5 Homes With Cosy Living Rooms
Be inspired by this roundup of the cosiest living rooms from our Houzz Tours
There’s a definite art to creating a cosy and inviting living space. It’s about more than just layering up the soft furnishings, although that’s a part of it. It’s about creating a space that feels warm and welcoming, but not too ‘styled’, where your first thought is relaxation. It’s seating that invites you to rest, side tables that are close to hand, pools of warm light, and a careful edit of accessories.
Here are five of the best cosy living room schemes from our Houzz Tours. Have a browse and make sure to save your favourite photos to an ideabook.
Here are five of the best cosy living room schemes from our Houzz Tours. Have a browse and make sure to save your favourite photos to an ideabook.
2. Cosy cabin style in Minnesota
The owners of this lakefront home wanted a classic cabin feel, but without some of the heavier elements of the style. “In our neck of the woods, there are a lot of rustic looks,” designer Kelly Caruso of Regarding Design says. “There are a lot of log cabins with plaid and antlers and all of that, which is lovely, but was not what we wanted for this.”
As a result, the design is a mix of traditional elements, such as the leather recliners and a deep cushioned sofa, with more contemporary pieces, such as the modern coffee table and open metal chandelier.
A reclaimed-wood ceiling brings in cabin-style warmth and a wool rug softens the oak flooring, but these are offset with crisp, white-painted wall panelling and contemporary black window frames.
See more of this lakefront cabin.
The owners of this lakefront home wanted a classic cabin feel, but without some of the heavier elements of the style. “In our neck of the woods, there are a lot of rustic looks,” designer Kelly Caruso of Regarding Design says. “There are a lot of log cabins with plaid and antlers and all of that, which is lovely, but was not what we wanted for this.”
As a result, the design is a mix of traditional elements, such as the leather recliners and a deep cushioned sofa, with more contemporary pieces, such as the modern coffee table and open metal chandelier.
A reclaimed-wood ceiling brings in cabin-style warmth and a wool rug softens the oak flooring, but these are offset with crisp, white-painted wall panelling and contemporary black window frames.
See more of this lakefront cabin.
3. Farmhouse style in Maine
This bright and welcoming home, refurbished by John Buckley Architecture & Design, has a ‘coastal-meets-farmhouse’ look that works equally well in the summer as it does in winter. The main floor has an open-plan layout, with the staircase in the centre, but a corner has been zoned off to create a cosy seating area tucked in next to a wood-burning stove.
Although the house was built in the 1980s, it has a traditional post-and-beam construction, and the exposed beams add warmth and character to the space. Have the seating set up like this, with two chairs facing a large sofa, all anchored on a large rug, means the space feels intimate and welcoming.
Discover the rest of this beautiful home.
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
This bright and welcoming home, refurbished by John Buckley Architecture & Design, has a ‘coastal-meets-farmhouse’ look that works equally well in the summer as it does in winter. The main floor has an open-plan layout, with the staircase in the centre, but a corner has been zoned off to create a cosy seating area tucked in next to a wood-burning stove.
Although the house was built in the 1980s, it has a traditional post-and-beam construction, and the exposed beams add warmth and character to the space. Have the seating set up like this, with two chairs facing a large sofa, all anchored on a large rug, means the space feels intimate and welcoming.
Discover the rest of this beautiful home.
Find reviewed interior designers in your area on Houzz.
4. Arts and Crafts style in Kent
This warm and inviting living room in Kent has all the hallmarks of period style, but, surprisingly, this is actually a new-build house. The owner loves period properties, especially Arts and Crafts ones, and wanted to bring a flavour of this to her new home, so she asked designer Michelle Shakallis to help her achieve her dream.
In order to add features to the plain white room, Michelle fitted bespoke panelling and washed the walls, ceiling and woodwork in a cocooning shade of green. “When you’re faced with a blank white box, you have to do something to make it more characterful,” Michelle says.
Building in a chimney breast added a focal point and also created alcoves to house books and accessories to bring in personality and warmth.
