Winter living rooms
12 ideas for a cozy and cocooning space |
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(Image credit: Heidi Caillier Design | Neptune | Original BTC)
Our winter living room ideas are here to show you how you can design and style your space so it wraps you in a warming and inviting embrace during the cold winter months.
We spend so much more of our time indoors during winter, especially in our living rooms. A multipurpose area where we socialize as well as rest and unwind, a living room is often the heart of the home for many, and our living room ideas need to be able to cater to the demands of this busy space throughout the changing seasons.
Your living room should always be a haven of relaxation, comfort and coziness, but during winter when the outdoors is cold, dark and uninviting, these factors become even more important; so our winter living room ideas will show you how you can establish the snuggest of spaces to enjoy throughout wintertime.
Winter living room ideas – 12 ways to dress your space for the season
From the right color palettes to use to cozy materials and accessories to style with, explore our winter living room ideas for some beautiful inspiration and expert advice.
1. Layer plenty of texture
(Image credit: Heidi Caillier Design)
'Texture in interior design is all about creating tactile moments that invite touch,' says Tiffany Leigh, of Tiffany Leigh Design . 'It refers to the feel, appearance or consistency of a surface or material. The use of texture in interior design also helps to keep a space from feeling flat or one dimensional.'
Creating a cozy living room rich in layered materials and textures will not only add depth and visual interest to your living room, it will make it feel more comfortable, inviting and tactile, wonderfully shown in this living room designed by Heidi Caillier Design .
From a soft rug underfoot, to seating styled with cozy cushions and throws, these additions will work together as one to establish a layered design that is warming and homey.
2. Think about your lighting
(Image credit: Original BTC)
With their delicate interplay between function and form, a winter living room will greatly benefit from a well-executed decorative living room lighting scheme.
As the days become shorter and darker, having the right lighting in your home is not only important on a practical level during winter, but your lighting atmosphere can help with your wellbeing and for creating a comforting and cozy ambience.
Think carefully how you use your living room and the different lighting that each zone requires. 'Consider how the light changes throughout the day and then position lights to create the most impact,' says interior decorator Nicola Harding.
Think about flexible light sources for different situations, 'a floor light with a swivel arm is ideal as an evening reading lamp behind a living room sofa or chair,' says Hollie Moreland, creative director of David Hunt Lighting , with cozy lamps, fairy lights and candles creating more soft, decorative lighting; ideal for when relaxing in the evening.
Decorate using darker color palettes
(Image credit: Studio McGee)
‘Don’t be scared to use dark colors in a gloomy, small living room,' says Natalia Forbes and Louisa Rix, co-founders, Forbes Rix Design . 'It’s never going to look light, so choose a rich color and the effect can be truly transformative.’
Mike Fisher, creative director and founder of Studio Indigo agrees, ‘we believe north-facing rooms should be painted a dark or strong color, like brown or black, to make it more cocooning, and those on the south side in lighter colors. The thinking is where you have darkness you should bring color, warmth and joy.’
A darker color palette can be incredibly grounding, and perfect for creating a cocooning atmosphere for your winter living room ideas.
4. Embrace the warmth of natural materials and textures
(Image credit: &Tradition)
From a thick knitted blanket crafted from warming wool, to a stand-out lounge chair upholstered in sheepskin, these natural materials are not only inherently durable and great insulators, they look beautiful, too.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, wood may not be as soft as sheepskin, but embracing the warming tones of natural timber across furniture pieces or for wood floor ideas for a living room, can bring in elegant texture and a deep color to the space.
5. Consider your window treatments
(Image credit: Heidi Caillier Design)
Curtains can not only enrich a room with tactile texture and beautiful color and pattern, but they can offer warmth and insulation. Living room drape ideas can work well for winter living room ideas as drape designs are often crafted from much heavier, thicker materials, adding a luxurious touch to your windows that is also perfect for winter.
