You living room should be a relaxing and comfortable space. Here are 10 tips for designing the ultimate cozy living room where you’ll love to spend your time.
Chances are, you spend a lot of time in your living room. It’s where you and your family hang out. It’s where people stop to chat when they come to visit.
It may even be where you and your friends congregate to watch your favorite movies or sports games.
Since it’s such as well-used room, you want to make your living room is comfortable. The good news is, you won’t need to spend a ton to do it.
How do you create a cozy living room? Check out Common Cents Mom for home decor tips or read below for tips on creating a cozy space.
1. Add Some Recliners
The seating in your living room plays a huge part in how cozy the room feels. A large poufy couch definitely creates a different atmosphere than a hard, professional-looking one.
If you really want to create a cozy living room, mix in some recliners with your other seating options. Recliners allow you and our guests to kick back and relax, whether you’re playing a game, watching your favorite sport, or crying over the latest chick flick.
Some recliners are better than others, though, so make sure you look for the comfiest ones you can find. To ensure the greatest level of comfort, go for ergonomic seating. You can read more about the ergonomic recliners that are available by checking out reviews.
2. Decorate With Stuff You Like
This may sound simple, and well, that’s because it is! You can easily add to the cozy atmosphere by simply surrounding yourself with things that make you happy.
What sorts of things go well in living rooms? How about pictures of your family and friends? Or your favorite animals or places to visit?
Wall decor is only the beginning. If you’re an avid reader, dedicate an area of your living room to some of your favorite books. They’ll be right at your fingertips whenever you’re ready to curl up and read.
Other items to consider include trinkets from travels or events with friends and family, furniture from relatives, a stash of your favorite snacks, or anything else that makes you happy.
3. Create Blanket Storage
Blankets offer comfort and coziness in a way that nothing else can, so it’s a good idea to have them on hand. To keep them easily accessible, create a hutch, trunk, or other attractive storage space that goes well with the rest of your living room.
Once you’ve got a place set up, gather or purchase a bunch of cozy blankets. Fold them neatly, or just throw them all inside your storage area-whatever feels cozier to you.
Then, whenever you and your friends want to cozy up for a movie, book, game, or chat, you’ll have plenty of blankets right where you need them.
4. Kick Your Feet Up
Nothing says “chillin'” like a place to kick your feet up. So add a bit of furniture that’ll let you do that whenever you want.
Ottomans come in all shapes and sizes, and some even come with storage space inside (i.e. the perfect place for those fuzzy blankets). If tables are more your thing, though, you can use those too.
Whether you use an ottoman or table, position the piece of furniture close to your couches to create the perfect lounge spot. Depending on the size of your living room, you may want to add multiple places to put your feet up.
5. Throw on Some Pillows
Throw pillows are perfect for creating a cozy living space. They don’t even have to match your existing furniture exactly. As long as they don’t clash with the other design elements of the room, you’re good to go.
Choose from solid colors, patterns, textures, and more. You can even create your own throw pillows if you’d like. To keep things easy, choose pillows with removable covers so you can wash them regularly.
Throw a few on each piece of furniture and every part of your living room will feel nice, cozy, and inviting.
6. Choose Neutral Colors
While bold, flashy colors may be fun on bedroom walls, they may not give off a cozy vibe in a living room. Instead, aim for welcoming, neutral colors.
Gray, beige, off-white, tan, and similar colors let attention focus on the items in the room, not the walls themselves. Bright, bolder colors may be too distracting for people to properly relax.
If you do want to add a pop of brighter or bolder color, do it with an accent wall. Then you’ll have the best of both worlds.
7. Add a Fireplace
Fireplaces instantly add a cozy feel to any room. Add one to your living room and all who come will be instantly drawn to gather around it and relax.
There’s nothing quite like a warm, crackling fire on a chilly night. But your fireplace doesn’t only offer coziness during the cold months. The look of it alone adds to the welcoming atmosphere of your living room.
There are various types of fireplaces you can choose from. A standard fireplace burns wood and vents smoke through a chimney. Other options include fire burning stoves, electric fireplaces built into the wall, or standalone electric fireplaces.
A gas fireplace is another option too. Consider how much work you’re willing to do and what sort of maintenance you’re likely to keep up with. If your fireplace will end up being neglected, you probably shouldn’t put it in.
8. Use Potted Plants
The addition of potted plants can really breathe some life into an otherwise stale room. They come in all types and shapes, so there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind.
Choose plants that will thrive in your living room environment. Consider where you’ll put the plants. Make sure they’ll get enough sunlight to stay vibrant and healthy. You’ll also need to make sure they get enough water.
If you have a smaller living space, consider using taller plants instead of wider ones. They’ll take up less horizontal space but still add character and life to the room.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time taking care of plants, there are options that don’t require a lot of work on your part. A little research will help you determine which plants are best for your situation.
9. Go with Carpet
While hardwood floors are gorgeous and easy to clean, they aren’t so comfy to hang out on. For this reason, you may want to add carpet to your living room and leave the hardwood for other areas of the house.
Choose carpet that’s high-quality and that compliments the rest of the room. Add a good pad underneath to amp up that cozy feeling.
You’ll have plenty of carpet types to choose from, so determine whether you like shag or shorter, solid colors, or mixed colors. If you aren’t sure, visit a local carpet seller to see samples of what they have available.
If you do prefer hardwood in your living room, try adding an oversized rug in the area where people are most likely to hang out. This will keep things nice and cozy, and keep feet warm on cooler nights.
10. Add Specialty Seating
If you’d really like to cozy up your living room, consider adding some specialty seating. Recliners and sofas are great, but why not add some giant bean bags or circular chairs? Make them the sole furniture in the room, or mix them in with more traditional pieces.
Bean bags are perfect for cuddling and friends and family members who like to be close to one another. They’re also great for hanging out on the floor if that’s more your thing.
Don’t be afraid to get creative. There are all sorts of comfy furniture pieces that aren’t a standard couch, to explore your options and try something new as you design your living room.
Get Started on Your Cozy Living Room Today
Creating a cozy living room doesn’t have to be hard. All it takes is some simple changes to make your space more welcoming.
Some of the ideas on this list will take more time, effort, and money, but others are as simple as purchasing items or repositioning ones you already have.
However you decide to do it, creating a cozy space in your living room is worth your time. You’ll enjoy it more, and so will your guests.
Do you need some additional funds to create the cozy living room or your dreams? Check out these money-saving tips to get you on your way.