Temperature
Temperature will always make a big difference in whether or not family and friends are comfortable in the home. Although it's not the biggest factor, it is one of the most important ones. No one likes to just sit around during the hot summer months in a home that is stuffy and over heated. And no one wants to just hang out at a house during the cold winter months when the home is freezing cold because you're trying to save a buck or two. Finding a happy medium between the two polar opposites will help to contribute to a comfortable home. Here are some tips to keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter:

• If you don't have air conditioning then keep your ceiling fans running so that the air circulates and doesn't just sit and make things stuff.


• Try to avoid using the oven as this will only make the temperature rise. Use the barbeque, microwave, or a toaster oven more often.


• You can keep your home comfortably warm in the winter time by fixing leaks and cracks before it gets too cold. Seal around outlets and switches, as well as door cracks.


• If you need extra insulation on the windows then seal them with plastic so that the cool air isn't drafted in so much.

Design
The way you design your home can determine whether or not you, your family, and your friends are comfortable and can do a lot of the atmosphere. Design entails much more than just how you arrange your furniture, although that also plays a part in comfort. Here are some things to think about when trying to design a comfortable home:

• Color Schemes. Believe it or not the color you paint on your walls has a great deal to do with how you feel inside your home. If you're going for a calming effect then you will definitely want to stay away from bright colors. Bright colors will usually create a lot of energy in a room, which is fine if that's what you're going for. The best advice to go with is to look for neutral colors that will blend and create a soft, comfortable feel to your home. This doesn't mean you have to paint your walls a boring white. Neutral just means picking the color that is closest to the middle of the pallet; not too dark, not too light.


• Lighting. Lighting is yet another aspect of homes that can make every room comfortable to be in. You can choose to light a room with lamps, solar lighting, hanging chandeliers, or recessed lighting. Whatever type of lighting you choose for your home, make sure that you love it and it creates the atmosphere you are looking for.


• Furniture. This is usually the last thing you put into your room and depending on what you're looking for it can make a room comfortable, elegant, or fragile. Since we're trying to make our homes as comfortable as possible choose furniture that is soft and has some give to it. Pick soft fabrics in terms of color and feel and make sure to accessorize with pillows, etc. so it looks nice and inviting.

Having a comfortable home is important to everyone; it just might take a lot of work to do it. These are only a few things that can contribute to comfort within your home; hopefully they will help in your quest for comfort.