Decorating
12 Tips for Creating a Cosy Country Living Room
Weave in soft textiles, real flames and a thoughtful layout to turn a rural living space into a cosy retreat
The living room is really at the heart of the home in the winter months, when you need a warm and comfy retreat at the end of a blustery day. Use these tips to maximise some particular features you might find in a country home and really make the most of your living space.
Maximise the view
There’s nothing nicer on a chilly winter day than enjoying the outdoors from the comfort of your own armchair. Position some seating next to a window in your living room to make the most of the scenery.
If you’re planning a redevelopment of your living room, consider incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows or bifold doors to maximise your views. The wooden doors here bring plenty of light into the room and help to blend the garden and interior. They’ve also given a contemporary feel to a traditional space.
There’s nothing nicer on a chilly winter day than enjoying the outdoors from the comfort of your own armchair. Position some seating next to a window in your living room to make the most of the scenery.
If you’re planning a redevelopment of your living room, consider incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows or bifold doors to maximise your views. The wooden doors here bring plenty of light into the room and help to blend the garden and interior. They’ve also given a contemporary feel to a traditional space.
Fix your focal point
The living room is the natural home for both the television and the fireplace. Ensure your room is perfectly balanced by placing them together, ideally with the TV directly above the fireplace so they’re not competing as focal points.
In the living room arrangement here, the furniture is logically grouped around one focal point. By placing the television and fireplace together, the owners have reduced the impact of the screen, as the eye naturally shifts back to the fireplace and surrounding shelves.
The living room is the natural home for both the television and the fireplace. Ensure your room is perfectly balanced by placing them together, ideally with the TV directly above the fireplace so they’re not competing as focal points.
In the living room arrangement here, the furniture is logically grouped around one focal point. By placing the television and fireplace together, the owners have reduced the impact of the screen, as the eye naturally shifts back to the fireplace and surrounding shelves.
Offset the effect of low windows
Some period homes have low-set windows. These may look wonderful from the outside, but inside they can make the ceiling feel lower than it really is.
Overcome this problem by hanging a pole near the ceiling and using full-length curtains, rather than blinds, as here. The curtains draw the eye up and emphasise the room’s height.
Discover how to create the perfect country home hallway
Some period homes have low-set windows. These may look wonderful from the outside, but inside they can make the ceiling feel lower than it really is.
Overcome this problem by hanging a pole near the ceiling and using full-length curtains, rather than blinds, as here. The curtains draw the eye up and emphasise the room’s height.
Discover how to create the perfect country home hallway
Provide a place for everything
Clutter can add comfort to a country living room, but it’s important to have space to rest your books, remote controls and drinks. Include plenty of occasional tables at similar heights to the arms of your furniture to ensure everyone can easily place things nearby.
In this comfortable living room, a trunk has been used to provide both a table surface and additional discreet storage.
How to find the ideal living room furniture arrangement
Clutter can add comfort to a country living room, but it’s important to have space to rest your books, remote controls and drinks. Include plenty of occasional tables at similar heights to the arms of your furniture to ensure everyone can easily place things nearby.
In this comfortable living room, a trunk has been used to provide both a table surface and additional discreet storage.
How to find the ideal living room furniture arrangement
Cosy up with textiles
Make sure you have plenty of cushions and throws during the winter months to ensure your living room feels wonderfully cosy. It’s an easy way to update your space for the season, and will give the room a new look without a major redecoration.
In the summer months, you can pack the blankets away for a more pared-back look.
Make sure you have plenty of cushions and throws during the winter months to ensure your living room feels wonderfully cosy. It’s an easy way to update your space for the season, and will give the room a new look without a major redecoration.
In the summer months, you can pack the blankets away for a more pared-back look.
Construct a window seat
A country living room is the perfect place for a window seat. It not only provides a place to sit and admire the outside view, but the cushions can actually help to reduce draughts coming in through the windows.
When designing a window seat, make full use of the space by incorporating under-seat storage, or by adding holes for hiding a radiator.
A country living room is the perfect place for a window seat. It not only provides a place to sit and admire the outside view, but the cushions can actually help to reduce draughts coming in through the windows.
When designing a window seat, make full use of the space by incorporating under-seat storage, or by adding holes for hiding a radiator.
Soften the woodwork
Painted woodwork is a popular choice nowadays, and is a great way to lighten the look of a country-style room. Consider using oil eggshell rather than gloss, as it will provide a softer sheen and is less likely to chip.
Painted woodwork is a popular choice nowadays, and is a great way to lighten the look of a country-style room. Consider using oil eggshell rather than gloss, as it will provide a softer sheen and is less likely to chip.
Don’t waste your bay window
Curved poles can be expensive, so many people opt for a straight track across the bay window. However, this can result in the loss of valuable space at night when the curtains are drawn.
Roman blinds are a cost-effective way to overcome this problem. An interlined option will still have the heat-retaining properties of curtains and the blinds will draw up to allow you to maximise your views.
Curved poles can be expensive, so many people opt for a straight track across the bay window. However, this can result in the loss of valuable space at night when the curtains are drawn.
Roman blinds are a cost-effective way to overcome this problem. An interlined option will still have the heat-retaining properties of curtains and the blinds will draw up to allow you to maximise your views.
Combine comfort with a coffee table
It’s useful to group seating in a living room around a central area, such as a coffee table. You can go one better than this, though, and use an upholstered ottoman instead.
When used with a tray, an ottoman can easily replace a coffee table, with the added advantage of providing a comfortable footrest or additional seating.
An ottoman with a box lid and internal storage also allows you to hide away clutter at a moment’s notice – a handy way to turn a playroom back into an adult area if you have young children in the house.
It’s useful to group seating in a living room around a central area, such as a coffee table. You can go one better than this, though, and use an upholstered ottoman instead.
When used with a tray, an ottoman can easily replace a coffee table, with the added advantage of providing a comfortable footrest or additional seating.
An ottoman with a box lid and internal storage also allows you to hide away clutter at a moment’s notice – a handy way to turn a playroom back into an adult area if you have young children in the house.
Update your heating
If your heating system is old, you might want to replace your radiators with efficient new models. This will ensure a warmer room and save you money on fuel bills.
To keep that traditional country look, opt for modern versions of original cast-iron designs. They look just as good, but will make your living room even cosier.
If your heating system is old, you might want to replace your radiators with efficient new models. This will ensure a warmer room and save you money on fuel bills.
To keep that traditional country look, opt for modern versions of original cast-iron designs. They look just as good, but will make your living room even cosier.
Incorporate flexible lighting
If you use your living room throughout the day, it’s important to provide appropriate lighting. Add a feature overhead pendant to give a touch of drama in the daytime and also plenty of light when needed.
Include additional table lamps to ensure there’s task lighting by which people can read or work. Lamps will also allow you to bring the level of lighting down for a more intimate feel in the evening.
Does your living room have a country look, or do you prefer a more contemporary feel? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
If you use your living room throughout the day, it’s important to provide appropriate lighting. Add a feature overhead pendant to give a touch of drama in the daytime and also plenty of light when needed.
Include additional table lamps to ensure there’s task lighting by which people can read or work. Lamps will also allow you to bring the level of lighting down for a more intimate feel in the evening.
Does your living room have a country look, or do you prefer a more contemporary feel? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
A fireplace is a lovely way to make a country living room feel cosy. An open fire is romantic and inviting, but if you want to avoid draughts from the chimney, consider investing in a wood-burning stove. These are generally more efficient and easier to light than a traditional fire.
There’s a wide range of styles available, from traditional to modern, so you should easily be able find one to match your décor.
Read expert advice on how to choose and install a wood-burning stove