Another option to explore is shutter ideas, with wooden shutters offering effective insulation in homes of all ages. Sally Denyer, digital marketing manager at Shutterly Fabulous explains, 'windows are a major source of heat loss in the home, therefore one practical solution to help with heat insulation is to fit bespoke window shutters.
The correct size shutter can prevent over half of all heat lost through windows, keeping cold draughts under control even in older houses. Incorporating any style of shutter in a space will help with warmth, but solid wood panel shutters especially are the most effective as they aren't louvered.'
Layering your windows with multiple window treatments, such as using curtains and shutters, or curtains and blinds, can also provide you with more flexible dressings for your windows throughout the changing seasons.
6. Prep your fireplace
(Image credit: Dan Duchars)
Prepping your chimney, fireplace or wood-burning stove for winter is an essential task to complete each year, especially when winterizing a house, and can make all the difference when enjoying your winter living room.
Fireplaces and chimneys require regular upkeep, so ensure to keep track of when yours needs checking and cleaning so you can have cozy evenings by the fire with no hassle.
Vicky Naylor, General Manager at ACR Stoves advises, 'if you are looking into maintaining a chimney, then this is always best done in the spring or summer months so you are ready to use your fireplace as soon as the cooler weather arrives.
Always make sure that your chimney is swept at least once a year to make sure there are no blockages or build up of soot.'
7. Rearrange furniture around a fireplace
(Image credit: OKA)
The fireplace is the focal point of a winter living room – the place around which family and friends naturally congregate for an evening to converse and relax, the hub that beckons us with its welcome warmth and light during the colder months.
'A living room fireplace is more than just an architectural decision,' muses Monique Tollgard, founder of Tollgard . 'A fire is a ritual you add to your home and your life.'
Re-work your living room layout as winter draws near. Arrange seating in a sociable set-up with the fireplace as the focal point and add layers of throws, blankets and cushions atop a sofa or armchair for added warmth and comfort.
8. Style the space with winter plants and flowers
(Image credit: Neptune)
We often associate beautiful blooms with spring decor ideas, but styling with foliage and winter plants and flowers can not only make our homes feel festive, but it carries on that beautiful connection with the outside world throughout the seasons – important for many as we often spend less time outdoors in wintertime.
Below, gardening expert and Period Living editor, Rachel Crow, provides some guidance on the best types of plants and flowers to have in your home during winter.
'There is a wealth of houseplants to choose from that will add color and interest to a living room during the winter months. Flowering options include the likes of cyclamen, Anthurium andraeanum, Christmas cactus – which, contrary to its name, does not only flower in the holidays – forced hyacinths, which look lovely arranged in a display on a sideboard or coffee table, and the perennially popular orchid.
For interesting foliage, you are equally spoilt for choice, whether you choose from the wide range of pothos, trailing from a hanging basket or scrambling up a post, to the variegated and colorful leave variations of aglaonema, or eye-catching leaf form of monstera or sansevieria.'
9. Focus on scent
(Image credit: Chris Terry)
One of Kelly Wearstler's top tips for styling a winter living room, the scent of a space can really make or break how we feel when we first step foot into a space.
From the fresh smell of flowers and Christmas foliage, to scented candles and festive aromas created through traditional decorations of oranges and cinnamon sticks, ensuring that your winter living room smells wonderful will only make it a more inviting and pleasurable space to sit in and enjoy.
For some further inspiration on how you can get your home smelling lovely, explore our guides on the best candles and best home fragrances, with top designs tested and reviewed by our product experts.
10. Hang a festive wreath
(Image credit: Polly Wreford)
The classic wreath can often be far too beautiful to be left out in the cold for Christmas door decor ideas, so if you decide to display one inside, consider how its foliage will work with your winter living room.
A design like this seed head and moss creation has a wonderfully pale and ethereal look, making it the ideal focal point for a darker corner in your home. In this setting, the curved shape of the Demilune table echoes the circular wreath, while the white bowl picks up on the highlighted areas of foliage above.
