It’s hard to overstate the distinct comforts of a cozy living room, especially during the winter months when the days are short and the nights are long. In today’s blog, the interior design experts at Star Furniture discuss some of the best cozy living room ideas to help you create a comfortable oasis of your own.
Roll Out the Rugs
(Pictured Above: Lina Leather Sectional)
When it comes to cozy living room ideas, area rugs are on the top of our list. Decorating with rugs offers a wide range of stylistic and practical benefits. They can make a room look and feel cozier by adding a soft texture to the room, they keep your feet warm when walking across hardwood floors, and they prevent echoes that can make the room feel cavernous and empty. Plus, they have greater insulating value, so they’ll help keep you warm during cold weather. Area rugs can even help protect your kids if they slip and fall.
Bring on the Blankets
(Pictured Above: Charlie Chaise Sectional)
Nothing says cozy like blankets! That’s why blankets are some of our favorite cozy living room décor. To get started, we recommend opting for soft materials and textures. You might, for example, choose a loose-knit or faux fur blanket. From there, you’ll want to choose a color or pattern that complements your living room color palette. You can even swap out different blankets for different seasons—like a red plaid blanket for Christmas or a bright floral-print blanket for spring. Once you’ve chosen the perfect cozy blanket, it’s time to decide where to put it. For comfort and convenience, our interior design experts recommend draping blankets over sofas, ottomans, storage benches, and the foot of your bed.
Opt for an Ottoman
(Pictured Above: Pia Sectional with Cologne Cocktail Ottoman)
One of our favorite cozy living room ideas involves opting for an ottoman instead of a more traditional coffee table. Because they’re upholstered, ottomans have a warm, soft texture that can make your room feel homey and welcoming. But the benefits don’t end there. Unlike coffee tables, ottomans can be used as extra seating when you’re entertaining guests for the holidays. They can even prevent bumps and scrapes, as the edges are softer and rounder than most coffee tables. If you do opt for a cocktail ottoman, be sure to coordinate it well with the other furniture in your home to make the most out of your décor.
Start with a Sectional
(Pictured Above: Egan 6-Piece Modular Sectional)
Wondering how to decorate your living room to make it cozy? Start with a sectional sofa. Sectionals are one of our favorite cozy living room ideas because they make it easier to stretch out and get comfortable. Plus, their size and arrangement make it so the whole family can snuggle up together for a special movie night or game night. In fact, sectionals often come in a configuration that works as a natural, intimate space to converse the night away, making it a great living room seating idea for anyone who frequently entertains guests or who has a big family that likes to gather together.
Layer Your Lighting
(Pictured Above: Marvel Power Reclining Sofa)
No single light fixture can give you everything you need to properly light a room, especially if you want your living room to feel cozy. That’s why no list of cozy living room ideas would be complete without layered lighting. To get started, you’ll need to consider ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Also known as general lighting, ambient lighting often includes things like ceiling-mounted light fixtures, chandeliers, and natural light from windows. Then, you have your task lighting. Task lighting is traditionally used to make sure there is an adequate amount of light for specific tasks like reading, cooking, crafting, or working. In a living room, for example, task lighting might be used next to a sofa or in a reading nook so you have enough light to see your paperback. Once you have these lighting layers down, you can layer in your accent lighting. Accent lighting highlights important objects and décor by focusing light directly on them. This includes uplights, picture lights, and wall sconces. Be sure to think about how all of these different lighting types work together and find light fixtures that match the look and feel of your living room décor.
Make Use of Wall Space
(Pictured Above: Lexi Sofa)
Not sure how to decorate a living room to make it cozy? Start with the walls. Blank walls are a missed interior design opportunity that can make your home feel bland and impersonal. In fact, because wall art doesn’t take up physical space in the room, it’s one of the best cozy living room ideas for small spaces. Not sure how to get started? Our guide to how to hang a picture like an interior designer can help with some of the logistics. You might also consider creating a gallery wall with a deliberate theme or color scheme. In general, accent walls create a strong focal point, add a splash of personality and style, and help you take advantage of vertical space, which is particularly helpful in smaller living rooms with limited space for furniture.
