Although cosy living room ideas may seem reserved to small spaces or darker colour schemes, with the right combination of layout, decor and lighting any space can become cosy
Cosy living room ideas are created from more than just colour(Image credit: Furniture and Choice)
Although it's natural to assume cosy living room ideas will only feature small rooms drenched in darker colours, if you're dealing with a larger living room or want to make the most of a light-filled space, it's still possible to create a space that feels warm, welcoming and intimate.
Using layout, lighting, furniture styles and texture in your living room design are all interior design tricks that can turn a blank, empty space into one that has a more cosy character.
So whether you're renovating an existing living room or figuring out how to include an intimate space in your self-build we've sourced a variety ideas to pick from.
Can cosy living room ideas also be minimalistic?
While cosy and minimalist living room ideas may not often be words you pair together, experts suggest that with the right use of colour, you can still create a space that achieves both.
"Typically, warmer hues promote a cosy feel," says Chelsea Clark, head of marketing at Henderson Design Group. However, we’re starting to see shades of blue and grey being used to create a cosy atmosphere.
"Soft blues like sky and ocean shades help create a relaxing atmosphere. Team with sleek lines and clutter free surfaces, for a minimalistic but cosy feel."
Intrigued? Here's 11 ways to create some cosy living room ideas.
Chelsea Clark
Launching anything but ordinary wallpaper brand, Lust Home, in 2021, Chelsea Clark is an expert on colours, patterns and knowing just how to create the perfect room scheme. She is now Head of Marketing across the Henderson Design Group that includes Lust Home, I Love Wallpaper and Lucie Annabel.
1. Use rusty, earthy tones for a naturally cosy feel
Combine dark rusty orange with wooden tones and cream for a naturally earthy feel(Image credit: Barker & Stonehouse)
“Rust tones are perfect for creating a warm, welcoming and inviting space," says Lena Gierasinska, Head of Product & Displays at Barker and Stonehouse. "However, owing to the richness of the hue, many people shy away from it.
"For those to wish to incorporate rust into their homes, my top tip is to use it as an accent colour rather than enveloping the room with this shade. When used as an accent colour, it will draw the eye to a particular focal point, whether that be an artwork or a piece of furniture.
"Rust also works particularly well with tactile textures, such as wool or velvet, as the cosy nature of these fabric enhances the welcoming nature of this sophisticated hue.”
Lena is Head of Product & Displays at Barker and Stonehouse and has worked at the business for over 8 years. She has more than 13 years’ industry experience working with brands in the interiors and retail sector and is an expert on styling and staging rooms to create the perfect feel.
2. Choose a U-shaped layout for a cosy seating scheme
Placing seating in a U-shape helps create a cosier seating scheme(Image credit: The Cotswold Company)
When it comes to living room layout ideas, it's important to think about ways in which you can use your furniture to enhance the overall feel of the room - especially if your room is on the larger side.
While small spaces will likely force you to place seating in close proximity, simply adding more furniture to larger rooms won't always make it seem cosier.
"In terms of layout, arranging furniture in intimate groupings instead can encourage conversation and create a sense of cosiness," says Lisa Coppin, chief creative officer at The Cotswold Company.
Lisa Coppin
Lisa is chief creative officer at The Cotswold Company and has over 30 years experience in UK retail. Secialising in homeware and furniture, Lisa has become one of the industry's go to experts for advice on creating a warm and welcoming interior.
3. Add textures for a sumptuous cosy feel
Using textural fabrics will make lighter schemes seem cosier(Image credit: Furniture and Choice)
Using cream, stone and taupe to create cosy neutral living room ideas is perfectly achievable say the experts.
"Consider incorporating warm, inviting colours such as soft neutrals, warm greys, or earthy tones, which can help to create a welcoming ambiance," says Lisa Coppin.
"Introducing a variety of textures through the use of sumptuous fabrics like velvet, chunky knits and thick wools will also add depth and comfort to the space."
It can also be a good way to ensure a small living room ideas are cosy but still flooded with a generous amount of light as paler colours help to bounce light around a room.
4. Choose wallpaper for cosy living room ideas
Wallpaper will add richness and detail to your cosy living room idea(Image credit: Lucie Annabel)
"Wallpaper is a great way to add a cosy feel to your living room," says Chelsea Clark. "When choosing a design, opt for one that features a warm shade as its main colour, like a rich red, deep blue or soft brown.
"Stick to large scale patterns to avoid overcrowding and enhance the feeling of comfort by coordinating the colours of the wallpaper with other elements in the room, like upholstery and furniture.
"Finish off a cosy room," adds Chelsea, "by adding huggable textures including super soft fabrics and rugs and ambient, warm lighting."
5. Install a log-burning stove for the cosiest of corners
A log-burning stove is a fail-safe way of creating a cosy living room idea(Image credit: Direct Stoves)
Search for living room fireplace ideas and it's impossible not to feel cosy and warm when you view the results. Even the sight of an un-lit stove or fire can evoke the desire to snuggle up and bask in the potential glow.
For even cosier living room ideas, enhance the space with the addition of natural materials such as dark wood, stone paving and cover the space with large, textural rugs. Add a contemporary touch by creating log store alcoves in a smoothly plastered chimney breast and get ready for a relaxing evening ahead.
