Five Cozy Living Room Ideas

Summer is on the tip of our tongues, so close that we can almost taste it —but what about those brisk summer nights that set in after a day spent in the hot sun? For those living near a beach, the cold nights are an even bigger reality. How do you stay warm when the sun’s gone down and the evening chill takes over? The answer is simple: by curling up on your living room couch or around a cozy bonfire with a soft blanket and a good drink. 

Of course, to do this, you need an inviting space that has just the right balance of layers and furnishings to stay cool on the hot days and warm you up at night. The question is, how do you create a cozy living room that’s not bogged down with clutter or uncomfortable furniture? Here are five simple ideas for designing a cozy living room:

Create a Conversation Circle

Design by SARA BEDERMAN  Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

Conversation is a core detail to having a cozy living room. You want to design a space where you can sit and talk for hours with friends and family, so form a conversation circle with your furniture. The best way to do this is by choosing a focal point like the fireplace, mantel or a large coffee table. Then, use big sectionals, cushy love seats, and oversized ottomans as seating and place them around your focal point. 

When thinking about your living room design, you don’t have to strictly put furniture against a wall. In fact, the seating areas can be floating around the room —just remember to put at three feet of walking space between your furniture and the tabletop so that you have a nice flow of traffic. Arranging furniture in a circle encourages conversation, and lively discussions as everyone can see and hear the group properly. 

Invest in Comfy Seating

Design by ANDREA COLMAN  Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

Comfy seating is crucial to having a functional living room. You can design a beautiful space, but if there’s no comfortable place to sit, your living room is a wash. Often leather couches and straight-backed chairs are chosen for their more formal appearance as homeowners hope to elevate their interior design. But, these aren’t practical choices for seating, given their rough materials— leather in the summer, ouch! —and sharp edges. Opt for loveseats and sectionals with soft curves and great cushioning that you can settle into for a night of binge-watching t.v. 

Don’t fret, though; you can still achieve the look of a modern cozy living room by infusing some mid-century modern pieces into your space. Velvet seats, chaise lounge chairs, and Lawson sofas are trendy ways to invest some mid-century modern class into your living room. These not only make for a great accent piece but are also comfortable, ergonomic places to lounge.

Steep With Tonal Palettes

Design by SARA BEDERMAN  Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

Choose some solid colors that you want to design around and use them as key colors when picking out patterns, furniture, and decor for your living room. A cozy gray living room is the perfect way to do this, as its rich, warm shades add depth to the space. Plus, shades of gray can be found in almost anything, so you can add a blue rug with gray undertones or white throw pillows that are speckled gray to add complementary colors.

Another way to enhance the living room with enriching hues is by painting your walls with dark colors and setting light furniture against them. Deep navy blues and forest greens make for rich wall colors. Pairing these walls with off-white neutrals and beiges makes for a striking contrast that’s sure to catch your eye. 

Add Warmth With Wood

Design by MICHELLE BERWICK  Photography by LARRY ARNAL

Take a holistic approach in your design process and use materials that are made from natural elements. For example, rattan furniture is making a comeback and works exceptionally well in contemporary-modern spaces. Incorporating raw materials can be as easy as finding a stunning dried floral arrangement or using dried pampas grass in vases to scatter throughout the room.

Wood flooring is the perfect way to infuse a bit of natural warmth into your living room. Nowadays, you can find wood-look floors in almost every material possible, so depending on the performance level needed for your space, you can opt for wood-look laminate, luxury vinyl, or tile. Of course, authentic hardwood is also a great choice and gives a traditional, homey feel to your space through its grain patterns and knotted character.

Layer With Luxe Materials

Design by ANDREA COLMAN  Photography by MIKE CHAJECKI

Top off your gorgeous new living room by layering with textures, patterns and materials. Area rugs are a perfect way to do this and there are so many styles out there, you’re bound to find one that suits your taste. Whether you prefer a plush area rug or something natural like sisal or jute, using area rugs to layer is an optimal way to add texture to your living room. Place rugs over your hardwood floors or even your white wool-blend carpet as an easy way to make your living room feel snug and relaxing. 

Incorporate soft fabrics such as cotton, velvet, chenille, and silk to create a tactile experience. You can scatter these in with throws, accent pillows, and furniture to construct a space that’s soft on your skin and feels great to sink your feet into. Bring in some lush layering with houseplants, cacti, and flowers to add fresh live greenery to your living room. 

Textured paneling is also great for the living room as its texture provides a subtle nod farmhouse chic and traditional structure. Available in limitless design choices, textured paneling can add dimension to your living room with fun patterns like shiplap, board and batten, and plank walls. 

Indulge in further living room design ideas by reading our blog on Making a Statement With Living Room Rugs.