If you’re looking for new ways to decorate your living space, you might want to consider how to make your living room the cosiest it's ever been. Although cosiness is associated with those chilly winter evenings, you can ensure your living room is cosy and comfortable all year round. But how can you transform your living room and add a more traditional touch to make it the place to be? Here are some ideas to help you plan your new interior design project.

Embrace Textures

Textures are like the base ingredient of any cosy environment. Without them, you have something that tastes a little off. No matter how hard you try, it just doesn't feel right. Therefore, understanding the best ways to use textures in your living room, from throw pillows to blankets and more, can help you encourage a cosy, comfortable environment. This is especially true if you want to start by making your seating area as cosy as possible, but don’t forget about rugs and carpets to add more welcoming sensations.

Put Your Feet Up

Everyone has those days when they just want to put their feet up in front of the TV or play connect 4 online with a hot cup of coffee. Is it just me? So you need to create enough space so people can stretch their legs out and put them up on the coffee table or a footstool. This option gives everyone the chance to lean back, relax and bask in the comfort of the living room while they chill out on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Switch Up the Lighting

While bright overhead lighting is necessary sometimes, especially if you’re cleaning or entertaining friends, it isn’t ideal for creating a cosy atmosphere. Instead, you need softer, scattered lighting that isn’t entirely confined to one space. Your lighting choices can include several lamps, both standing or tabletop, placed around your living room, giving you the chance to stitch them on and off when required. If you want to get even cosier, try hanging fairy lights on shelves or your curtain rod.

Bring Warmth

Every living room should feel warm regardless of the time of the year. During winter, you can wrap yourself up in wool blankets while you can make the most of the breeze with open windows and the wind gently blowing the curtains as you bask in the slow-paced early morning during the summer. These aren’t the only things that make a living room feel warm, though. Use family photographs, artwork, and souvenirs or ornaments to personalise the space and make everything feel more like home. This way, you can get back after a long day at work or after your holiday and immediately feel safe and relaxed.

Soft Edges

Safety and cosiness go hand in hand, so soft edges are a great way to make our living room feel cosier and more welcoming. These rounded edges mean your furniture doesn’t pose too much of a risk, especially if you have kids, but you also won’t bang your shins against them while navigating the space. If you have small children, you can use buffers on the corners to stop them from hurting themselves. You can also look at curved designs that are much gentler compared to sharp, ninety-degree edges that could cause cuts and scrapes.

Colours

Your colour palette can also influence how cosy your living room–and your entire house–feels. While everyone has different preferences, picking soft, neutral colours is the best way to encourage a calm environment. You don’t want anything too in-your-face, like bright yellow or aggressively red. Instead, pick softer colours that inspire tranquillity. It might not feel like it makes a difference initially, but you’ll soon come to associate your living room with peace and quiet, which makes it easier to unwind.

Face Each Other

Cosy environments are not just about sinking into your armchair and falling asleep binge-watching Netflix shows. You can also feel cosy when spending time with your loved ones, which is why choosing sofas that make it easier to cuddle up or even face one another is essential. You can feel more connected and appreciative of one another. These sofas give you the chance to sit down on a Friday evening with a drink and pack of cards and play a game, or just sit and talk through the night and learn more about each other.

Cosy

Cosiness doesn’t just need to be a wintertime setup. You can make your home–especially your living room–feel cosy throughout the year, especially when you consider there will still be rainy days even during the summer when you’ll want a place to cuddle with your pets, put your feet up and relax.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.