Cozy my living room!
September 30, 2014 12:56 PM Subscribe
Autumn is on its way and I'm looking for ways to make my living room as cozy, homey, warm, snuggly and relaxing as possible... while still keeping it tidy and stylish and without too much clutter.
I want to make my living room an oasis of calm-cozy. Things I've done that have suited this goal perfectly are buying an overstuffed armchair for lounging in, tossing sheepskins over the chair and sofa, buying lots of tea lights/candles, and looking at new throw blankets.
What are other things I can do to up the cozy factor and make me happy to spend the next few months snuggling up at home?
If it helps paint a picture, my living room has a kind of eclectic-traditional-modern thing going on (not very precise, I know) with white walls and white upholstered furniture, a mix of antiques and mid-century pieces, wood floors with cream wool rugs, lots of artwork.
I want to make my living room an oasis of calm-cozy. Things I've done that have suited this goal perfectly are buying an overstuffed armchair for lounging in, tossing sheepskins over the chair and sofa, buying lots of tea lights/candles, and looking at new throw blankets.
What are other things I can do to up the cozy factor and make me happy to spend the next few months snuggling up at home?
If it helps paint a picture, my living room has a kind of eclectic-traditional-modern thing going on (not very precise, I know) with white walls and white upholstered furniture, a mix of antiques and mid-century pieces, wood floors with cream wool rugs, lots of artwork.
Do you have plenty of coffee/side tables for putting, say, mugs of cocoa on? Some magazines, crossword puzzles or card games in easy reach? Those things say "Hey hang out here and be warm with me."
posted by emjaybee at 1:10 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by emjaybee at 1:10 PM on September 30, 2014
Oil lamps are nice, and also (I remembered recently) a first-rate thing to have around for blackouts.
posted by kmennie at 1:42 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by kmennie at 1:42 PM on September 30, 2014
I look to light.
Can you paint the walls? Go to a warmer wall colour than white?
What's your lighting? Overhead can feel clinical---perhaps choose some stand and table lamps with lower temp bulbs "soft white" or under 3000 K light. A warmer bulb at or below eye level makes the room feel more snug.
posted by bonehead at 1:46 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
Can you paint the walls? Go to a warmer wall colour than white?
What's your lighting? Overhead can feel clinical---perhaps choose some stand and table lamps with lower temp bulbs "soft white" or under 3000 K light. A warmer bulb at or below eye level makes the room feel more snug.
posted by bonehead at 1:46 PM on September 30, 2014 [6 favorites]
I would like to heartily second the oil lamp idea, or something like it. I'm not a candle person, not at all (DANGER), but a year ago I picked up a super cheap little tea light lantern at Ikea. The flickery glow of real firelight is very cozy, and I like that this is small and contained and not something I'm going to accidentally tip over or my dog will eat.
And this probably goes against your aesthetic, but I also very much recommend a gigantic couch blanket. I keep a huge (like king size) fluffy blanket living on my couch during the cold months to ensconce myself in. Often I will just continue to wear the blanket on my trudges back and forth to the kitchen because apparently I am a pupa.
posted by phunniemee at 1:58 PM on September 30, 2014 [10 favorites]
And this probably goes against your aesthetic, but I also very much recommend a gigantic couch blanket. I keep a huge (like king size) fluffy blanket living on my couch during the cold months to ensconce myself in. Often I will just continue to wear the blanket on my trudges back and forth to the kitchen because apparently I am a pupa.
posted by phunniemee at 1:58 PM on September 30, 2014 [10 favorites]
Don't use overhead lighting. Get some lamps with warm-toned light bulbs. It makes a big difference in ambiance.
I also love a large, soft faux-fur blanket.
Size tables for placing a cup of tea or my stack of books and magazines is also nice.
Nice slippers and a cozy house sweater also make that cozy time more fun.
posted by quince at 2:07 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I also love a large, soft faux-fur blanket.
Size tables for placing a cup of tea or my stack of books and magazines is also nice.
Nice slippers and a cozy house sweater also make that cozy time more fun.
posted by quince at 2:07 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
I would vote for mixed autumn-colored throws for the furniture. Warms up the colors and you!
posted by Gneisskate at 2:16 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Gneisskate at 2:16 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Do you have a fireplace? Is so, ignore.
If you don't get a small electric fireplace. That'll cozy the place up!
You can do a super modern one, or a traditional one. They sell them at Home Depot and Lowe's for as little as $300.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:08 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
If you don't get a small electric fireplace. That'll cozy the place up!
You can do a super modern one, or a traditional one. They sell them at Home Depot and Lowe's for as little as $300.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:08 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
For that contemporary Americana comfort aesthetic you need a granny square afghan for your couch. If you have a friend who crochets they are likely to be thrilled if you'd buy the yarn (and spend an afternoon with them at the yarn store picking out a color scheme that works with your stuff, since you seem to really prioritize that) and if you are crafty yourself, learning to make a granny square is very easy and then you have a cozy project to work on over the course of the whole winter.
posted by Mizu at 3:12 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Mizu at 3:12 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Personally, I'd need some more colour in there, via textiles - pillows and throws and maybe curtains in warmer tones, with patterns. (I've got bright, saturated corals and paler greens against creams and whites and I feel like it's cozy, but of course everyone's taste is different. I do think adding a fairly committed colour here and there can do a lot.) Agree about lighting; pay attention to what the lampshade contributes to the quality of the light. Plants, lots of plants. I don't personally like them as roommates, but some people feel cats are cozy.
