blogspot.com

Cozy by Ralph Lauren

This is Ralph Lauren's ranch in Colorado. He proves that he has good taste by creating a warm, cozy, and most importantly an easy-going place with colorful kilim rugs, distressed leather, and lots of unpolished rough stones and wood.

That's a cool cabinet below. Simply and honestly put together without any fluff or pretense. RL has the good sense to let it show its age and what it's been through.

Images from ArchitecturalDigest.com

Live simply, be happy!

Really nice and cozy summer house. A lot of inspiration for creating an easy-going relaxing and simple living. Kilim rugs and pillows outside really make the outdoors more livable and those shade cloths are really cool, too. Lots of light in the bathroom and those rustic mirror frames all add to the cozy and cheerful feel.

All images from HouseInteriorHome.com

Frameless pictures on walls

There's an inspirational story about focusing not on the cup but the coffee in it. I think picture frames represent a similar situation. Most of the time what we want is the picture that will go in them but we end up spending a lot of time and resources on the frames instead. I say if the picture is something you want on your wall, go ahead and put it there, don't worry about the frame!

Image from SimplyNaturalDecor.blogspot.com