If you are looking for other options to add pale tones to a wreath, consider integrating white heather or snowberry as both will stand out in darker areas.
11. Dress your mantel with fall foliage
(Image credit: Paul Raeside)
Once you've prepped your chimney and cleaned your fireplace and stove, it's time for the fun bit! A mantel provides the perfect platform to house a unique winter display, and if you thought fall foliage was only for your Christmas wreath ideas, think again, it can create a beautiful natural display for mantel decor ideas.
‘A shot of in-season foliage above the living room fireplace brings the eye up and makes a great statement on a mantel,’ says interior designer Cindy Rinfret . ‘It should highlight the gorgeous time of year and feel like a natural addition to the room.’
‘I love the abundance of evergreen branches at this time of year,’ says florist Philippa Craddock . ‘They are much hardier during the winter – as it is outside of their growing season – and will last for several days indoors.
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12. Establish that comforting 'hygge feeling'
(Image credit: Loaf)
The phenomenon of hygge, a signature characteristic of Danish culture and Scandinavian decor, focuses on a feeling of comfort, coziness and contentment, and has become a hugely popular reference in the world of wellness and interior design over the last few years.
A feeling rather than a style, all of the ideas we have explored in this piece can contribute to hygge; as hygge revolves around creating a warm atmosphere. Whether that be through socializing with friends and family, lighting your favorite candle, or feel snug and cozy on your sofa, the source of warmth and comfort can vary from person to person.
So when you're planning your winter living room ideas, focus on that 'hygge feeling', and how you can design a soothing, unique space that brings you both comfort and joy.
For further insight into this topic, Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute , shares his thoughts on, what is wellness in interior design?
How do I make my living room look cozy in winter?
When you consider that the most used space in a home is often the living space, warm and cozy winter living room decor ideas are pretty much top of most people's lists as soon as the seasons start to shift to fall and winter.
There are plenty of tried-and-tested ways to make your living room feel cozier and more inviting. From the colors you decorate with, the furniture you choose and the right lighting to pick, they all can have a transformative effect on a cold, dreary living area – particularly if all you crave is a relaxing space to unwind in at the end of a hectic day.
A simple way to transform a summery sanctuary into a cozy winter retreat is to replace voile with heavier fabrics, such as velvet. Thermal curtains and blackout blinds will keep your space warm – and provide more privacy come nighttime.
Then it's time to style the space with a collection of practical and decorative accessories, from blankets and cushions on seating areas, to inviting scented candles and winter flowers.
All of these elements will work in harmony to establish a winter living room that is functional, beautiful and of course, incredibly cozy.
What are winter colors in the living room?
There are a plethora of sophisticated ways to enhance a space with color, so dress your seasonal living room with deep navy blues, smokey grays, gorgeous greens and earthy taupes for a space that is both deeply cosseting and cocooning.
And if you're feeling brave, why not try decorating with black or a dark brown, guaranteed to bring impact and an alluring sophistication to your space.
Colors of nature also work well, especially when paired with materials such as wood and natural textiles like sheepskin, establishing a cozy and organic winter living room look inspired by the beauty of the outdoors.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
With contributions from
- Zara StaceyContent Editor
20 Winter living room ideas for a cosy and warm lounge space
As the days grow shorter, there's nothing like a warm and inviting lounge to retreat into come evening.
Adding in winter living room ideas to your space will help you to create a welcome retreat to escape the cold outside. You can seasonally transform your space by creating a cosy feel with the right decorating scheme.
If your living room is pale and interesting, it can still look cosy come the winter months with the right winter living room decor. A flickering open fire or stove will give even the most neutral of rooms a lovely warmth. For simple living room ideas for winter, look to grouping sumptuous sofas and chairs around the fireplace and add texture with throws and a luxe rug.
Winter living room decor ideas
Whether you're looking to refresh the space with seasonal paint colours or simply looking to rethink your furniture layout, these simple winter living room ideas will help turn your summer lounge into a cosy snug set for the colder months ahead.