The key to the successful finished design was to blend contemporary elements with period style. “[The owner] wanted Arts and Crafts and some William Morris in there,” Michelle explains. “I said, you’re young and it isn’t an Arts and Crafts property, so you need to have a contemporary flavour. We can nod to it, and bring in some some period features, such as the fireplace and panelling, but also have a contemporary sofa and coffee table to work with the fact you’re a young family.”
Take a look at the rest of this living room makeover.
This warm and inviting living room in Kent has all the hallmarks of period style, but, surprisingly, this is actually a new-build house. The owner loves period properties, especially Arts and Crafts ones, and wanted to bring a flavour of this to her new home, so she asked designer Michelle Shakallis to help her achieve her dream.
In order to add features to the plain white room, Michelle fitted bespoke panelling and washed the walls, ceiling and woodwork in a cocooning shade of green. “When you’re faced with a blank white box, you have to do something to make it more characterful,” Michelle says.
Building in a chimney breast added a focal point and also created alcoves to house books and accessories to bring in personality and warmth.
The key to the successful finished design was to blend contemporary elements with period style. “[The owner] wanted Arts and Crafts and some William Morris in there,” Michelle explains. “I said, you’re young and it isn’t an Arts and Crafts property, so you need to have a contemporary flavour. We can nod to it, and bring in some some period features, such as the fireplace and panelling, but also have a contemporary sofa and coffee table to work with the fact you’re a young family.”
Take a look at the rest of this living room makeover.
5. Cosy coastal style in Cornwall
The owners of this 18th century cottage were keen to bring it into the 21st century, but without losing any of the character of the past. The key to doing this was not to rush the process. The redesign took place over a slow and steady two-year period, which gave interior designer Marion Lichtig and the owner the opportunity to allow the home to evolve naturally.
“I collected a lot of the furniture and objects as we went along and put them in storage until we were ready for them,” Marion says. “It gives you time to find the right pieces and then, when the decorating is finished, you can just move everything in.”
The wood-burning stove was planned as the heart of the living room scheme, as were the bookshelves. Marion found the sofa and had it reupholstered, and the ottoman was made with a loose cover that can be put in the wash. The flooring is timber, so a seagrass rug extends under all the seating to create a warmer texture underfoot. The finished room feels cosy and warm, and as if it’s always been there.
See all the rooms in this Cornish cottage.
Tell us…
Which of these living rooms would you most like to cosy up in? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The owners of this 18th century cottage were keen to bring it into the 21st century, but without losing any of the character of the past. The key to doing this was not to rush the process. The redesign took place over a slow and steady two-year period, which gave interior designer Marion Lichtig and the owner the opportunity to allow the home to evolve naturally.
“I collected a lot of the furniture and objects as we went along and put them in storage until we were ready for them,” Marion says. “It gives you time to find the right pieces and then, when the decorating is finished, you can just move everything in.”
The wood-burning stove was planned as the heart of the living room scheme, as were the bookshelves. Marion found the sofa and had it reupholstered, and the ottoman was made with a loose cover that can be put in the wash. The flooring is timber, so a seagrass rug extends under all the seating to create a warmer texture underfoot. The finished room feels cosy and warm, and as if it’s always been there.
See all the rooms in this Cornish cottage.
Tell us…
Which of these living rooms would you most like to cosy up in? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The brief for this Victorian house makeover was to create ‘a modern, cosy and homely scheme’, and this warm living room certainly ticks all three boxes. To create this inviting space, designer Josie Lywood of Q Design House reinstated a wall that had been taken out between two ground floor reception rooms to create a smaller room that feels snug and cocooning.
She also added a wood-burning stove and brought in colour through the use of natural, earthy tones of green and ochre. The sofas were made bespoke, so they are deliberately deep and comfortable to provide that relaxed, cosy feel the owners wanted. “It was important for this space not to feel too formal,” Josie says. An upholstered ottoman beneath the coffee table slides out for use as a footstool.
Take a tour of this full home renovation.