Why People Are Obsessed With Cozy Ambient Rooms on YouTube

Think about what you like to do at home every fall or winter to get warm: crank up the thermostat, wrap yourself in a chunky blanket, and sip on hot cider in front of a blazing fireplace. In other words, when it comes to physically chasing away the cold while indulging in some comfort, you’ll want to get as cozy as possible.

However, more people are turning to the virtual world of ambient rooms on YouTube for a different kind of “warmth”—and it’s one that is more motivated by a preference for images of cozy design and soothing background sounds to match. They’re not unlike ASMR [autonomous sensory meridian response] videos, but instead of inspiring brain-tingling feelings, the soothing background noises of ambient rooms are intended as immersive experiences to be enjoyed while working or studying on the computer.

Fall- and winter-focused ambient room videos might feature remote cabin scenes with the sound of leaves or snowfall gently hitting a timber roof. There might be a pumpkin patch complete with the sound of feet crunching through leaves and woodland creatures scurrying around. Videos may also take place in a fictional—but familiar—place like the common room of Harry Potter’s Gryffindor House or even Game of Thrones settings like snowfall at Winterfell or even Littlefinger’s brothel.

Read more at The Daily Beast.