Oh also, warm patina-ey metal plant pots.
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:23 PM on September 30, 2014
Oh also, warm patina-ey metal plant pots.
posted by cotton dress sock at 3:23 PM on September 30, 2014
Best answer: Nthing lamps. When it starts to get dark before I get up and before I get home from work, I put my lamps on timers so my living room is gently/cozily lit when I walk into it from the dark. I also have chrome topped bulbs (sadly only available as incandescents, so far) on those lamps, so the light doesn't disperse up to the ceiling, but pools downward onto the table, making things more intimate and cozy.
Golden toned lampshades, or even a lampshade with a gold colored interior will make the light seem warmer. You could try golden or pink-toned lightbulbs (again, incandescents) - YMMV.
If you are concerned about burning candles, or have some extra room in the budget, I recommend these flameless candles. At first, we scoffed at them, but received some for a gift and are never going back. The bodies are made of wax and the flickering is quite realistic. Having them remote-control operated is just the cherry on top - we don't have to run from candle to candle, lighting each one and blowing each one out.
If you are inclined toward scents, vanilla and/or cinnamon are quite cozy, to my mind.
posted by sarajane at 3:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [7 favorites]
Golden toned lampshades, or even a lampshade with a gold colored interior will make the light seem warmer. You could try golden or pink-toned lightbulbs (again, incandescents) - YMMV.
If you are concerned about burning candles, or have some extra room in the budget, I recommend these flameless candles. At first, we scoffed at them, but received some for a gift and are never going back. The bodies are made of wax and the flickering is quite realistic. Having them remote-control operated is just the cherry on top - we don't have to run from candle to candle, lighting each one and blowing each one out.
If you are inclined toward scents, vanilla and/or cinnamon are quite cozy, to my mind.
posted by sarajane at 3:36 PM on September 30, 2014 [7 favorites]
Few things are as inviting to me as floor cushions. Flank them by stacks of books and you have the ultimate retreat. Even without the super low seating, books on the floor feel so cozy - adjust height of stack to make sense in your space and add quirky flea market finds on top.
posted by Dragonness at 4:05 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by Dragonness at 4:05 PM on September 30, 2014
Indoor plants (depending on the amount of light available)?
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:54 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by Spathe Cadet at 5:54 PM on September 30, 2014 [2 favorites]
If you love animals and can make the commitment, adopt a cat! I think white can be very cozy...like all of the amazing Swedish interior design. If you can add elements of wood, that makes things cozier. Crank up the heater if you can and get a good sweatshirt, and if you really want to go crazy, some cashmere pajama bottoms and socks. Get a record player and listen to old records while you drink tea.
posted by three_red_balloons at 6:01 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by three_red_balloons at 6:01 PM on September 30, 2014 [1 favorite]
Many people swap out their curtains according to the season: lighter or sheerer in warm weather, darker or heavier in the cold months. Warmer or darker color curtains can make all the difference to the look of a room. In addition, they add valuable insulation over windows where heat can leak out. Especially if they are lined. Not to mention the privacy they offer when it gets darker earlier and your room can be like a fishbowl from the outside, offering nice, lit-up views to anyone passing.
posted by primate moon at 6:55 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by primate moon at 6:55 PM on September 30, 2014
Came in to say: curtains, and in particular velvet-ish curtains. Very luxe and cozy in many different colors (even light colors feel "warm" if you're not into dark fall tones.)
posted by dahliachewswell at 11:04 PM on September 30, 2014
posted by dahliachewswell at 11:04 PM on September 30, 2014
Best answer: It can be tempting to pile on the cushions and lamps and books and throws and this and that.... but beware. "Cozy" can turn into "cluttered and depressing" without you really noticing it's happening. We have an old footlocker as a coffee table; we keep extra blankets and pillows inside it, so the furniture isn't under piles of fabric all the time. And nothing lives on top of it, so we can put cups of cocoa or plates of cookies or our sock feet on it, without worrying about stuff ... a big part of being cozy for us.
Ruthless Bunny nailed the true Heart of Comfort, though. Some kind of fire. We got a gas fireplace installed and it made our life incredibly better. And lots of comments of "your house is so cozy!" At least try grouping some of sarajane's flameless candles if you can't install anything else.
Written by a native of the Pacific Northwest. We know cozy. Which is why we have so many coffee roasters and artisanal breweries.
posted by kestralwing at 3:02 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
Ruthless Bunny nailed the true Heart of Comfort, though. Some kind of fire. We got a gas fireplace installed and it made our life incredibly better. And lots of comments of "your house is so cozy!" At least try grouping some of sarajane's flameless candles if you can't install anything else.
Written by a native of the Pacific Northwest. We know cozy. Which is why we have so many coffee roasters and artisanal breweries.
posted by kestralwing at 3:02 AM on October 1, 2014 [2 favorites]
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posted by lemonade at 1:03 PM on September 30, 2014