For some people, modern homes tend to look slightly uninviting. Clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and simple colour patterns sometimes make it hard to feel “at home. However, a little warmth and personal touch can go a long way.
READ: Refresh your living room with these budget-friendly tips
Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your home feel more welcoming. You can start from one room, and the living room is the best choice! After all, it’s a place where you can meet with your family and unwind after a long day of work. Here’s how you can transform your living room into a warm and cozy retreat without making drastic changes:
Set the Mood with Lighting
Nothing sets the mood in a room better than the right lighting. If you want your living room to have that soft, ambient feel, consider installing recessed lighting, close-to-ceiling light fixtures, or wall sconces. Avoid heavy chandeliers, bare bulbs, and harsh track lighting.
If your home is small or you have lots of open spaces and your living room is not entirely separated, don’t worry; you can still make it feel warm and comfortable. If you sit in the living room and see your kitchen, play with the lighting in that part of your house. Kitchen cabinet lighting can work wonders! Consider installing under cabinet lighting; it’s esthetically pleasing and gives your kitchen a modern, yet warm look. Additionally, seeing it from the living room makes the whole space look bigger. That’s a win-win situation!
READ: Create your own mobile room divider or partition wall with these DIY tips
Incorporate Wooden Elements
Many people like wood because of its warm feel. It comes in a vast variety of finishes; depending on your liking, you can choose a matte or lacquered surface. It also has rich tones and a wide range of textures.
As a material, wood is extremely versatile. You can install it anywhere in your living room, depending on your preference. Maybe you’d like to have an entire wall layered with wooden boards? It would make for a great focal point. If, on the other hand, you prefer more subtle accents, there’s plenty of room for that. Wooden furniture, such as coffee tables, chairs, or bookshelves, can give you the mood you’re looking for.
Regardless of your choice, adding wooden elements to your living room space will warm it up instantly and give it that welcoming cosy feel.
Don’t Be Afraid of Wall Art
Wall art is a great way to add a personal touch to the otherwise empty spaces. Your living room is a perfect place to put artwork on display! Bare white walls make it look cold, impersonal, and unwelcoming. Hanging your favourite art pieces, regardless of their style and colour palette will make your living room feel genuinely unique and cozy. Let your living room be about you and your interests - make sure you include items that make you feel good!
Get a Rug
One of the easiest ways to make your living room feel more warm and cozy is to throw down a nice rug. It will cover a part of a bare, cold floor, instantly adding an element of comfort to your home. Carpets come in countless styles, sizes, shapes, and colours; regardless of the kind of space you get to work with, you’ll definitely find something right up your alley.
Accessorize
A rug or a painting can be huge accessories on their own. How about something smaller? If you want to give your living room a cozy feel, throw in some knitted blankets and colourful, fluffy pillows. Not only will your room look comfortable, but it will also actually be comfortable to sit down and unwind with a good book or a movie.
You can also experiment more with lighting. If you like, you can hang string lights over your windows or balcony doors. However, in case you’re not a fan of string lights except for Christmas, a lovely candle will do! Place a candle or two (or a whole set if you feel like it) on the coffee table. Light them in the evening to create that warm, comfy mood. You get bonus points for finding a truly unique, scented candle for that ambient feel.
The Bottom Line
The living room is one of the most important spaces at your home. It’s perfect for relaxing after a long day or catching up with family after they come back home from school or work. These tips will help you make it warm and cozy, encouraging everyone to spend more time together. Is there anything else you can do right away to transform your living room into a peaceful oasis? Don’t hesitate and try doing it now!
Before you buy anything, even a side table, measure your space! The size of the room will dictate how large of a sofa you can purchase, which will then determine the size of the art, coffee table, area rug, and any other critical pieces. Plus, you'll want to decide on the focal point that will drive your design. That could be statement piece of furniture, an incredible fabric, or a work of art.
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What are some tips for decorating a living room on a budget?
To decorate a living room on a budget, head to your local thrift store to pick up some secondhand pieces.
Often, these pieces will be low-budget, yet high-quality, and will make your space feel curated and lived in. Plants are also a relatively inexpensive way to add color and visual texture to your room. As long as you focus on layering pieces (whether it be textiles or decor vignettes), you will end up with a rich look.
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How can you make your living room cosy?
Texture and warmth will make any living room cosy and inviting. Try incorporating different textures through textiles like blankets, throws, rugs, accent pillow, and drapery. Add candles and seasonal books.
Source: TheSpruce, HomeDzine)
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