25 Cosy Living Room Ideas
The living room is the heart of the home, a place to relax with a good book, a cup of tea and a catch up with friends and family.
It’s also a place to show off your style and personality.
There are a number of ways to make your living room feel extra cosy, from adding a warm throw to turning down the lights and lighting some candles.
We’ve pulled together some of our favourite cosy living room ideas to inspire you.
1. Let the light in
We all know that natural light can make a room feel bigger and airier, but you might not have considered how it can make a room feel cosier too.
In the winter months,
it’s all about making the most of that precious sunlight so keep windows clear of heavy curtains and shutters and instead opt for lighter window treatments like Roman blinds.
2. Use warm colours
Colour has the power to transform a space and the colours you choose for your living room can be used to make a room feel cosier and more inviting.
This living room has been painted in a lovely warm pink and the rest of the room has been designed around that colour.
The sofas, cushions and even the rug all echo the same shade, so the room feels really cohesive and inviting.
3. Add a fireplace
If you don’t have a fireplace in your living room, it’s easy to fake one. Just check out this cozy living room idea.
The mirror above the mantel creates the illusion of a window and a roaring fire, even though this fireplace is purely decorative.
4. Use soft materials
Nothing says cosy like soft, squishy textures. So be sure to add these into your living room in the form of cushions, throws and rugs.
Here, the layers of soft materials are what make this minimalist space feel so inviting.
The sheepskin rug adds warmth and a nice contrast to the cool-toned grey. Then, the cushions bring in just a hint of color and texture.
5. Add a rug
A rug can define a space and add a lovely pattern and texture to a living room.
You can use a rug to bring in some seasonal colors too, like the lovely mustard and rust hues in the rug in this space.
Rugs are also a great way to add in some cozy lighting.
The darker colors in this rug add contrast and prevent the room from looking too washed out, but they also make the room feel warmer and more inviting.
6. Warm up the walls
If you love a neutral living room, but want to make sure it doesn’t feel too cold, pick a warmer neutral shade for the walls.
The soft, warm grey in this living room creates a welcoming feel that’s perfect for a cosy space.
If you are after more grey living room ideas, we have a whole gallery for you to browse.
7. Create a reading nook
If you have the space, a reading nook is a great way to make use of an awkward corner of your living room.
Find a comfy chair, add a side table and an elegant lamp and you have a cosy spot that’s perfect for getting stuck into a good book.
We have a whole gallery of reading nojson that can provide you with more inspiration.
8. Add some plants
Bringing the outside in is a sure fire way to make your home feel more inviting and cosy.
And the easiest way to do that? Add some house plants to your living room.
Plants add color, texture and life to a space and can make even the most stark of rooms feel warm and welcoming.
If you don’t have the greenest of thumbs, there are plenty of indoor plants that are easy to care for and will last years if you look after them.
9. Use candles
Candles are a must in a living room, especially in the evenings. They give off a lovely warm glow, and fill the room with a comforting scent.
We have rounded up some of the best living room candles in our buying guide, so make sure you go and check that out next.
10. Make it personal
We are big fans of gallery walls, they are such an easy way to bring loads of personality into a room.
You could also use a gallery wall as a starting point and build the rest of your living room around it.
Pick out the colors, patterns and textures in your prints and use them in your soft furnishings.
We love the mix of bold colors in this space, but the room still feels really cosy.
11. Add a coffee table
A coffee table is a living room must-have, it’s the finishing touch that helps to create a welcoming, cohesive space.
When choosing a coffee table, you’ll want to consider the size of your room and the size of your sofa.
You want to be able to easily walk around it and it should be no more than two-thirds the length of your sofa.
If you have a small space, a round coffee table is a good option as it will take up less visual space.
12. Use multi-functional furniture
If your living room is on the small side, multi-functional furniture is key.
This compact sofa, for example, doubles up as a day bed and even has storage built in.
The small coffee table can be easily moved around the room and can be used as a footstool too.
The more uses you can get out of your furniture the less you need to have in the room, making it feel more spacious.
13. Add a bookshelf
If you are lucky enough to have a living room that’s big enough to accommodate a bookshelf, make that the focal point.
Fill it with your most beloved reads, and style the shelves with prints, plants, and vases too.
If you don’t have a bookshelf in your living room, you can create a similar look by stacking books on your coffee table and adding a few house plants.
You could even create the illusion of a bookshelf by hanging a few picture ledges and layering them up with books and prints.
