It's the space you spend the most time lounging during the fall and winter, so creating a cozy living room is probably high on your agenda right now. While chunky textiles, seating you sink into, and wood-burning fireplaces work well in fall and winter, there are ways to make your living room feel cozy all the time, including during the warmer months.
Yes, tactility is important, but the most crucial elements in creating a cozy living room are actually predominantly visual, explains interior designer Lauren Sweet-Schuler, founder and principal at Studio Sweet-Schuler. "Even in the coziest space, if it isn't visually inviting, soothing or warm, it can be comfortable, sure, but it won't give the cozy vibe," she explains.
That's where rich wood paneling, warm color palettes, exposed beams and brickwork, shaggy rugs, mixed prints, textures, and wallpaper come in, creating a space that truly cocoons you. Gone are the days of tartan and wall-mounted antlers; the notion of 'cozy' is far more nuanced nowadays. So, if you're looking for modern living room ideas that ooze comfort and coziness, here's what designers recommend you do.
1. LAYER PLENTY OF TEXTURES
We're talking shaggy sheepskins, big loopy throws, rugs, wallpapers, pillows, textured fabrics, colors — you name it. When it comes to creating a comfortable living room, cozy and texture are interchangeable terms; you can't have one without the other.
"A cozy living room has layers of drapery, art or photos hanging, soft seating, and layers of textures," says Lauren Sweet-Schuler. "Layers is the key to cozy, no matter the style."
Malak Bellajdel, an interior design expert at Interior Moderna recommends introducing some bedroom decor elements to amp up the cozy comfort of the space, "like a small throw blanket draped over an armchair," she says.
2. DON'T FORGET THE CEILING
When considering all the ways to introduce texture into a space, every surface is an opportunity, including the ceiling. The often forgotten ‘fifth wall’ can actually be instrumental in changing the way your living room feels.
Whether you choose to paint it, stencil it, create a focal point with a decorative element like a ceiling rose, pressed tin, or ceiling wallpaper, it’s an easy way to make a space feel more enclosed, and therefore cozy and den-like, without cluttering it.
3. GO LOW AND WARM WITH LIGHTING
Another visual element that can have a surprising impact on the way your living room feels is your choice of lighting. Not just the lamp, but the bulb itself. A crackling fire is the epitome of cozy comfort, and while that's not possible in every home, there are ways to emulate the same feel.
"Making sure you have warm light bulbs with dimmers will help you to create and control your level of coziness," says interior designer Emily Henderson.
Interior designer Matthew Williamson agrees, adding that the mood of your living room rests entirely on your choice of lighting. "Forget about using one main lighting source in favor of illuminating a few lamps around the room for a more interesting, cozy lighting scheme," he adds. Avoid the 'big lights' and instead try mixing table lamps in your living room.
4. CHOOSE DARKER PAINT SHADES
We often obsess over trying to make smaller living rooms feel bigger with lighter paint, when in fact, we're doing ourselves a disservice. By leaning into the smaller proportions and choosing a warmer, almost dark color scheme, you can create a cozy living room feel.
"It's a misnomer that dark colors make a room feel gloomy and smaller," says interior designer Anna Burles, creative director of multi-disciplinary design house Run For The Hills. "They can do the complete opposite, making a room feel ultra-cozy, soft and expansive, by creating light and shade with the natural light coming into the space, and the textures and tones of the furniture you pair with the wall, floor or ceiling color."
5. COLOR DRENCH THE SPACE
And when it comes to color, you can take it one step further by covering the entire room and all its walls in the same color. Color drenching, as the paint technique is known, helps to make a room feel more enveloping and inviting. It's also softer on the eyes as it eliminates any harsh contrasts that may have originally existed between the wall, ceiling and trim colors.
"When using dark colors, color drenching creates a sense of drama and coziness," adds interior designer Cyndy Cantley, founder of Alabama-based Cantley & Company.
6. OPT FOR A TEXTURED LIMEWASH
When it comes to choosing a paint, you can also opt for a limewash paint or other textured rendered finishes like Roman Clay to add more depth and movement to your living room. The natural variation that these kinds of organic paint finishes provide, gives a sense of old-world charm in a space and can help make it feel more cozy and cocooning.
7. PANEL THE WALLS (AND CEILING)
It doesn't get much cozier than wood wall paneling. Adding warmth and, of course, texture, it's a sure-fire way to give your living room a cozy, rustic cabin feel. While white shiplap paneling is popular in coastal homes, leaving it bare and embracing the natural tones and textures of the wood is an easy way to add depth to your living room.
"Adding a timeless feel to a space, wood paneling can be used from floor to ceiling, or as a decorative wall statement in a living room — giving your space that much needed cozy ambiance with its light brown hues and tones," says Livingetc's advice editor Faiza Saqib.
8. MAKE A FEATURE OF LOG PILES
Whether it's exposed timber ceiling beams, wood paneling or a wood-burning fireplace, timber and wood definitely have connotations of secluded cabins and coziness in general. An interesting way to introduce that into your living room is through a number of firewood storage ideas.
A tall recessed shelf piled high with logs in a living room creates a focal point, (as seen in the cozy living room above) as well as adding more texture to the space. It's also an inexpensive styling option, particularly if you don't intend to burn it.
9. GO FOR A MIXED SEATING ARRANGEMENT
Cozy living rooms should have an intimate, cocooning feel, with plenty of comfortable seating options to choose from. For a more 'conversational' set up, it's best to mix a sofa (preferably one with a deep seat) with accents chairs opposite, so guests can face on another.
When choosing your seating, you want to make sure to fill the space nicely, without overcrowding it. Sectional sofas can be a good idea, as they can be configured to hug to walls, while accent chairs can break up empty floor space and be moved around the space.
