Written by Sophie Clemson

I don’t know about you, but for me, January always feels quite bleak with the cold and wet weather and, of course, the dark evenings. If I’m out and about for the day, I can’t wait to get home to hibernate and be all cosy! Once in and settled by this, I mean instantly changing into my comfy pyjamas and oodie, all I want to do is chill out and relax in my living room. In the winter, you start to look around your living room and think, how could I make this space cosy?

Well, if this is exactly what you’re thinking, the good news is that I have shared 5 tips to make your living room feel like a cosy haven!

1. Turn off the big light 

2. Layer the patterns with soft furnishings 

3. Choose a paint with warm undertones 

4. Curtains and blinds

5. The all important finishing touches

Turn off the big light 

Lighting is a huge factor in how cosy a living room can feel. Only ever using the bright ceiling light isn't going to make the room feel warm and cosy. Overhead lighting is great for when you’re doing tasks during the day, but not so good when you want to relax in the evenings. It's all about layering up the lighting to amp up the cosy factor. Use additional lighting, such as table lamps and floor lamps. The lamps will create ambient and softer lighting. Make sure you use warm bulbs rather than harsh white ones, and if you don’t have any plug sockets in the right position, you can now get battery bulbs, perfect to avoid any trailing wires! Fairy lights aren’t just for Christmas either, you may have an old fireplace that’s just for show that you could intwine some fairy lights in or shelves you could trail the lights on. 

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Layer the patterns with soft furnishings 

Using a mix of patterns in your living room will give it more depth and texture. And texture is very important when trying to achieve a cosy living room. The aim is to use a mix of patterns with different scales and colours, but you need these to complement each other. If you go for too many patterns that are on similar scales, it could feel busy, which won’t be relaxing on the eyes. You want the patterns to cohesively work together to create a relaxed vibe. Add some textured plains to anchor and balance the patterns. Cushions work brilliantly to make a room feel cosy, so layer up the patterns with cushions and throws.

Do you struggle to visualise how your room could look? We can help you, click here.

Choose a paint colour with warm undertones 

Paint can really change the way a living room feels. When you think about it, the paint colour on your living room walls is actually the largest amount of colour in the space. Therefore, it's important that you take your time when choosing your paint colour and order samples. Paint can look very different as a tiny chip on a paint chart compared to on your walls in the natural light, depending on which way your living room faces. If you opt for paint with cool blue tones, such as greys, it can make the room feel chilly. Or if you have all white walls, this can also make for a cold and uninviting room. If you’re a neutral lover, explore white paint colours with warm undertones, or if you’re feeling bold, go down the dark and moody route.

Curtains and blinds 

On a dark evening, there's nothing better than closing the curtains and blinds to get cosy. Leaving a window bare without any curtains or blinds can make it feel cold, not only because the heat will be escaping but also because it will draw your eyes to the straight lines of the window, making it feel like something is missing. For ultimate cosiness, go for the thickest, heavy-weight curtains you can afford. Marks and Spencer have a gorgeous velvet thermal range of curtains at the moment, which are a great price and look very sumptuous. If you prefer a relaxed country style, explore thermal-lined cotton or linen curtains. Opt for floor length curtains and hang them as high as you can to make the room feel taller. If your window isn’t ideal for curtains, then consider doubling up on your blinds. You could have a simple roller blind inside the recess of the window (white works great if you have white window frames) and a roman blind on the outside of the window. The roman blind being on the outside of the window means it takes away the harsh lines, bringing softness into your living room, resulting in a cosier space! 

The all important finishing touches

Once you have the large pieces of furniture in your living room, or what we like to call the base layer, you need to bring in the finishing touches to make it feel complete. The finishing touches such as the rug, cushions, throws and lighting is how you will make your living room feel warm, cosy and inviting. Some people may think you only need a rug if you have wooden floors, but this is not the case. Adding a rug to your carpeted living room is a big yes from us! Having a rug in the space, whether it's going to be sitting on top of wooden floors or carpet, will add warmth and texture. Find out our top tips on how to choose a rug for your living room here.

Cushions are a very important element for a cosy living room. Yes, they may, in some cases, be thrown on the floor by your partner or children, but what's a living room without cushions?! Style your sofa with plenty of cushions, using a mix of patterns and textures. A top tip is to not use the same cushion more than once on one sofa, otherwise, it can feel very matchy-matchy. Using a mix can give your living room a well designed and put together look. Once you’ve chosen your cushions, you will want to bring in throws. Throws will make your living room feel snug. When you’re not sitting all curled up on the sofa with your throws, simply drape them across the arm of your sofa.

If you want to avoid costly design mistakes in your living room, take a look at our affordable online interior design packages to give you all the help you need. Whether you’re considering a full redesign or a refresh, we can take the stress away, and give you the confidence to move forward. Our online interior design packages are a flat fee and we can work to any budget large or small, saving you money along the way and ensuring you get the results you want and expect!

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