January is here and it’s back to reality…
The post-festive blues have kicked in, the cold and glum weather has you feeling down, and there are no Christmas lights or decorations making you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
It’s times like these that we want our homes to be as warm and cosy as they can be, so we’ve written a guide on how to create a more inviting and cosy living room to encourage you to love the colder months of the year.
1) ATMOSPHERIC LIGHTING
This is the first thing that comes to mind when wanting to create a warm-feeling living room. There is limited daylight this time of year, so lighting is very important. But that doesn’t mean you need lots of it.
To create that desired ambience, we recommend warm lighting as cooler, white lights can be quite harsh and can portray the wrong vibe. Soffit lighting and up lighters are great as they only light up certain areas of the room, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere. The same way candles and fire lights do. Not only do these emit heat which is comforting in itself, they give off a warm glow which makes your living your room that bit more cosy!
2) NATURAL COLOURS & MATERIALS
When choosing a colour palette to make a room nice and cosy, we recommend generally neutral colours with accents of bold colours. These bolder tones could be burgundy red or mustard yellow to contrast the neutral tones, giving an impression of warmth.
There are also certain materials that can enhance the cosiness and relaxing vibe of a room, including wood and velvet. Introduce some pieces of furniture of these materials into your interior, such as a wooden coffee table or a velvet slouch chair, without forgetting they should complement your chosen colour palette to tie the whole room together.
3) LAYERED TEXTURES
Texture is one of the key things to creating a warm and cosy space, and it is often the first thing that comes to people’s minds when wanting to add warmth into a room. Throws, blankets and cushions will all help to soften and warm up the room, especially if layered.
Drape blankets and throws over the back of your sofa, and layer up a variety of cushions of different shapes and textures to achieve that warmly atmosphere. Chunky knit and faux fur are especially good materials to use.
4) COMFORTABLE FLOORING
Laying down a textured rug or having a fluffy carpet fitted (as opposed to a hard surfaced floor) is a great way to add warmth and comfort. Soft floor coverings are better at retaining heat and the plus side is they are comfortable to walk on, meaning fluffy socks or slippers may not always be necessary for when lounging around in your living room.
The great thing about rugs in particular is that they come in a range of sizes and styles, so you are bound to find one that will complement your living-room style.
5) INCLUDE WALL ART OR PHOTO FRAMES
Sometimes having bare walls can make a space feel bigger and cooler. This may be aspired more in the warmer months, or maybe for a different room in the house, but not for a living room in the winter months.
Introducing wall art or covering the walls with photos can make the space more inviting and simply feel less empty. Family photos always immediately add that homely feel, so this may be something to consider, especially if you’re not that big into art work.