6. Paint pastel toned shapes to cosy up your walls
Make your walls part of your scheme for a more cosy feel(Image credit: Fenwick & Tilbrook)
If it feels hard to create an intimate feel in a high-ceilinged space, and you're searching for more cosy living room paint ideas, don't dismiss the potential of white walls.
Although leaving them white is unlikely to engender a warm or welcoming look, once you've chosen the rest of your colour scheme match this by painting arched, rainbow-like shapes on the wall.
As well as cleverly helping to reduce the overall sense of height, linking the colours to match your furniture and accessories will create invisible lines that serve to unite the space for an overall cohesive and cosy feel.
7. Choose floral fabrics for a cosy country look
Mix and match florals for a cosy cottage living room(Image credit: Molly Mahon)
For a perfectly cosy cottage living room idea, don't assume you have to rely on wooden and earthy tones. Instead, bring the outside in by choosing floral fabrics in brighter, but warmer shades.
"Warm colours have the ability to lift the cosiness level, warm hues of yellows, oranges, pinks and red will help create a feeling of intimacy and comfort," says Chelsea Clark.
We love how this cosy scheme from Molly Mahon mixes and matches different floral fabrics with a striped sofa, decorative lampshade and a soft shade of pink across the walls to create a welcoming cosy living room idea that simply invites you in to sit down and enjoy the space.
8. Search for sofas you can sink into
Low level sofas with double cushions will create a great cosy living room idea (Image credit: Nkuku)
Nothing says cosy more than a sofa that invites you to lounge around on. It's not hard to imagine sinking into these Nkuku Nadeela modular sofas and never really wanting to leave.
They're also ideal if you're dealing with a sloped ceiling space caused by stairs in your living room, or perhaps you're planning on adding an extra living room as part of your loft conversion ideas.
The added benefit of a modular sofa? You can also reconfigure the layout as and when you choose and to help create different moods and zones.
For a cosy cabincore feel, pair with weathered wooden floor boards and extend them onto your walls for the perfect living room panelling idea.
9. Colour drench your ceiling for a cocoon like space
Paint your ceiling in a matching shade to create a cosy cocoon like living room(Image credit: Divine Savages)
Even a more formal style living room with panelling, traditional rugs, sofas and gallery walls can be made to feel cosy when you employ a simple interior design trick.
Instead of assuming your ceiling has to be white, reframe your opinion of it and rather than thinking of it as the ceiling, view it as the fifth wall. Decorate it with the same colours as the rest of your room and suddenly you will find yourself enveloped in a cocoon-like space that is warm and welcoming.
Choose lighting positioned at different levels for creating a cosy mood(Image credit: Kelling Designs)
When it comes to your living room lighting ideas, "strategic lighting choices, such as incorporating table and floor lamps as well as candles and lanterns, can enhance the overall warmth and atmosphere of the room," says Lisa Coppin.
"And while dark colours can certainly contribute to a cosy feel, lighter tones can also achieve this effect when paired with the right textures and lighting."
But, as lighting only really creates cosiness when it's dark, creating the right combination of all the elements previously discussed is essential to ensuring your cosy living room ideas work both day and night.
It's demonstrated well in this living room where the seating layout, fireplace, patterned and textured fabrics, warm accent colours and thick curtains all work together to ensure the space is cosy - even during the day. At night, delicate pendant lighting and low-level table lamps will add warm pools of light to enhance the cosy feel.
11. Use a darker colour on the top half of your walls
Use the darker shade from your colour palette to make the room feel cosier(Image credit: Furniture and Choice)
If you've narrowed it down to a combination of light and dark colours when choosing your cosy living room ideas, for a space that feels cosy rather than spacious, be sure to use the darker colour on the top half of your walls. In a similar way to painting the ceiling, it will help to make the room feel more contained and therefore more cosy.
Match your sofa to the darker, rather than lighter wall colour to help ground the room, but soften with tonally matched lighter cushions, artwork and add floor lighting to zone the seating area.
Even though cosy living room ideas aren't just about colour, it's still always good to consider the positioning of your room say the experts before you make your final colour choices.
“When choosing colours for a room, firstly consider how the space will be used," says Anna Hill, brand director and colour consultant for Fenwick & Tilbrook .
"Soothing colours, such as pale green, blue, and neutral tones, work well in rooms that prioritise relaxation while vibrant yellow, pink, and red hues are invigorating and well-suited to busy spaces.
"Both natural and artificial light can also impact how a colour looks in a room," says Anna, "so it’s important to test your chosen shades before you start decorating.
"Warm-toned shades work well in north-facing rooms that tend to be short on natural light, as they help to minimise the appearance of shadows while softening any reflections from artificial light sources.
"Vibrant, cool-toned hues work well in south-facing spaces but can overpower naturally darker rooms, making the space feel enclosed. However, this can work to your advantage in living spaces, such as living rooms and dining rooms, that benefit from feeling cosy. "
After almost 12 years in corporate merchandising roles for both UK and International brands, Anna Hill relocated to Norfolk to join the family business bringing a vast wealth of visual knowledge to the paint brand.
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Sarah is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Assistant Editor and joined the team in 2024. An established homes and interiors writer, Sarah has renovated and extended a number of properties, including a listing building and renovation project that featured on Grand Designs. Although she said she would never buy a listed property again, she has recently purchased a Grade II listed apartment. As it had already been professionally renovated, she has instead set her sights on tackling some changes to improve the building’s energy efficiency, as well as adding some personal touches to the interior.
