Lately I’ve had a craving! Not for chocolate, but for a warm and cozy living room that leaves you feeling like you’ve just been given a big old hug.
Photo by Tommy Chambers Interiors, Inc.
There are many ways to create a warm and cozy living room. Mix and match fabrics to provide depth – and of course, light a fire in the fireplace.
Photo by Дарья Харитонова
Natural woodwork and a beautiful rug lends cozy warmth to any space.
Photo by Robert Brown Interior Design
Earthy, organic elements add texture and warmth to a small space. Antlers, a wood coffee table, leather chairs, and a faux hide rug lend texture, while a soft plaid wallpaper provides pattern against the gray-painted trim.
Photo by Deanna Johnson Interiors
Rich, wood ceiling beams create instant warmth to a living room. Home lumber stores make it easy to create beams. Dark wood trim around windows and doors enhances the cozy, comfortable feel. Plain linen slipcovers allow the architectural details of the room to stand out.
Photo by Yvonne McFadden LLC
Most people think a warm and cozy living room needs to wear warm colors like rust or gold. But this blue living room proves that even cool hues can create rich, cozy comfort. Yes, an in-use fireplace helps – along with a warm-hued chair and patterned rug.
Photo by Meredith Heron Design
I’ve been thinking of painting my family room a warm chocolate hue but wonder what it would look like next to the dining room with its off-white walls. Seeing this photos of a red-brown den adjacent to a white hallway leaves me feeling like the look will be okay.
Photo by Crisp Architects
Even a room with a tall ceiling can feel cozy, especially when decorated with warm red leather furniture and a beautiful, darker rug to ground the room.
Photo by Crisp Architects
If you prefer lighter colors in your home, you can still create a warm and cozy living room with the use of textures. Here, a stone fireplace stands tall under a painted wood ceiling. A natural fiber rug, linen slip covers, and a rustic wood coffee table come together to create a cozy gathering space.
Photo by Huestis Tucker Architects, LLC
On the flip side, dark walls can create a warm and inviting room without feeling dreary. And lately, this is the type of room I’m drawn to. Darker tones paired with a bit of color like the cheery rug. When the room lives in an historic home, it’s all the better!
Photo by Tim Cuppett Architects
What type of living room are you most drawn to? Light and airy? Or a little dark and moody?
Great article! I have been trying for a long time to get my living room cozy. I have a L shaped living room & the only thing that makes it appear cozy is that it is a log home with round log walls. Still I struggle to arrange furniture and get it cozier.
You do realize that these rooms look like they could have come from the 70s/80s. 😉 I’m so glad we didn’t paint our wood pieces!
Ha ha!! It’s funny you say that because I’ve been thinking about the cute little bungalow I used to live in … back in the 80s! I love the way it was decorated. Warm – with natural wood trim and wallpaper. 🙂 I’m reverting back to the “good old days”.
As I was reading I was thinking the exact same thing. A few reminded me of special times at my Aunt Madolyn’s home during that time. Her home was always so cozy and warm. Good memories.
I painted the dark stained pine trim in our house (from the 70’s) but replaced the cracked and worn hollow core doors with warm wood paneled doors, and most of my cabinets are warm wood. I really like the combination of wood and white. I am not surprised to see a return to warm and cozy. The recent trend of room that looks like a black and white photo (except for strategically placed vase of pink or blue hydrangea) went just a bit too far, especially for those of us who live in climates with cloudy skies and gray winter days for a good part of the year.
For me I like a combination of both light and the wood. But I think my favorite is incorporating plaid or buffalo checks. I seem to see that everywhere from pillows to actual furniture or wallpaper. I just love that look it always makes me feel like a warm blanket enveloping me.
where is the rug in living room # 3 by Robert Brown from ?
Thanks for this post. A very nice mix. Quite inspiring for me.
Thanks for the great inspiration, i like the mix of dark and light.
I too love the dark and moody atmosphere. I have two areas in my home that I’ve indulged myself and used dark paint – my foyer and my guest bath. Neither room needs a lot of light to be functional, and I have white woodwork/trim to keep them from being cave-like, but otherwise, I’m a light gray paint person since my home is small with not very large windows and not a lot of natural light.
I think your chocolate family room would be just fine next to your white dining room, especially if your family room trim is white – and, if I remember correctly, you have a brown top to your dining table and other brown accessories which will cause a perfect flow from room to room. You always make it look amazing.
Less than half of these rooms feel cozy to me. It takes more than a fireplace; they need more organic elements and less hard surfaces.
Welcome Back!!! Color and wood in the decor, that is!
All though all white/cream rooms can be lovely, I feel they lack the warmth and coziness the wood grains and pops of color (as muted as you’d like) add to a room. Each and everyone of these rooms you featured, oozes that feel. Possibly the trend is turning?
Stay safe and enjoy these beautiful Fall days.
Hi Linda!
I do think the trend is turning away from the all-white look. It can be pretty but I find myself enjoying color and warmth more and more these days. Maybe it’s due to the pandemic and some of the unrest in the world. There’s a stronger need to feel comfort at home. Enjoy your weekend!
I love the darker colors with wood brightened with some light accents. Makes me feel like relaxing with a good book! All white seems too sterile.
Hi Kathy – I’m glad you enjoyed these rooms. I’m seeing more natural wood being used – as opposed to painted wood. Although I still like painted furniture. 🙂
Each of these are beautiful. So glad to see the warmth of wood making a comeback. I have always loved the placement of four cozy chairs around a coffee table, so perfect for conversation! Thank you for another inspiring post!
Glad you enjoyed this, Gwen! I too enjoy the look of four chairs around a coffee table. It feels so intimate! Have a great weekend.
Light and airy for me please. Great blog. Thanks, Jennifer.
Hi Miche,
I think one of the things I love about Scandinavian homes is a lot of them have a light and airy vibe. They’re beautiful – but I do feel myself drawn to warmer interior these days. So many great styles to choose from! 🙂
I like the warmth of wood dark or light but I still would prefer lighter colors on the wall ( not white). I live especially through the fall and winter with rain rain and more rain. I have dark leather couch, chair and loveseat and hate them. But I have lovely old cabinets in dark wood which I would never give away. My dining room is a lovely set of vilas furniture that was once my Grandparents which is a orange wood which I love too. I just need to find a color for the walls that would co-ordinate and I would be set.
I do love all that was shown today especially all the lovely dark beams.