14. Use a warm colour on the ceiling
The ceiling in this living room has been painted in the same shade of warm terracotta as the walls, which creates a really enveloping, cocooning feel.
This is a great option if you have a living room that is more modern and lacks some of the architectural features that can add that cosy feel.
Plus, notice how the wall lights have been used here to highlight the ceiling and the fireplace.
Lighting is a key part of creating a cosy living room, and we will show you how to layer it up in the next few ideas.
15. Add some art
Art is an easy way to add colour and personality to a room,
plus, if you are decorating on a budget, you can go for prints or even create your own art to hang in your living room.
Choose pieces that suit your style and the colour scheme of your living room.
We love the boldness of the prints in this space, they really stand out against the dark walls and add a contemporary edge to the room.
16. Use a tray for your coffee table
If you want to give your coffee table a quick tidy, just pop all your bits and bobs on a tray.
It will instantly look more organised and you can easily move them out the way if you need more space.
You can also use a tray to start to build your living room colour scheme.
Here, the blue and white tray matches the colour of the cushions and the rug, creating a really cohesive look.
17. Add some throws
Throws are a must in a living room, especially in the colder months.
They add so much lovely texture and you can use them to add some seasonal colors too.
Layer up different throws and mix and match patterns for a really snug look.
18. Use a mirror
A mirror is a great addition to any living room, but especially a small living room. It can make the space feel so much larger and lighter.
You can also use the colors in the mirror to inspire the rest of your room – pick out a few key shades and bring them into your soft furnishings and accessories.
Mirrors are also a great way to add some texture to a living room, they can make a room feel more lived in and relaxed.
Pick a mirror with a more ornate frame or go for a sunburst mirror for a more boho look.
19. Use a warm colour on the floor
If you have a small living room, you might worry that too much furniture will make the space feel cramped.
But if you are clever with your layout you can fit in plenty of seating without it feeling too much.
In this small living room,
the sofa is placed in the middle of the room, and two armchairs are positioned at the end of the space, so the seating area is zoned and doesn’t feel like it’s taking up too much room.
20. Add some fairy lights
Fairy lights are another way to add a lovely warm glow to a living room.
They are also perfect for renters who can’t install wall lights or pendants and are a great, cheap way to add some mood lighting to your living room.
You can hang them on the walls, drape them around a mirror or piece of wall art, or just have them hanging over a shelf.
You can get battery-operated ones too, so you don’t have to worry about hiding any unsightly wires.
21. Use a warm colour in your curtains
Curtains can be a great way to add colour to a living room without it feeling too much.
This lovely warm, mustard yellow adds a lovely pop of autumnal colour to this living room, and it’s been brought in in other places too,
like the cushions and the throw.
If you are a fan of this shade, check out our guide to decorating with mustard yellow for plenty more inspiration.
22. Use a warm colour on your walls
If you are decorating a living room on a budget, a lick of paint is the most cost-effective way to bring in a new colour scheme.
And when it comes to creating a cosy feel, warmer colours are the way to go.
We are talking soft pinks, peach, terracotta, mustard yellows and of course, the classic cosy colour, red.
All these colours can make a room feel more inviting and can be balanced with other soft, neutral hues so they don’t become too overwhelming.
23. Add some cushions
And of course, cushions are a must in a cosy living room. We would say the more the merrier,
but as you can see in this living room, even just a couple of cushions can add that squishy, soft texture that makes a space feel so inviting.
We have a guide to how to arrange sofa cushions, so you can get that lovely, relaxed look in your living room.
24. Use a warm colour on your furniture
If you are after a quick living room update, just painting your furniture can make a huge difference.
It’s a great way to add colour, and if you choose a warm, earthy tone, it can really up the cosy vibes too.
We love the terracotta used in this living room; it’s subtle but still adds a lovely warmth to the space.
You could even just paint a side table, a bookcase or a coffee table in a similar shade to get the same look.
25. Add some family photos
Family photos are a really easy way to add character to a living room.
Plus, if you are feeling a bit of a disconnect between the people in your home,
adding photos of your family and friends can be a really quick and easy way to make your home feel more welcoming.
You could create a whole gallery wall of family photos, or just dot a few around the room.
You could even create a feature out of your family photos by displaying them on a shelf or a picture ledge.
Conclusion
We hope you have been inspired by these living room ideas that will help you create a warm and inviting place to be.