1. Snuggle beside the fireplace
(Image credit: Future PLC)
If your living room has a fireplace, working or not, use it to anchor your furniture and make it the focal point.
It can make small living room ideas feel even cosier and brings warmth to a larger space too.
Set the scene to evoke a sense of keeping warm by a roaring fire – even if it's not working, it's more about the emotional element. Rethink your furniture layout to make the fireplace the focus.
2. Set the scene with ambient candlelight
(Image credit: Future PLC/Max Attenborough)
Turn down the lights and adjust to the darker evenings with softer living room lighting ideas. If you have a working fire, great – use that to emit a cosy glow. But fear not if you don't have a real fire – all you need is candlelight to achieve winter living room ideas. Create a point of focus, whether that's on the coffee table or mantelpiece. Cluster candles together to form a base of centralised candle light.
A flickering flame will always make you feel cosy, especially when styled in a curated display. It goes without saying, always take care – never leave a naked flame unattended.
3. Choose seasonal blooms and berries
(Image credit: Future / Simon Whitmore)
Colourful flowers and lush green foliage lift a room, but it can look jarring to have summery blooms, imported from the other side of the world, in the middle of winter.
Instead, opt for seasonal stems, such as Christmas roses, clematis or dried eucalyptus, which looks as lovely dry as it does fresh. It also gives off a gorgeous fragrance.
'Eucalyptus is superb as a dried stem as it retains its shape and holds onto its leaves,' says florist, Philippa Craddock . 'As it dries it takes on a slightly softer grey-green tone. To keep dried stems looking good, simply dust them occasionally.'
4. Introduce pops of plaid for a highland feel
(Image credit: Future / Simon Whitmore)
Certain patterns and prints evoke cosy living room ideas and wool plaid is one of them. If you have a living room that you tend to use more in the winter, than in the summer, choose a checked fabric for some accent pieces of upholstery, such as an armchair or footstool.
Mix the colours and checks of this woollen weave and style with autumnal tones to create somewhere you want to snuggle up on chilly evenings or weekends.
'Soft furnishing have a significant impact on the overall feel of a room,' says Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV . 'Layer plains and patterns carefully; when using bold patterns on upholstery it is best to keep the cushions plain. Or go for a plain fabric for the upholstery and experiment with a mixture of colours and patterns on scatter cushions.'
5. Warm things up with black and gold
(Image credit: Future / Colin Poole)
Creating a wintery living room vibe doesn't mean it has to feel rustic or like a country cottage. It's possible for a room to feel wintery without sacrificing glamourous modern living room ideas. Mixing black and gold will bring a sense of sophistication to your living room.
We're not suggesting you redecorate every season (that would be insane). However, hanging drapes in addition to blinds or shutters in the colder months, or switching a light rug for a heavier one as the weather changes makes a great seasonal switch.
6. Evoke warmth with chunky knits
(Image credit: Future)
Chunky knits aren't just for your wardrobe, they can adorn your home too. When the weather changes, many of us like to 'rug up' in a cable knit or Arran jumper before bracing the elements outside.
Yet this style can just as easily flatter and warm your living room too. Choose a couple of chunky knit cushions and throw in a neutral tone to complement neutral living room ideas. Dress your sofa with these extra items so you can snuggle up during the winter, and store them away in the summer.
7. Add a cocooning feel with wooden furniture
(Image credit: Future / Simon Whitmore)
Instead of starck white surfaces, timber feels homely and warm. So why not bring a smart wooden bureau into the living room to use as a work station or somewhere to sit and do essential admin?
The beauty of this traditional piece is that the desk part can be folded away, along with a laptop and any papers.
So you can feel cosy whilst working or doing any paperwork, then when you're done, it can easily be closed up until you need to use it again.
8. Recline on a chaise longue
(Image credit: Future / TBC)
If you have the space for an extra seat in your living room, bring in a chaise longue, so you can recline beside the fire and unwind from the weekly stresses with a best seller.
