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How to create cosiness in large spaces

Large industrial-style spaces can seem huge and uninviting. House Rules judge Wendy Moore shares tips on how to warm up a warehouse
Chris Warnes

House Rules judge and HB alumnus Wendy Moore says that warehouse style works best when the structure of the building becomes part of the aesthetic – but you need to remember that you are still creating a home, not a workspace. 

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“When you have big spaces you are trying to create intimacy, so I think that’s when the importance of lighting and soft furnishings come in,” she explains.

How to create cosiness in large spaces
(Credit: Mikkel Vang)

Here are Wendy’s top 3 tips to make a warehouse feel cosy.

 1. Lighting

“You need to bring lighting down to a more traditional room level,” she says. “That’s why big drop pendants really work well in a warehouse because they do bring the focus down to a more comfortable level – particularly at night when you don’t get the benefit of any kind of natural light that bounces off the ceiling. Lighting makes a larger space feel more intimate and not empty or cavernous.”

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How to create cosiness in large spaces
(Credit: Marcel Aucar)

“…after lighting, it’s about soft furnishings – bringing rugs in, plus artwork and cushions to create a sense of place in different zones”

Wendy Moore, House Rules judge

2. Soft furnishings

“And then of course after lighting, it’s about soft furnishings – bringing rugs in, plus artwork and cushions to create a sense of place in different zones,” she explains. “So a loungeroom needs a big generous rug that connects all the loungeroom furniture to create a sense of place of a living area, which is usually a semi-open area.”

How to create cosiness in large spaces
(Credit: Chris Warnes)

3. Adding missing elements

Sometimes old warehouses have lost architectural features, says Wendy, so adding in industrial-style materials such as exposed brickwork, concrete and copper gives the building a sense of history. “It doesn’t have to be only about stripping back – adding elements such as copper piping is a clever use of industrial materials,” she says.

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How to create cosiness in large spaces
(Credit: Chris Warnes)

TUNE IN TO OUR PODCAST!

For all the behind the scenes action and styling tips from Wendy Moore, Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen, Jamie Durie and the Home Beautiful team, tune in to our brand new podcast, “Style Rules” now!

Style Rules: the new podcast from the team at Home Beautiful magzine

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