Cosy living room ideas – 33 ways to create a snug space to hunker down in (2023)

As multi-use as lounges are these days, we ultimately need them to be a comfy place to retreat to; a space in which we can totally unwind. This is why cosy living room ideas are so desirable.

This type of living room ideas is all about creating a mood: one that feels intimate and enclosed with plenty of tactile materials, gentle lighting and home decor you love.

Whether you have a small snug or larger living area to play with, you can amp up the cosiness factor with a few simple techniques and make a space that's perfect for hunkering down in. 'Texture, colour and lighting are key to creating a cosy living space,' says Nadia McCowan Hill, Resident Style Advisor, Wayfair (opens in new tab).

Cosy living room ideas

'The overall scheme or colour palette will have a big impact on the final impression. A room you want to curl up and relax in comfort needs to have plenty of soft textures, complementary colours and patterns and mood lighting,' Nadia adds.

A fireplace is usually the focal point of cosy living room ideas, which never fails to bring a comforting ambience. But if you don't have one, you can still arrange furniture in a way to create a sociable and inviting space.

1. Embrace hygge with natural materials

Rikke Blaeside, Design and Range Manager, JYSK (opens in new tab), says one way to achieve warming cosy living room ideas is to of course embrace Hygge. The Danish tradition is centered around creating a sense of joy and cosiness through home interiors and lifestyle, by making small changes that have a big impact.

Rikke says layering a variety of textiles to conjure up feelings of contentment and relaxation. Home accessories in natural materials such as wicker, rattan, and wood can add contrast and are an easy way to bring a sense serenely rustic living room ideas into the home. 'Combine practical and pretty wicker baskets and wood accessories with hints of metal and glass for a natural expression,' she suggests.

2. Stick to a palette of grounding earth tones

'Warm tones are the key to making living rooms feel cosy,' comments Aaron Markwell, Colour Guru, COAT (opens in new tab).'In brighter living rooms, choose light taupes and earthier tones for your interior scheme.'

'In more shadowy spaces, go for deeper beiges or buff pinks to add warmth without it feeling too grey,' Adam suggests. These shades are also great for adding warmth without overwhelming small living room ideas. The colour expert explains that choosing furnishings and flooring in complimentary tones will maximise warmth while creating an elevated monochromatic look.

3. Cleverly layer textiles

As we've said, layers of soft furnishings are great for bringing the right vibe for cosy living room ideas, but keep things looking cohesive and warm by balancing patterns and plains. This will also keep your cosy space on the right side of modern living room ideas.

'Layer plains and patterns carefully,' advises Debbie Leigh, Design Manager, ILIV (opens in new tab). 'When using bold patterns on upholstery it is best to keep the cushions plain or go for a plain fabric for the upholstery and experiment with a mixture of colours and patterns on scatter cushions.'

4. Fill open spaces with homely touches

But it's not all about textures and layering when it comes to how to design a living room (although we'll never say no to a boucle armchair and knitted blanket). Lisa Slack, Head of Product, Thomas Sanderson (opens in new tab) points out that cosiness essentially boils down to reducing the amount of open space in the room.

'Add a shelving unit in an open space and place family photos on each self to bring a sense of nostalgia and make the room feel homely,' she recommends.

5. Think about scent

Scent has a big part to play in creating restful and cosy cosy living room ideas. Laura Rich, Product Design Lead, Furniturebox (opens in new tab), says the bold oaky or waxy smells that a fire or candles give off will fill a room, making it feel more intimate and inviting.

'This is known as scent mapping and can help give your living room more personality,' she says. If you don't have a fire or aren't a fan of candles, choose a signature scent with the best home fragrance from reed diffusers to room sprays.

6. Make the space feel lived-in but loved

'For me, cosy living room ideas is about making it feel lived-in but loved,' says Laura from Furniturebox. 'Many modern living room trends, though stylish, can make a home feel empty and a little soulless.'

Allow as much natural light as possible, keeping your living room blind ideas open during the day so the sun cascades across the room and onto the sofa where you sit.Fill the space with your favourite books, plants and upcycled pieces of furniture.

7. Cocoon with colour drenched walls

If you're looking to introduce the latest paint trends, like colour drenching, to your living space, be bold with how you use them. 'We are seeing a move towards deep, saturated shades, darker tones that create a sense of intimacy and comfort,' explains Andy Greenall, Head of Design, Paint & Paper Library (opens in new tab).

'This move to a cocooning, sheltered warm feeling sees colours such as blackened denim ‘Kigali', charcoal toned blue 'Squid Ink' and rich and welcoming brownish-red ‘Masai' rising to the fore, and being embraced not only on walls, but on ceilings and woodwork too.'

8. Create ambience with colour blocking

Get creative with on-trend paint shades. In this stylish lounge area, the room has been divided into two halves. Recreate this simple living room paint idea by using masking tape to create a division.