Choose a rich, sumptuous colour that will suit the space. In this instance navy brings depth to the neutral room with its pale stone walls and light fluffy rug.
Scatter your chaise with comfy cushions and throws, and make sure you have a reading lamp to softly light gloomy days and long dark evenings.
9. Mix natural materials for the feel-good factor
(Image credit: Future / TBC)
Sumptuous natural fibres and finishes feel good to touch. After all, humans have used wool, leather and plant fibres to stay warm for millenia. There's something about them that we're innately drawn to.
A wool rug on a wooden floor and a woollen blanket over a leather chair is guaranteed to bring comfort on a cold day. For added character look into buying secondhand furniture - scour antique shops, flea markets or online marketplaces for second-hand leather chairs.
10. Cocoon the room in colour
(Image credit: Paint and Paper Library)
One of the most popular living room trends involves the move towards rich, saturated shades and darker comforting tones in winter living room ideas.
'This move to a cocooning, sheltered warm feeling sees colours such as blackened denim ‘Kigali', charcoal toned blue 'Squid Ink' and rich and welcoming brownish red ‘Masai' rising to the for. Being embraced not only on walls, but on ceilings and woodwork too,' explains Andy Greenall, Head of Design, Paint & Paper Library .
11. Adjust the lighting balance
(Image credit: Future PLC/Simon Whitmore)
Turn off the overhead lights, or at least dim them where possible, and seek softer lighting alternatives.
Thoughtful living room lighting plays a key role in adjusting how you feel within the space.
Low levels of light help to set a more intimate and comforting vibe, essential for feeling cosy and content within the space. Living room fireplace ideas, too, will help to add warmth and soft light to the room.
Switch to lamps and wall lights for winter living room ideas to gently add pools of light to the living room without awaking the space with harsh overhead lighting.
12. Layer warmth underfoot
(Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Eltes)
Even the most summery of decorating schemes, such as coastal living room ideas, can be transformed into a cosy retreat with the right winter living room decor.
While the room has light textures which can sometimes appear cold, the use of layered rugs on the white-washed floor instantly provides a warming element to the scheme. The log burner provides a central source of warmth, with an armchair positioned beside to set the scene for a cosy spot to curl up with a cuppa.
13. Insulate with window treatments
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Smart window treatment ideas provide the perfect finishing touch to any living room. Not only adding a decorative finishing touch, a good window treatment helps to insulate the room, which can go a long way in winter living room ideas.
From patterned living room curtain ideas and blinds to solid wooden shutters, all window treatments can act as a barrier to the cold outside.
14. Decorate with string lights
(Image credit: Future / TBC)
Layered lighting is key to a comfortable and inviting interior scheme, particularly in the living room. This becomes more important as winter sets in and the dark evenings extend.
There's obviously a practical need for lighting so you can see, as well as setting an ambient tone with lamps. Yet it can be decorative too, so consider string or fairy lights for the entire season, not just for Christmas.
'Good lighting is imperative to creating an ambience; a cove of cosiness and intimacy,' says interior designer, Martin Waller, founder of Andrew Martin .
15. Introduce an abundance of easy layers
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Keep a basket of throws on hand to give out on colder winter nights where extra layers can go a long way. Snuggling up under a heavily knitted blanket is an easy, not to mention highly affordable way to embrace winter living room ideas.
Choose designs that can also enhance the winter living room decor, such as pops of a strong accent colour, to perk up your existing decorating scheme.
16. Create a reading nook
(Image credit: Future / Chris Snook)
Books give a home character. After all, the topics hint at the occupants' interests to all who visit. They also provide hours of entertainment, education and escapism, as well as adding colour to shelves and empty spaces.
Create a cosy reading nook in a corner of your home. Make sure your book shelves are well stocked with your favourite tomes for the winter. And cosy up with plenty of cushions, candles and lamps.