"A big sectional might seem cozy, but two smaller sofas facing each other can create a more intimate vibe," says Malak Bellajdel. "You want to focus on creating conversation areas."
10. LAYER RUGS FOR SOFTNESS UNDERFOOT
A cozy living room is all about softness, so it's important to consider that in all aspects of the space. When it comes to your flooring, if you have a choice, opt for carpets over floor boards. Alternatively, you can add a rug on top of carpets or floor boards (or even try layering rugs) for added warmth and an extra plush, softness underfoot.
Livingetc's trends editor Lilith Hudson says there's nothing better than using two rugs in a living room (except for maybe using three or four!) "Layering rugs not only adds warmth to your floors by excluding drafts and adding texture, but the visual layering of rugs turns into a melting pot of color and pattern that offers a feast for the eyes," she adds. "To up the coziness, choose higher pile rugs with lots of texture, but make sure there's a flatwoven rug in there to balance things out."
11. KEEP EVERYTHING SOFT
Whether it’s the shape of your furniture or the fabrics on them, a key to creating a cozy feel in your living room is keeping things soft. That means slubby materials and relaxed, low-slung furniture with soft lines that gives your living room a laid-back feel.
When it comes to the palette, stay away from crisp whites and opt instead for beiges, creams and soft grays that have a more lived-in feel, while focusing on the texture of the fabric too.
“Go for three or four different tones in a space, each with a different texture, such as boucle, satin, linen and calico,” recommends interior designer Kelly Hoppen, on creating a neutral living room that still feels cozy.
12. OPTIMIZE YOUR LIVING ROOM LAYOUT
Even something as simple as rearranging your living room layout can make a living room feel cozier. Try moving your sofas away from the walls and have them face each other rather than the obvious choice of the TV. Place a large coffee table or ottoman in between and use a rug to ground the furniture and you'll see it instantly feels more intimate.
13. LEAVE BRICKWORK EXPOSED
Exposed brick is synonymous with modern rustic living rooms, adding texture and interest to any style of space. In the living room shown above, the brickwork in the inglenook fireplace contrasts against the white walls and minimalist furnishing, helping to add just the right amount of rustic charm to make the room feel more cozy.
"From a brick fireplace to a brick wall, the rough texture can add a real sense of wanting to hunker down," says Livingetc's executive editor Pip Rich. "Even just a brick hearth will do the trick. Failing that, I once saw a bookcase make of brick supports and railway sleepers as shelves, and even that had the same effect."
14. STICK TO YOUR INTERIOR STYLE
While often associated with quaint cabins or rustic farmhouses, cozy living rooms are certainly not reserved for those interior styles, and can be adapted to work with whatever look you have in the rest of your home. For example, the Scandi living room above takes a more minimalist approach, with a modern microcement floor layered with clean lines, simple shapes and touches of texture and natural materials.
Designer Steve Nash chose to continue the flooring from other areas of the house, layering other elements in the living room to play up the sense of coziness. "It creates a sense of harmony," he explains, about the way the flooring blends one room into the other. "Its color is also a little uneven, adding texture and a feeling of interesting warmth."
The lighter and airier color scheme gives this cozy living room year-round appeal too, with the pale grays, whites and creams keeping it from feeling too wintery. Come the cooler months, you can simply swap the pillows for deeper hues, and pile up the throws for a quick seasonal change.
15. ADD A STOVE TO UP THE COZINESS
A crackling fire adds an instant cozy ambiance to a living room, plus you get that lovely soft glow and smell that adds to the welcoming atmosphere. If you have a more modern living room, or are squeezed for space, a compact wood burner could be an option that doesn't take up too much room. In a period property, restoring fireplaces also adds a lovely focal point in living rooms.
"Adding period features to your home is an effective way to create a cozy living space for the family to enjoy," says Owen Pacey, founder of Renaissance London. "By restoring the original plasterwork such as the cornice or ceiling roses in period homes, you can add a traditional dimension to your home which is undeniably cozy. Adding a period or period-style fireplace can give the room an anchoring focal point, around which you can gather the furniture to create an alternative to a TV-centric room. This encourages conversation, creativity and peacefulness, which contributes to the cozy value."
16. TAKE A MINIMALIST APPROACH
Because all it really takes is a roaring fire, a pile of logs and a soft rug underfoot to make a living room feel cozy. Be inspired by the ideas behind minimalist interior design, approach and make a fireplace a focal point, adding a mismatch of modern furniture creates a very stylish contrast and of course bringing in a bean bag is always going to up the coziness.
How do I make my living room more cozy?
If you're wondering how to make a living room feel cozy, the easiest way without having to make too many big changes is switching out soft furnishings, changing lighting and of course adding in plenty of texture.
Look at every surface in the space as an opportunity to introduce new elements that will come together to create a cozy and comfortable space. Ask yourself: what texture could you add to the floor, the walls, and the ceiling? What about the window furnishings, and the seating?
Making a living room feel cozy doesn't come down to just one thing, but it's the way you layer elements within the room that helps to create an inviting, soothing space.
What colors work best in a cozy living room?
The best colors for cozy living rooms will depend on the overall look you are going for. You can't go wrong with a soft neutral palette made up of whites, creams and beige, but that doesn't mean you always have to stay away from more colorful schemes.
"Warm and earthy tones such as terracotta, yellow and coral will naturally bring a zest and sense of energy to a room," says Benjamin Moore's Helen Shaw. "Yellows in particular, are known to lift a mood and evoke a feeling of warmth and connection to the sun. Similarly, terracotta tones are not only particularly on-trend at the moment but are also perfect for bringing a warm and comforting, cozy sense to a room, naturally lifting the mood."