The brooding dark shade of blue fills the lower half of the room, great for cosy evenings in, anchoring the space. The top half is a softer aqua shade that offsets the darker blue beautifully and keeps the space airy in the daytime.

9. Keep extra layers handy with multifunctional storage

Consider smart living room storage ideas so you always have extra cosy layers at the ready. This sumptuous burnt orange footstool not only adds a plump extra seat or place to pop your feet up, but it also provides the perfect place to keep blankets.

Having a supply of layers is essential for making a living room feel cosy. Pull a throw over your legs while you watch a movie or boxset and feel the warming benefits in an instant.

10. Adjust the lights

'There are two key things to remember when trying to create cosy living room ideas, and that's lighting and textures,' says Kelly Collins, Interior Design Expert, Swyft (opens in new tab). 'Both can be done on relatively small budgets.' Kelly recommends keeping it low level, so switch off the overhead lights and flick on lamps.

Whether a large or small space, the right living room lighting ideas can create a softer, more intimate feel. Table lamps placed on side tables and sideboards provide atmosphere and functional task lighting, for reading in an armchair for example. While floor lamps overhead can create pockets and pools of warm light, illuminating quiet corners, and giving the space definition. Always go for dimmable lighting so you can adjust it to suit the mood.

11. Set the scene with candlelight

Nothing creates a cosy ambience quite like candlelight. If your living space doesn't have a real working fire you can cheap the feel with a curated display of candles.

Fill a central point of focus with lanterns and assorted pillar candles to create a warming glow. Always be fire safe when using candles in the home, and never leave them unattended.

12. Balance alluring tones of grey and blue

Blues can create a slightly cooling effect in a room but by combining them with gentle grey tones and plenty of texture and accessories, you can create an alluring sense of depth. The balance of striking blue against soothing grey highlights creates an effortlessly chic cocooning decor perfect for curling up in.

13. Embrace comforting textures

If decorating isn't an option, you can still transform living room colour schemes with some new accessories. Not even new, you could choose to swap decor from another room to switch things up and make it feel more sustainable. Use warming colours in your living room to awaken the scenes.

White living room ideas can be surprisingly hygge, just add some eye-catching colour through soft furnishings, cushions, throws and a rug. Look for tactile textiles: velvet, linen and wool all have a cosy quality. The tassels on the throw draped across this sofa feels almost scarf like, a design that instantly makes you think of warming layers.

14. Gather round with statement seating

This L-shaped sofa makes a big statement while offering plenty of seating for the whole family and guests to kick back and relax in.

The same convivial effect can be created by placing two sofas at right angles. Arrange some snacks on a coffee table within arm's reach and you've got a cosy evening in.

15. Insulate with window treatments

Window treatments not only provide a decorative feature but they also help to insulate a room. When you shut the outside world out, making the space feel enclosed you automatically begin to lead in to cosy living room ideas.

Lined blinds and living room curtain ideas will also add a layer of valuable insulation against the glass window panes, preventing drafts and chills from entering.

Consider changing your living room flooring ideas to something more cosy. Carpeted living rooms will always feel warmer by nature because carpet looks more comforting, exuding a sense of warmth.

Carpet of any kind is an insulating material because it provides a protective layer on top of an underlay that covers floorboards. Any potential drafts through original floorboards are covered and therefore the room feels warmer – cosier than other flooring options.

17. Layer rugs

Don't fret if you have fashionable wooden or on-trend polished concrete flooring in your living room, you can simply add rugs to welcome extra warmth underfoot. Rugs can provide a short-term fix to making the space feel cosy, dressing the floor with tactile designs that feel sumptuous between your toes.

To add an extra cosy factor, layer rugs on top of rugs to ensure the floor is ultra cosy, and inviting for pets to curl up on too.

18. Find a warming focal point

Whether your living room features a fireplace or not, anchor your furniture around a central point. Bring your sofa in closer for the colder months to create a more intimate space – to huddle closer and create warmth. If you have a fireplace this is ideal as a warming focal point. If not try a cluster of lanterns and candles to get the same element of natural heat.

19. Snuggle into oversized pieces

Nothing provides a sense of comfort quite like an oversized armchair that gives you an inviting 'hug' to snuggle into. If you have the space choose a love seat to take over a corner of the living room, providing a solitary space to curl up with a good book and a cup of something warming.

20. Sit beside the fire

Wood burner ideas will instantly evoke feelings of comfort and cosiness, and, because we all draw near to a warm fireplace, it will become the focal point of your room. Move your seating in noticeably closer during the colder months to benefit further from the immediate warmth.

'Nothing makes a living room feel cosy like a wood-burning stove,' comments Jon Butterworth, MD, Arada Stoves (opens in new tab). 'A lit fire can dramatically lift our mood. On a cold,dreary, winter’s night, there’s nothing more appealing than cosying up by the open flames.'

Due to their design it's safe to get closer to a log burner, because the flames are behind safety doors – with an open fire always remain at a distance and have a fireguard in place, to avoid spitting embers.

