Making the ultimate comfy space
While cosy living rooms are always welcoming, they really come into their own during the colder months where we enjoy nothing more than bundling up on the sofa and relaxing with a warm drink.
They’re the perfect way to disconnect from our hectic lives and instead indulge in all the little luxuries of home. A hot toddy in the evenings, curling up with a good book, or settling down with popcorn and a film… Cosy looks different to everyone, so if you want some ideas on how to make the most of your space, we’ve got plenty of inspiration for you at Sharps.
1. Create a Scandi feel with wood finishes
The Danes know a thing or two about comfort. Since their concept of ‘hygge’ arrived on the UK’s shores, we’ve embraced its ethos of slow living and creature comforts. So to bring a touch of that Scandi-style warmth and simplicity to your own living room, why not make wood finishes a feature of your space?
It’s the natural characteristics of wood and its connection with the elements that make it the essential component of Scandi interiors. With finishes like our Nordic Oak, you can bring that cosy feeling into your living room effortlessly, which you can complement with other hygge touches from our list.
2. Add chunky, thick fabrics
Snuggling up under a warm throw blanket is one of the best feelings in the world so be sure not to pass up on this particular cosy living room idea. Wrap up with thick fleece or a chunky knit blanket, but for a really traditional homely look, you just can’t beat an oversize patchwork quilt. A fantastic option if you want to create a country cottage feel.
3. Reading nook
If you’ve got an awkward living room alcove you’re not sure what to do with, a great cosy idea is to change it into a reading nook.
By adding a bespoke bookcase, you can cram it full of all your favourite novels, then pull up a chair to make your dedicated reading space ready.
The only thing you need to finish it off is a few homey touches - a pillow, a blanket, and some plants to give it some greenery. Lovely!
4. Practise layering different textures
Getting cosy is all about engaging your senses and really feeling that deep-seated aura of relaxation. This is why layering textures in your living room is so important. They’re tactile but also spark emotion just by looking at them.
It’s more than just adding a few soft throws - it’s about contrasting every element of your space. Try mixing things up with a wide range of materials, like boucle, linen, sheepskin or wool, which create a softer counterpoint to your main pieces of furniture.
5. Add in a window seat
Romantic, snug and perfect for whiling away those rainy days in comfort, a bay window seat lets you enjoy the view outside while staying completely cosy.
It’s a great place for having a leisurely read with a hot cup of cocoa in hand, and with storage in the base, you can neatly tidy away any books and magazines to keep your space spick and span.
6. Getting cosy with candlelight
We love this easy cosy living room idea. If you don’t have a fireplace to huddle around, candles give you all of the beauty of the dancing flames but with the added bonus of your favourite fragrance at the same time.
When choosing a scented candle, seasonal options like cinnamon, pine or gingerbread are great go-to fragrances when you’re looking to create the perfect cosy vibe. Traditional floral options like lavender and rose are also great but make sure not to bring in anything too fresh or bright.
7. Carpets for extra comfort
For large alcoves that take up the best part of an entire wall, media units make a wonderful solution, solving all of your entertainment needs in one.
Brilliant for housing your TV, all of your tech, as well as extensive music collections, this sophisticated storage makes excellent use of the available space and even gives you room for some ornaments too.
Highly customisable, you can blend in open and closed storage as you like to give it your own personal stamp, and even integrate dimmable lighting for extra ambience. A game changer for family living.
8. Bring in hints of the season
For anyone wondering what to do with an alcove in a corridor, this one’s for you. Ideal for rural properties, a mini boot room space can work a treat if you’re always coming in and out of the house with muddy shoes.
You can add bench storage seating to make putting on your shoes easy, and even store away any bags or dog accessories in the base for added convenience. Then, if you have any overhead room, why not add some fitted storage?
A cosy and inviting option that welcomes you the moment you step through the door.
9. Make seating to be more communal
Yes - layout can play a big part in how cosy your space feels. An easy way to make living rooms more inviting is by rearranging your seating to encourage conversation and connection.
A cosy living room idea that doesn’t cost a penny.
So if your sofas are directed straight ahead at the TV, try moving them opposite each other and bring in a coffee table for wine and nibbles when you invite people over.
If you’ve got a log fire or wood burner, that’s the icing on the cake. Bring your seating in closer so everyone can enjoy the calming ambience.
10. Lots of scatter cushions
Sinking into a pile of scatter cushions after a long day…there’s nothing like it. They’re such an easy way to make a lounge feel inviting and bring plenty of visual interest to boot.
