Create Your Own Cozy: 100 Practical Ways to Love Your Home and Life

by Liz Marie Galvan

What makes you feel cozy? This gorgeous book of inspiration is all about what helps you feel at home. Create your own quiet refuge with tips and affordable décor ideas from popular blogger and author Liz Marie Galvan. Liz's friendly blend of inspiration, interactive elements, and intentional living ideas will help you create cozy spaces, healthy habits, and will fill your home with peace and connection.

Bring peace, calm, and beauty into your life and your home as you journey with popular blogger and author Liz Marie Galvan through Create Your Own Cozy to create a haven for yourself and those you love.

This beautiful interactive book

Ideas to make your home and life cozier—from personal routines to easy and affordable ways to make any space feel comfortableCozy home tips, garden ideas, and easy gathering suggestionsStunning photography and captivating original artSpace to record room dimensions, paint colors, shopping lists, project plans, and monthly checklists to keep your home running smoothly 

This gorgeous interactive book is great for those looking

Inspiration for attractive and flexible home spaces for exercising, home offices, and functional family areasHow to repurpose décor, incorporate clean household products, and live more sustainablyA gift for first-time home buyers, newlyweds, housewarmings (for buyers, renters, and fixer-uppers), or anyone looking to track their home-improvement projectsEncouragement to share their home with others 

A beautiful companion to Liz's bestselling Cozy White Cottage and Cozy White Cottage Seasons, this inspirational guide invites you to embrace the home you have, put your heart into meaningful improvements, and develop rhythms and routines that make your home and your heart a place of coziness, connection, and rest.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, How To, Design

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Andrea Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this from the library not realizing how much of it was journal entry format. I now want a copy of my own to write in! Loved the monthly cleaning lists 😉

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the author and her photos scattered throughout the book. Even the pretty attached ribbon marker made me smile:) the content is rather general although written in a friendly way. Half the pages are blank spaces to collect thoughts, house measurements or paint colors. Finances,pets,gardening,self care as well as home design are touched upon. This book could make a nice housewarming gift to newly starting outers.

[Camden Morgante · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have all three of Liz Marie’s books, but this is my least favorite. I love her as a person and her IG account and blog. Her style is definitely aspirational. Her second one on the seasons is my favorite book. This one didn’t have much organization, but she covered monthly home maintenance, plants and gardens, home projects, fitness and healthy eating, and cozy inspiration. Half of the pages are questions with blank spaces for journaling. This book didn’t have as much pictures as her previous books either. The text itself was very basic advice, general guidelines, and common sense. I didn’t expect anything life-changing and I was right.

[Bibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s essentially a guide to create a cozy home. I liked the writing prompts and appreciated the checklists. However, I did feel that several of the items included didn’t relate to “cozy”, for me anyway. It was just ok.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are just starting out this is a nice book.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book with lots of ideas and suggestions for making your life a bit more cozy. There are so many ideas for inside and outside your home. The pictures are gorgeous!

Thank you #NetGalley and Liz Marie Galvan for #CreateYourOwnCozy

[Markie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Create Your Own Cozy: 100 Practical Ways to Love Your Home and Life" by Liz Marie Galvan appears to be a beautifully crafted book that offers readers inspiration and guidance on creating a cozy and inviting living space. The book seems to blend elements of home decor, personal routines, intentional living, and practical tips to help readers transform their homes into havens of comfort, peace, and connection. Here are the key points about the book:

1. **Creating a Cozy Haven:** The book aims to help readers cultivate cozy and comfortable living spaces that bring a sense of peace, calm, and beauty into their lives. It appears to focus on the idea that a cozy home is not just about decor, but also about creating an environment that supports well-being and connection.

2. **Interactive and Inspirational:** "Create Your Own Cozy" seems to engage readers through a combination of inspiration and interactive elements. It likely offers a blend of practical advice, personal anecdotes, stunning photography, and original art to encourage readers to infuse their homes with warmth and character.

3. **Practical Tips and Ideas:** The book appears to provide readers with practical ways to enhance their living spaces, from personal routines to affordable decor ideas. It may offer insights into creating flexible and functional areas within the home for various activities and needs.