21. Dress seating with extra layers

Adopt a Scandi approach to dressing seating with inviting layers of extra comfort, such as sheepskin rugs and faux furs. Easy to add seasonally, these tactile layers can instantly welcome touch of indulgence and warmth to make nights in front of the TV feel all the more cosy. Chic grey walls and smart furniture create a modern country feel in this stylish living room.

22. Seek comforting shapes

Shape and texture are just as important as colour when trying to create an inviting living room. This pair of upholstered wing armchairs with squashy cushions are a classic example: their rounded high-backed forms look comfortably padded and the wool fabric begs to be touched.

23. Make a white scheme feel cosy

Make white tones feel cosy with the right finish. Team slubby linens with aged teak and matt paint for a more grounding feel, appealing to the senses by creating a calm space to relax. Low level lighting from lamps will enhance the warm undertones of the best white paint shades.

24. Display firewood

Make a feature of any living room fireplace essentials to let your sense know heat is on hand. A curated log display goes a long way to set the scene for a roaring fire, where the mere thought is enough to adjust a mindset to feel cosier.

Metallic touches, such as burnished bronze and warm copper, add a warm quality to any colour scheme, particularly contrasting dark paint colours. A metallic finish on lighting, furniture and tabletop accessories will gently reflect light back into the room – emitting a warm glow to create a cosy ambience.

26. Welcome rustic elements

To decorate a cosy living room choose colours and patterns that offer a rustic country aesthetic. Country living room ideas are ideal for creating a cosy retreat, a place filled with natural colours and textures to create a sense of calm. Unpainted beams, a log burner and wooden-legged furniture continue the rustic theme.

27. Add warming accent colours

Blue walls give this country-style room a cheerful feel while the more fiery, spicy shades of burnt orange infuse the space with warmth. Flashes of metal furniture and metallic accessories also help to add a warming reflective quality to the look.

28. Enrich with warming reds

The effect of red walls is instantly warming. White woodwork and accessories freshens and sharpens the look. A rich leather sofa helps to invite warming tones, to reflect the effect of warming walls in a captivating red living room idea.

29. Pick autumnal berry tones

Select a rich mulberry tone for your walls to create a warm, intimate mood. Interestingly, the same hue can feel cool and calm in summer, so it really is a colour for all seasons. Layer aubergine and crimson shades with soft furnishings, from curtains and cushions to artwork and throws.

30. Enhance cosy cottage vibes

This cosy cottage living room has been given modern touches. An inglenook fireplace and exposed beams set a rustic tone, while squashy sofas, metallic occasional tables and a bold mustard wingback armchair have stylish appeal. The dark furnishings and soft textures in this living room create an intimate space for entertaining.

31. Plump for cushioning designs

Upholstered, button-back furniture is another way to create a cosy, warm look. A rocking chair is also an ideal way to provide restful additional seating for a living room, to gently embrace a comforting rocking motion. Ramp up the indulgent mood with candlelight on the mantelpiece.

32. Welcome country pattern and prints

Adding prints that are synonymous with cheerful country style can be another simple way to make your living room feel more inviting. Choose either floral or checked prints to give your room a more traditional feel, or combine both for a more relaxed, boho style. Layer the scheme with cosy tactile textures to enhance the look.

33. Expose natural brick

The exposed red brick of the inglenook fireplace makes it the focal point of this traditional living room. A sofa covered in a contemporary floral fabric and vibrant cushions keeps the look up to date. A soft palette of cream on walls and floors gives this room a soothing mood, but pops of red ensure it has a warm feel, too.

How can I make my living room look cosy?

You can achieve cosy living room ideas through very simple styling measures. Firstly turn down the lights, creating a more intimate ambience. 'Incorporate soft lamps and lights that are easily dimmable. This is so you can reduce the brightness when you havecompleted a task, allowing for a cosy, relaxed environment to socialise in,’says David Amos, CEO, Amos Lighting + Home (opens in new tab). Candlelight welcomes a soft light to any decor and also offers a budget idea for creating a cosy living room with minimal effort.

What colours make a living room cosy?

Warmer tones such as creams, taupes, oranges, reds and even darker greens can help create cosy living room ideas. 'All these colours will make you feel warm and cocooned in the space,' says Kelly from Swyft. 'They can either be used sparingly as a feature wall or maybe even inside of a bookcase or if you are feeling brave paint all the walls.'

'Warm tones enrich our homes and create cosy sanctuaries away from the outside world,' explains Joa Studholme, Colour Curator, Farrow & Ball' (opens in new tab). 'Luxurious colours like 'Preference Red' can be added to the most neutral of palettes by using them in rooms we use at the end of the day when we most want to relax and be comforted.'

'Red is incredibly chic by day and cosy by night, they bring a grounded but luxurious atmosphere that is thought-provoking as well as soothing, particularly when paired with other hues found in the natural world.'