In this Thanksgiving special of Home in Progress, host Dan Hansen digs into the surprising history of the American dining room and reveals the real science behind what makes a space feel warm, welcoming, and deeply “cozy.” Sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, this episode blends design history, environmental psychology, and practical home advice to help you create holiday spaces people love to linger in.
Dan breaks down the elements that truly shape coziness—refuge and prospect, ceiling height, layered lighting, meaningful textures, scent, and even the subtle role of background sound. He also uncovers the unexpected origins of our “traditional” Thanksgiving color palette, showing how 1960s–70s appliance colors quietly shaped our modern holiday aesthetic.
Packed with actionable tips and fascinating insights, this episode is your guide to making any room feel comfortable, inviting, and human-centered for the holidays.
Episode Breakdown
00:00 – Holiday greetings & introduction
01:29 – What to expect in this special episode
01:40 – The psychology of cozy: how humans experience comfort
02:49 – The rise, fall, and reinvention of the formal dining room
11:44 – Why our Thanksgiving colors come from mid-century appliances
18:36 – The foundations of cozy spaces
23:46 – How coziness works in real homes
24:57 – Creating intimate zones in open-concept layouts
25:56 – How ceiling height shapes emotional comfort
28:18 – Layered lighting: the real secret to coziness
30:33 – Texture: the “silent” coziness booster
32:37 – Scent: the fastest way to create emotional warmth
35:34 – Designing for people—not Pinterest
39:27 – The surprising impact of sound on mood
45:27 – Practical steps for making your home cozier today