4. **Home Improvement and Sustainability:** The book seems to explore the concept of repurposing decor, incorporating clean household products, and living more sustainably. It may encourage readers to make meaningful improvements to their homes while considering their environmental impact.

5. **Record-Keeping and Planning:** "Create Your Own Cozy" may include space for readers to record room dimensions, paint colors, shopping lists, and project plans. This feature could make it a helpful resource for tracking and planning home-improvement projects.

6. **Embracing Connection:** The book may encourage readers to not only create a cozy home for themselves but also to share their space with others. It may emphasize the importance of fostering connections and building memories within a welcoming environment.

7. **Companion to Previous Works:** The book appears to be a companion to Liz Marie Galvan's previous bestselling books, "Cozy White Cottage" and "Cozy White Cottage Seasons." It may continue the themes of coziness, decor, and intentional living explored in those works.

8. **Audience:** "Create Your Own Cozy" seems to be suitable for a wide range of readers, including those who are interested in home decor, organization, sustainability, and creating a sense of comfort and connection in their living spaces.

Overall, "Create Your Own Cozy" by Liz Marie Galvan appears to offer readers a comprehensive guide to transforming their homes into cozy and inviting sanctuaries. With a combination of practical advice, inspiration, and interactive elements, the book seems to be a valuable resource for those seeking to infuse their living spaces with comfort, beauty, and meaning.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Create Your Own Cozy by Liz Marie Galvan

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

What makes a house a home? In her delightful book, "Create Your Own Cozy," popular blogger and author Liz Marie Galvan explores the art of creating warm and inviting spaces that bring peace, calm, and beauty into our lives. Filled with inspiration, practical tips, and stunning photography, this interactive guide is a must-have for anyone seeking to transform their living spaces into havens of comfort and connection.

From personal routines to affordable décor ideas, Galvan offers a wide range of suggestions to make any space feel cozy. Whether you're looking to create a functional home office, a serene garden, or simply seeking inspiration for attractive and flexible living areas, this book has got you covered. It's a treasure trove of ideas on repurposing décor, incorporating clean household products, and living more sustainably.

One of the standout features of "Create Your Own Cozy" is its interactive nature. Galvan provides ample space for readers to record room dimensions, paint colors, shopping lists, project plans, and monthly checklists, making it easy to keep your home running smoothly. This practical aspect sets this book apart from others in the genre and makes it an invaluable resource for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts.

The book is beautifully presented, with captivating original art and stunning photography that transports you into the cozy spaces Galvan has created. The visuals alone are enough to inspire even the most design-challenged among us. The author's friendly and conversational writing style adds to the overall charm of the book, making it an enjoyable read from cover to cover.

As someone who appreciates the power of a cozy and inviting home, I found "Create Your Own Cozy" to be an absolute delight. It's packed with prompts, ideas, tips, and information that will help you create the ultimate cozy vibe in your living spaces. The thoughtful layout and abundance of space for jotting down your thoughts make it a practical companion for anyone embarking on a home improvement journey.

This book would make an excellent gift for yourself or someone you know who could use a little more "cozy" in their life. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, newlywed, or simply looking to enhance your living spaces, "Create Your Own Cozy" will inspire you to embrace your home, infuse it with your heart, and create rhythms and routines that foster coziness, connection, and rest.

In conclusion, Liz Marie Galvan's "Create Your Own Cozy" is a must-read for anyone seeking to transform their living spaces into havens of comfort and tranquility. With its practical tips, beautiful visuals, and interactive elements, this book is sure to inspire readers to create the ultimate cozy vibe in their homes. So go ahead, grab a cup of tea, curl up in your favorite chair, and let "Create Your Own Cozy" guide you on a journey towards creating a home that brings joy and warmth to your everyday life.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Create Your Own Cozy is a sweetly appealing and well curated style guide by Liz Marie Galvan. Released 3rd Nov 2023 by Zondervan and Thomas Nelson, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. One of the other volumes in the series is currently available on Kindle Unlimited for subscribers to borrow and read. The formatting and styles are similar, for readers who wish to get a feel for the series before committing to this new release.