When styling your cushions, try a mix of textures and sizes for variety but don’t go overboard. Use your room’s colour scheme as a base and then work in a few bolder accent pieces to give it the sophisticated look you want.
11. Bring in darker shades…
This cosy living room idea is great if you want to make your space a cocoon of darkness to wrap yourself up in.
Painting your walls a darker colour, like deep blue or chocolate, creates an interior that feels intimate and restful. Almost like retreating into a cave to escape the chill of the elements, a barrier against the world outside.
You don’t have to paint your entire room, either. A dark accent wall can be just as effective and adds a striking focal point to your layout.
12. Or use relaxing colours
Dark palettes not your cup of tea? Then simply go for shades that you find relaxing. And that can be anywhere from a cool, neutral value like a soft grey or a more saturated colour like sage green.
What’s important is that it gets you in the right frame of mind for relaxation. Then, let your accessories help set the mood.
13. Mood lighting makes it perfect
Of course, when we’re talking about setting the right scene, how can we forget lighting? It’s so integral to the feel of our interiors, especially when the nights draw in and we want to fend off those winter blues.
Layering your lighting is everything, so bring in a range of floor and table lamps to give you a cosier alternative to the big main light.
Built-in lighting on your fitted furniture will also create a snug yet highly luxurious feel by giving your decor and accessories a soft glow. And if you choose a dimmer function, you can set your light levels just as you like.
14. Total comfort with underfloor heating
Ok, we’re not going to lie. This would be a huge project, but if you’re looking to update your heating or renovate your home, it has the potential to bring a next-level feeling of comfort to your living spaces.
Underfloor heating feels so opulent, warming you with every step you take into the room. It’s fantastic paired with stone flooring and can really help to take the edge off during those chilly morning starts.
15. Make the most of fireplaces
It might be fully functional or purely ornamental, either way it definitely pays to make your fireplace a big feature in your space.
There are lots of cosy touches you can add to a mantlepiece, including vintage clocks, dried flowers, candelabras and wreaths to give it a sophisticated feel.
Naturally, the main focus of any fireplace is the fire itself.
So if yours is decorative only, you can bring the illusion of flames with a flame-effect electric fireplace, or pile up fairy lights to your display for a soothing ambient glow.
16. Scents transform your space
Whether you prefer candles, reed diffusers or essential oils, fragrances are the perfect way to make your living room a space of pure bliss.
Warming fragrances are the secret to making any space feel cosy, so look for spices like cloves and cardamom, or zestier notes like orange, vanilla and cranberry.
Looking for something that’s a little less on the nose in terms of seasonality? Try scents like sandalwood and frankincense for their woody, earthy undertones.
17. Don’t forget the rug
Treat your toes to this fantastic cosy living room idea!
A deep pile rug will be the sumptuous finishing touch to any comfy living room design so look for something you can really sink your feet into.
They’re an absolute must for any home with hard flooring, and as an added bonus, your pets can get the same enjoyment by curling up on their super soft fabrics.
18. Pile up logs for a rustic aesthetic
To complement your fireplace look, logs add a gorgeous rustic touch to your finished design. Try piling them up in an alcove to create a striking log-store look, or you can stack them in open storage or baskets if you have less space to spare.
If you want the aesthetic of logs but don’t have a working fireplace to use them in, try bringing in driftwood as an ornamental touch, or you can use wallpapers and decals to create a similar look.
19. Update window treatments
With your window treatments, it’s important to consider whether ‘cosy’ is about retaining heat, creating a comfy style, or a combination of the two.
Honeycomb blinds are a particularly good option for staying warm in the cooler months because they use pockets of air to create a heat-loss barrier in your living spaces.
But if you want something particularly decadent, floor length curtains in luxurious fabrics like jacquard and velvet will set your design off a treat.
20. Add cottage inspired patterns
There’s nothing cosier than cottage living, and to bring a slice of that into your own home, the easiest way to do that is with traditional patterns.
Delicate florals in light pastel prints will instantly create that charming, old-fashioned look, which you can add to curtains or cushions for a cottagecore vibe.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a city apartment or a semi-detached in the countryside - everyone can enjoy this whimsical and easy to style cosy living room idea.
Living rooms styled to perfection
As you can see, we’ve got the concept of cosy living down to an art. So if you’re looking to go one step further in realising your dream of the perfect comfy lounge space with some bespoke fitted furniture, make sure to get in touch with us at Sharps.
We’ll help you create elegant storage solutions that make your space complete. Book your free Design Visit today and see for yourself how we can reimagine your interiors.
