Between work, weather and the hassles of daily living, we have a lot to deal with out in the world. When we come home and shut the front door, it’s nice to have a place that takes care of us. That’s why a cozy and inviting living room is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Maybe you’ve spent time in such a room, where you were snug and comfortable, and the cold old world felt blessedly far away. You may have noticed curves, soft textures and unobtrusive lighting. You might have wondered just how the effect was created. It’s not an impossible dream; a professional designer can help you fashion your very own cozy living room. Here are some elements that make such an inviting space possible.

Curvilinear Cozy Comfort

We’re seeing furniture with curves supplant straight-line pieces in the latest living rooms, and that’s good news if you’re creating a cozy space. Curvy furniture is comforting furniture. It’s conducive to that delicious tucked-in feeling. Think of rounded sofas and armchairs, coffee tables and lamps, even cozy home decor such as vases, bowls and curvaceous table sculpture.

With sofas and chairs, it’s not just the curvature of the frame that creates the rounded effect. Plush seats and backs are curvy, too. Add plenty of fluffy pillows to accent the roundness of these pieces.

For the maximal cozy effect, think not only about the furnishings you choose but also about where to position them. A room configured for conversation, with perhaps a central rounded table and area rug, is a room people will want to spend their time in.

Textures: Soft, Fuzzy and Fringy

A cozy room is a textured room. Anything that’s thick, plush, soft, fuzzy or fringy helps to build layers of snug comfort:

• Your snuggly room should have plenty of pillows. Pillows can be similar to each other, or you might play mix ‘n’ match. In either case, be sure to include many that are plump, rounded and richly textured. For an especially homey variation, tuck a sheepskin or two in with the pillows.
• What would a cozy room be without blankets? There’s nothing like a chunky knitted blanket to evoke warm and happy times.
• Consider performance velvet for your upholstery. It’s polyester, but it has a buttery feel and luxurious finished look that rivals high-end cotton. You can also find pillows, blankets, poufs and curtains in performance velvet. As a bonus, it resists spills, stains and abrasions.
• Boucles are trending just in time to make an appearance in your restful room. It’s curly, it’s knobby, it’s fleecy. In short, it has all the texture elements that make for a snug look. It’s showing up on sofas, chairs, pillows and even fabric to drape window treatments.
• Anything with fringes, be it a pillow, a blanket or an area rug, makes for a room where people want to sit and luxuriate.

Texture Underfoot: Rugs and Carpets

Carpets and area rugs bring warmth in more ways than one. They’re made of natural or synthetic materials, but many people agree that wool is the most comfortable and welcoming choice. Wool is also a sustainable option you can be proud of, and it makes a great base for building a cozily luxurious interior scheme.

Any carpet height will work, but the higher piles boast the greater comfort factor. If you have hardwood or any hard floor, an area rug is the addition that immediately mellows a room. There are several ways to deploy area rugs. Some take up the whole room, coming within 12 to 18 inches of the wall. Others are smaller and centered in a conversational area created with sofas and chairs. Some rooms use several area rugs.

A designer can assist in choosing the one that fits best in your space, given your room’s colors, structure and furniture arrangement. They can also help sort through the choices of sumptuous shades and patterns that are available. Highly textured area rugs are often the most inviting ones for a cozy space.

Don’t rule out area rugs even if your floor is already carpeted. Rugs on top of carpeting add a comforting touch of color and texture that is popular and pleasing.

The Power of Flowers

When you’re relaxing in your comfy living room, a touch of nature is ideal for enhancing your sense of well-being. You’ve probably heard us humans described as “biophilic,” which means we have an inborn affinity with nature. Being surrounded by greenery not only makes us feel good; there’s evidence that it truly makes us healthier.

You don’t have to create a lush indoor garden to benefit from Mother Nature. A small tree in a corner or a few potted plants on a shelf will make your cozy space a happier space. Blossoms in vases can change according to the season, and even dried flowers have what it takes to trigger the biophilic effect.

The Colors of Comfort

Most cozy rooms will feature soft and neutral colors. Cream, beige, gray, ivory and eggshell create the canvas for your warm and pleasant space. Building on the nature theme, a few touches of browns and greens make the surroundings even more comfortable. They work well when blended with natural materials such as wood and stone.

An effective variation is to mix some rusty colors with the softer ones. It moves the room toward a farmhouse look, and we all know how scrumptiously snug that can be.

Making the Lighting Right

A cozy living room should not have excessively bright lighting. Light should be adequate but never obtrusive. That means indirect light and layers of light.

Pendants and chandeliers are excellent overhead fixtures, but they should never be too bright. It’s best to have multiple light sources, including floor lamps, table lamps and sconces that can be turned on, turned off and angled to provide light when and where it’s needed. Avoid high-temperature and bright white light bulbs in favor of softer bulbs and LEDs.

You may choose to finish off your lighting scheme with a few candles. Choose the colors that you find most relaxing as well as the scents that bring back memories you can enjoy while relaxing in your room.

Your Personal Comfy and Cozy

There are some general principles in creating a snug and welcoming space. However, the ideal living room retreat is the one that fits your personality, where the comfortable arrangement speaks to you. Consider working with one of our designers to create the room that you’ll be delighted to return to, day after day, through all the seasons of many years.