The styles curated in this instagram-worthy collection are very white/pasted, cottage-y, unfussy and attractive. The cottage core decor includes lots of wicker, light paint effects, distressed furniture, and a lived in, comfy look.

One big draw for this volume is the inclusion of writing prompts and lists provided by the author to help readers define their own "cozy" and help to make a plan and choose pieces which fit with the rest of their decor. There are 100 prompts, arranged with seemingly random (but very attractive) color photos for inspiration.

Definitely one for readers who are helped by writing prompts and checklists. It is absolutely chock full of lists and helpful advice along with photos to drool over.

Four stars. Not 100% practical, but quite pretty. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition. Despite being published by a Christian imprint publisher, there is not much proselytizing at all (the author mentions her faith as a part of her life, but it's not pushy or preachy).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is inspirational, yes, but it is also more of a workbook to guide you in your pursuit of a cozy home. In fact, most of the photos felt so stage it would be hard to use them as inspiration in a real home. I liked Liz’s more simple approach to building your dream home and life, but I felt that it could have been practical and less broad at times. That being said, I just don’t think this is a book for me and where I am in my pursuit of a cozy home.

Note: Liz includes a list of to-dos for each month which could be super handy for someone in need of that, but she lives in Michigan, and I live in Texas so many of the especially outdoor tasks were in the wildly wrong month for me.

This book is for those who need someone to hold their hand through thinking through ways to work cozy into their life and home.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the gifted copy. No review required. All opinions are my own.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for the home decorator who meets three criteria— loves to journal with lots of prompts, loves the trendy white “modern farmhouse” aesthetic, and has a decidedly newer, upscale house. While I love to make my home cozy, I don’t fit any of those criteria so it was a disappointment for me. It required way too much journaling, was too one-note (white decor, fake country, affluent influencer vibe), and nothing in the endless checklists related to my hundred year old, beat up but beloved boho colorful mismatched home. This is the sort of style that’s really trendy right now though so I’m sure it will find an enthusiastic audience. It will be a great resource for many.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great read! 4 stars because this one didn't hit as hard for me as her previous books. I think some of the "cozy" was a bit of a stretch in this.

HOWEVER, still a fantastic read. I have followed Liz Marie for many years and own her other books. She is such an inspiration and I love love love looking at her pictures and reading her tips. This book gave a lot of lists and is like a workbook. It helps you to figure out what cozy really means to you and how to incorporate cozy into your life (through your perspective).

Still a Liz Marie fan, always and forever!

Thank you to Netgalley and Zondervan & Thomas Nelson Gift for the e-arc!

[Madelene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this guide to a cozy living by Liz Marie Galvan.
When asked about my personality, I always include the word cozy because that is how I want to live. I like to romanticize both big and small moments in life. This book is about those moments.

With 100 practical ways to make your home and life more cozy on your own turns. From spending time with family, to bedtime routines, cleaning, food and health. It also includes monthly checklists that I will use in the future.

It is a fun book with many beautiful photos. Not only that, but it is very interactive, so be ready with a pen when you pick this up. It is a perfect gift for the new homeowner, mother or anyone really.

[(a)lyss(a) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute book on finding your own cozy! There's prompts to think about what kind of textures you like, how various spaces make you feel, what you use spaces for, and more to learn about what cozy means for you. While some of the prompts are fairly high level, some are helpful in thinking about what would help you feel best in your living space. There's tips on how to put together a space you enjoy, though money isn't really discussed in a way that's practical. Overall it's an interesting read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated that each chapter not only covered a different place to connect with (both in your house and in your heart) but each chapter also started with a checklist of what to do for the month - clean the gutters, change your HVAC filter, put away summer clothing. A really useful tool for a new homeowner. I loved the way the information was presented. The only issue was that the workbook pieces did not really translate to kindle. But I'm sure they're lovely in the print edition.


(I received an early copy for review)

[Carol Standish-Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I had not come across the author. However, the book is not only full of beautiful photographs, it is cram packed with useful tips. Each section has either a checklist or questions for the reader. It also contains monthly sections of household tasks. The book also covers advice on the garden. Overall I was impressed with the quality of the book, both the photographs and the many sections that allows the reader to define their own version of cozy and the steps that can be taken to achieve their goal.