17. Scent the room with winter fragrance
(Image credit: Neom)
Walk into any high-end store and you'll often notice that it smells good. Scenting our homes has become a thing too, but candles can get pricey. A wonderful alternative is a diffuser, like the Wellbeing Pod, £95, Neom which uses water to diffuse essential oils and scent a room. As well as smelling good, the essential oils have a positive impact on our wellbeing too, as they hit a part of our brains (the olfactory centre) that stimulates memories and emotions.
It's easy to switch different fragrances and oil blends in a diffuser too. So you can change things up according to the season, or even the time of day. 'We notice that woody and spicy notes are popular in the autumn and winter,' says Nicola Elliott, founder of Neom .
'De-stressing, or calming and relaxing, oil blends are wonderful in a living room on winter evenings, such as Bergamot & Black Pepper or Tuberose, Cedarwood & Ylang Ylang.
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18. Choose sheepskin-style accessories
(Image credit: Future PLC)
Welcome in textures that ooze a sense of warmth into your winter living room ideas. Faux sheepskins add a luxuriously cosy feel to any decor. Layer them on living room flooring ideas, chairs and even footstools-cum-coffee tables to introduce a softness to the decorating scheme. Sleek, modern furniture is softened with sheepskin accessories.
19. Use rich colour and luxe materials
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)
Rich colours are the perfect way to make your winter living room decor feel warm and cosy. Floor-to-ceiling curtains, cushions, throws and rugs in rich shades are ideal for adding warming accents. Choosing soft furnishings that ooze a tactile quality makes you want to cuddle up and get cosy. High-sheen velvet fabrics are ideal for enhancing jewel tones to exude an extra warming quality.
Choose neutral soft furnishings and reflect light with accessories, such as an overmantel mirror, glassware or metallic finish accessories to keep the look stylish.
20. Embrace plentiful storage
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dominic Blackmore)
Stash away clutter and create plenty of space for a traditional armchair, complete with soft throws and an upholstered footstool.
Make a feature of bookshelves in your winter living room ideas. Pull up your favourite living room seating ideas, like this classic design upholstered in an eye-catching modern fabric, for a space where you can simply sit back and relax.
How do I make my living room cosy for winter?
To make winter living room ideas as cosy as can be you can follow easy steps that don't require any decorating. For instance, simply welcoming more tactile layers to your sofa will help to transcend the space from summer to winter. Layering the floor with rugs will help not only to add warmth underfoot but also add texture that can help to make the look feel cosier.
Lighting plays a key role in creating the right ambience for cosy winter living room decor.
Dim overhead lights where possible and change the focus of lighting by adding accent lighting via floor and table lamps. Avoid harsh overhead lights – you want to make the environment feel restful and tranquil.
How can I decorate my room in winter?
Use colour to decorate your home for winter. We're not suggesting you repaint a room – instead swap soft furnishings to add richer autumnal accent colours. Like a seasonal wardrobe, change things up with winter living room decor to reset the feel over the darker months.
Paint walls in a shade that makes your heart feel warm and layer up the colour on soft furnishings and accessories. Or perhaps go for a Highland-inspired scheme with soft green, heather and plaid paint and fabrics for a cohesive feel.
For contemporary winter living room ideas, soften sleek modern pieces by adding texture, such as faux fur cushions or a luxe sheepskin rug.
One way of creating your own winter wonderland is with a large nature-inspired mural or artwork.
Painted wall panels lend a coastal feel and look snug alongside woollen accessories or you can create the illusion of this with wallpaper.
7 cozy living rooms where you want to spend the whole winter weekend
1 Interior in pastel colors with cozy textiles
The main character of this interior is textiles. A warm plaid in large knit, cute pillows with a themed print, a bedspread on the sofa with tassels - all this is conducive to a relaxing holiday. And the soft flowing light from the garlands makes the living room almost fabulous - just what you need for a cozy weekend.