Decorate with Plants
(Pictured Above: Darby Sofa)
When it comes to cozy living room décor, it’s hard to beat the power of plants. Not only can plants add a splash of color to your home décor, but they can also make the space feel fresh and inviting. Whether you opt for a tall plant in an empty corner or an array of smaller plants carefully curated throughout the room, plants can help improve your air quality, create positive Feng Shui energy, and make your living feel more homey and welcoming. Worried about keeping plants alive? Don’t be afraid to decorate with fake plants and flowers! While they won’t improve your home’s air quality, they’ll deliver on all of the other benefits of decorating with plants without all the hassle. That way, you won’t have to worry about finding the right level of sunlight or the ideal watering schedule in order to take advantage of the greenery.
Mix Up Your Materials & Patterns
(Pictured Above: Bella Sofa)
When it comes to texture in interior design, layering is key. That’s why mixing patterns and materials is one of the best cozy living room decorating ideas on our list. While you don’t want to go overboard with contrasting textures that end up going head-to-head for visual attention, mixing in a range of materials and patterns can make the room feel full and intentional. You might, for example, mix a natural, floral print ottoman with a striped chair or a plush, velvet sofa with a sleek, marble coffee table. Remember, the goal isn’t to fit in as many textures as possible. Instead, you want to create balance so that your living room feels inviting and cozy rather than cold and static.
Work Those Window Treatments
Window treatments go a long way toward making your living room look cozy. While any combination of stylish shades and curtains can work great, floor-length curtains hung up as high as the ceiling can create a flowy, cozy ambience in your living room. Just be sure to pay attention to the color scheme and texture of your curtains to make sure they complement the rest of your living room décor. In fact, curtains offer a great opportunity to play with texture. Whether you opt for a sleek, shiny material or a thick, luscious pattern, your curtains go a long way toward creating the cozy living room of your dreams. The best part? The right shades and curtains can help keep your heating and cooling bills under control.
Add Warm Tones to Your Color Palette
Looking for cozy living room decorating ideas that will work in any living room? Try adding in some warm tones to your color palette. Generally speaking, warm tones include anything in the red, orange, and yellow family, which evoke the warmth of a fire. Especially if your room is predominantly decorated in neutrals, it shouldn’t be hard to add some warmer tones to the room through throw pillows, curtains, rugs, or wall art. They’ll add a feeling of warmth to the room, creating a cozy, inviting ambience that will put you and your guests at ease. Just be sure that these items don’t clash with the overall color palette you’ve chosen for your living room.
Fill Up Those Shelves
(Pictured Above: Cedar Leather Power Reclining Sofa)
Whether you have a large bookcase, floating shelves, or a cabinet with a hutch, decorating your shelves is a great way to make your living room feel even more cozy. For many, books are the ultimate cozy comfort, and so filling your shelves with books can go a long way toward creating a warm and cozy ambience. If you’re not a reader, decorating your shelves with an array of knick knacks and found objects can give your room an element of personality and style. Not sure how to decorate your shelves? Start with a theme. Maybe you want to display items with a warm color palette or items you’ve collected through travel. You can even get festive by swapping out different items for different seasons. Whatever you choose, carefully curated shelves will make your living room feel intimate and cozy.
Pepper in Some Poufs
(Pictured Above: Siem Pouf)
Poufs are short, upholstered cushions that sit directly on the ground like an ottoman. Because they can be used as extra seating, a comfortable place to prop your feet, a smooth surface to hold drinks and reading materials, or a way to fill an empty corner, they’re one of our most versatile cozy living room ideas. And because of their size and shape, they don’t take up much space and can be easily stored when needed. Plus, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and styles, so you’ll be able to find the perfect fit for your living room.
Add Some Lush Luxury Fabrics
(Pictured Above: Somerset Velvet Sectional)
Want to create a warm, cozy atmosphere that will help you and your guests relax? Try choosing luxury fabrics like velvet, microfiber, silk, or boucle. Not only do these materials feel great on your skin for a soft, comfortable experience, but they have a distinct texture that adds visual interest to the room. Not ready to invest in a luxury fabric sofa or accent chair? Throw pillows, blankets, and ottomans upholstered in these decadent fabrics can go a long way toward creating a cozy living room. Now that you’ve read these cozy living room ideas, it’s time to start decorating. Browse our huge selection of living room furniture and home décor to start designing the living room of your dreams. In the meantime, check out our home inspiration blog where we cover everything from FAQs about living room layouts to our favorite sofas for small spaces.