[ONE BAD BANANA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Create your own cozy

I loved (loved loved loved) this! I am the first person to admit I’m fairly hopeless at home design. I want cozy not clutter, but my fear of clutter has kept me from getting cozy.

This book helped so much! I loved the pictures and the prompts. The pictures were the definition of cozy so I know she knew what she was stalking about.

I also really loved the prompts. What good is a book if you can’t apply it? It’s worthless. So I love that this book asks you what YOU need.

Solid 4.6!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You NetGalley for this digital e-book.

I love Liz Marie Galvan, her other books, and her blog. I was so excited to see she had another book coming out and was beyond thrilled when I receive an ARC. This book does not disappoint. The pictures are wonderful and I love the information and the worksheets to help determine your own cozy. I will keep referring back to this book for reference and inspiration.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I follow Galvan on Instagram & have read her other books because I like how she curates vintage/antique items. I get lots of ideas from her styling, but this book is one that the reader would need to buy so they could use all the checklists included, which makeup the majority of the book.

My other complaint is that instead of using actual photos of vignettes or style ideas, drawings/illustrations are used, that serve no purpose. Kinda defeats the purpose of a decorating book!!!

[Jeanetta Chrystie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful ideas and encouragement

I appreciate all the helpful ideas in this book and the genuine way the author shares her life and choices with us. Whether you feel like a creative person or not, the ideas and worksheets in this book are a huge benefit. I bought this book as an ebook, but now I want to print copy so I can have all the worksheets and journaling pages in an easier format. Thank you, Liz, for helping me explore ways to make our own feel cozy and comfy!

[Rachel Vryhof · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great New Year's Resolution challenge. It has monthly checklists and lots of journaling opportunities, perfect for working your way through the year to realize a vision of a new you in a new space. That being said, I am not in a position to take on a challenge like that right now and am mostly happy with my home and routines. I wish I would have picked it up in the winter when I could get cozy and take my time going through it.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very useful book, not only does it help with understanding what one wants from ones home, but also has questionnaires along the way to help narrow down the style with your personality. The photographs are great, the ideas are helpful and the end result will be lovely.. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DRC

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was a list and not like previous books. It may appeal to some, it just wasn't overly helpful to me personally. There were not as many pictures inside or the inspiration I was hoping for.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC. All opinions stated in this reviews are my own.

[Karen Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had expected to like this book but I did not, I LOVED it. Rarely do you find an interiors and home book written in such a useful and accessible way. Being old and fairly social media phobic , I had not heard of this lady before but she talks such good sense and her ideas are great. I have already ordered the hardback version as then I can write note in it as intended.

[Liesl Back · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like.. Pinterest in workbook or journal form. Beautiful, inspiring photos throughout of rustic home design. There are a lot of blank spots with questions that are supposed to be thought-inspiring but I don't know who has time for that. It does seem like it would be calming and therapeutic to work through it though.

[Relyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always want to love Liz Galvan's books, and somehow I never do. Not sure why, they are lovely and well-designed. They have lots of wonderful questions, too. Maybe it's just because I always check them out and they are meant to be owned? Maybe because I have been making a home for over 30 years and none of this is new to me? I don't know why I didn't love it, and I do think a lot of people will.

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a Liz Marie Galvan follower for awhile and was happy to read her latest book. Lots of great advice and checklists, as well as a great workbook to explore your own cozy. As expected, some great pics of her beautiful home. A quick read but a book you will continue to come back to.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Create Your Own Cozy is like a warm hug in book form. Liz Marie Galvan's insights into crafting a home that exudes comfort and tranquility are both practical and heartwarming. This book offers a unique blend of guidance that feels fresh and inviting.

[Gotogrrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice cozy little read that helped me think differently and more deeply about what cozy means to me, and how to cultivate it in my life. The exercises are helpful in making this read a really personal experience.

[Lora Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

More substance than I expected, more encouragement than I had hoped for. Practically speaking, the section on how to actually set up meal planning was the first explanation on building an sustainable process I've ever read. Very thorough and intentional. A lovely and helpful read!