Instagram @moja_wiejska_sielanka
Instagram @moja_wiejska_sielanka
2 Bright living room with soft light
The simple shape of the furniture and good lighting make the interior of this living room airy and fresh. It makes you want to start the day, drink coffee, read a magazine and work.
A large soft sofa, cozy textiles and a lot of indoor plants are ideal. Weekends in such a living room can be both productive and relaxed - depending on which mode is closer to you.
Instagram @systerskap_design
Instagram @systerskap_design
3 Contrasting interior with a tropical vibe
This living room has something to look forward to: contrasting shades of black and blue against white walls, bright accents, unusual furniture with ethnic elements. Near the sofa is not a classic armchair, but a dark hammock. Opposite - tropical plants in massive floor planters. Together, these details create the feeling that the living room is located somewhere on the ocean, and if you open the window, you can hear the sound of the waves.
Instagram @ambarasy
Instagram @ambarasy
Instagram @ambarasy
4 Elegant and spectacular living room with black furniture
A beautiful contrasting interior is built on a combination of black furniture with velvet upholstery and white painted walls.
A textured faux fur ottoman and a palm tree in the corner of the room act as accent details. The room looks grand even without additional decorations and is great for family holidays or dinners with friends.
Instagram @inside_number_37_
Instagram @inside_number_37_
Instagram @inside_number_37_
5 Laconic bright living room with a fluffy carpet
The serene, bright interior of this living room invites you to quality rest. A cozy soft carpet with thick pile on the floor, slowly smoldering candles on the tables, the light from the window muffled by dense tulle - everything in this space sets you up for relaxation. A day of watching your favorite series or an interesting book without haste and important things fits perfectly into the mood of such a living room.
Instagram @joanna.avento
Instagram @joanna.avento
Instagram @joanna.avento
6 Intelligent living room with retro elements
Vintage furniture creates a unique feeling of comfort and nostalgia for the past, reminiscent of winter holidays with the family.
A variety of textiles with winter prints sets the right accents in the interior: in spring it can be replaced with another one. A colorful carpet, a rare library - you want to spend a frosty winter morning in such a living room with tea and an interesting book.
Instagram @vindsgomman
Instagram @vindsgomman
Instagram @vindsgomman
7 Minimalist interior in white shades
The spacious living room is very laconic: functional furniture, discreet decor, lots of light and air. The main thing in this interior is the forms. Interesting geometry can be seen in the vaulted ceiling, intricate chandelier, round poufs, mirror on the wall. Everything together looks very harmonious. As a result, without unnecessary details, the interior seems to be in a good way complex - one that you want to consider.
The main trends in modern living room design
Modern interior goes beyond the usual: it is for those who keep up with the times. His fashion trends and styles are interesting and unique in their rationality.
Industrial exposes wires, ceiling beams, pipes, fittings. In a spacious room, the negligence of bare walls is deliberately emphasized, and old things serve as decor. This design creates the effect of a factory room in which they decided to live.
For modern apartments, “old” walls and industrial lighting fixtures (street lamps, spotlights, etc.) are borrowed from the industrial style. Rough leather upholstery and studded metal tables complete the interior concept.
Scandinavian design. Its basis is quality factor and reliability. Hence the moderate decor, functionality, a lot of light and simplicity. White color, natural textiles and wood are actively used. Bright pillows, chairs or lamps act as color accents. The interior is complemented by “airy” glass tables, convenient storage systems, soft carpets and indoor plants.
Photo of modern living room in Scandinavian style:
Modern: minimalism, elegance and comfort in neutral tones complemented by bright details.
The interior is dominated by pastel colors or the fabric texture of wallpaper combined with natural wood flooring. The shades are muted, the furniture is comfortable, functional, with smooth lines.
The style requires a lot of light, so there is a window to the floor or multi-level lighting. For decor, indoor plants, light curtains, frescoes and paintings depicting nature are used.
