3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round
The living room is often the epicentre of the home so needs to be comfortable, welcoming and most importantly cosy. No matter your household, your living room serves a whole host of purposes, be it a family play zone, an entertaining area or a space to relax and unwind on a night in. It is often one of the spaces where families spend most of their time together, so it is essential to make it work perfectly, no matter how big or small. Here’s the expert's formula to year-round cosiness.
1\ Layers
To create instant cosiness it’s all about getting the right seasonal layers and updating them as the season's change. For example, in summer, change cushions to fresher, brighter colours and choose floaty throws in linen and soft blues; in winter go for texture and warmth in your colour palette, like chunky throws and earthy tones.
2\ Flooring
Add texture and warmth to your room with a rug, not only will it keep your toes nice and warm, rugs also keep the heat in. If your home is open-plan use an oversized rug to help frame the living space. For more, read our guide on how to buy the perfect rug.
For an extra level of comfort and warmth, in-floor heating is a great option. Then you have the option to heat each room individually or multiple spaces throughout. So no matter where in the room you are you’ll feel nice and cosy.
HB recommends: Natural gas is one of the most common and cost-effective options when it comes to hydronic floor heating systems. It is easy to install and provides instant warmth at the flick of a switch.
3\ Fireplace
Yes, a fireplace will keep you physically warm in the cooler months but the structure itself has a visual warmth. A natural gas fireplace makes a statement and gives the space a focal point, so you arrange your furniture to face towards it and enjoy a cosy night by recreating a comfort of an open fireplace without the smoke.
4\ Furniture
In a small room, it's tempting to place your sofa along the wall, try bringing it forward and anchor it with a rug and side table. Clear the space behind the sofa, creating a clear thoroughfare for a clever and cosy use of space.
5\ Centrepiece
A feature wall is another great way to add depth and warmth to your living space. Wallpaper? Colour? Timber detailing? It’s up to you. If you’re after some inspiration have a look at these show-stopping feature walls
6\ Clutter-free
There’s nothing warm and cosy about looking at mess and clutter. Look for out of the box storage solutions that keep mess out of sight. Think woven baskets, functional furniture and built-in cupboards.
7\ Old meets new
Don’t be afraid to mix and match some older vintage style pieces with the modern. The curves and textures of older pieces together with sleek modern designs create a quirky mismatched feel. This applies to your soft furnishings but also to the frames on your artwork.
8\ Colour
As we mentioned in step #1, switching up your decor is an instant way to transform a room between seasons, but for the pieces that will stick around year round stick to one colour palete. Consistency is key, so make sure you refer back to your base colours when choosing colours and fabrics, choose three or four consistent warm tones.
9\ Light it up
Nothing says cosy like a warmly-lit space. Avoid using bright LEDs and use dimmable lights and add a couple of lamps to switch on the warm and fuzzies.