Techno. Chaotic, fantastic design, full of glass, plastic and metal. Technological progress dominates here, and the cool shades of the surfaces are compensated by the shimmering gloss of the details. The techno-living room is an interior with minimalistic, squat sofas, futuristic lamps, strange-looking transformer lamps and all sorts of technical details.
Conscious chaos in the photo of the living room in a modern techno style:
Minimalism models the space of a room with functional pieces and accessories united by the harmony of color. The interior of the hall is bright and contrasting, but does not exclude the design in deep and warm accent colors.
"Cubic" furniture without pretentious details is adjacent to glass and gloss. The basis of style is practicality and functionality. No ornament: only the uniformity of coatings and expressive angularity throughout.
Loft. Room "without walls" and partitions, with high ceilings and huge windows. Raw brickwork of the walls, wooden beams of the floors, pastel-colored panels - deliberate rudeness and ascetic design. And next to it are ultra-modern appliances and glass furniture with chrome details. Unexpected proportions and original design dominate here.
Here is an example of a photo of a bright living room in a modern loft style:
Hi-tech is restraint, an abundance of glass, metal, multifunctional structures and lamps. The interior is distinguished by a cold glossy sheen, strict proportions and monochrome tones in the decoration. The almost complete rejection of decor brings to the fore the cult of high technology and light. The lack of emotions in the design of the apartment is compensated by expensive accessories.
Bright textiles bring this realm of graphics and contrast to life:
Modern living room interiors. Photo of color schemes
Modern design is a canvas with the basic touches of a common idea. Then it's up to the color scheme, in which pastel colors are preferred. We must not forget about the orientation of the windows in the apartment: the northern location allows you to use warm shades, and the southern location allows you to use cold blue, purple and metallic gray.
Basic colors of modern design - white and its derivatives (baked milk, beige, ivory, cream), black, gray. Against a pale background, sofas taken from different styles look favorably. So that the living room does not look “flat” and featureless, “spots” are added in the form of accessories (pillows, vases, lamps), wallpaper ornaments on one of the walls or upholstery.
Cold blue changes before our eyes paired with warm tones (beige, golden, sand, olive). The hall is bright, cool and airy.
Modern living room design in blue-beige interior photo:
Red, yellow and orange are energetic colors that dilute the calmness of modern style.
Against the background of light colors, they look juicy, but slightly muffled, making the cozy interior lively and festive.
The traditional design of a modern living room is gray and its shades (hi-tech, modern, loft). Combinations with white and black create a discreet and elegant design.
Furniture and lighting in a modern interior: selection rules
A comfortable family room for relaxation or noisy communication with friends should be practically furnished and well-lit.
Furniture
Clear, simple shapes, modular design, mobility and versatility are the basic requirements of style. Cumbersomeness does not look in a modern interior: it is based on space, air and maximum light in the apartment. Squat cabinets, low soft chairs and hanging console shelves are the best choice.
Sofa. Large, soft, with straight or flowing lines, it is the centerpiece of a modern room. Traditional corner or popular small sofas create a cozy atmosphere and do not take up much space.
A spacious room allows you to add soft armchairs and chairs, as in this photo of a living room in a modern style:
Coffee table is appropriate in a rectangular or round shape, without decorative elements. The glass one will add lightness and “airiness” to the interior, and the modular design-matryoshka of several tables is indispensable in a large company of guests. In some modern style trends (for example, a loft), a massive vintage antique table looks extravagant.
Light
Lighting sets the tone for everything. Sconces or spotlights are selected for the central chandelier. The current trend is beautiful original floor lamps of bizarre shapes. A row of lamps in a straight or stepped design looks stylish, as in this photo of a modern living room:
Sometimes an unusual combination of directional lamps and LED lamps is used. For watching TV and enjoying music, a dim backlight is mounted, and for reading books - side sconces.
Multi-level ceilings with built-in spotlights are characteristic of modern style. They visually increase the space, and the quality of lighting is enhanced by the gloss finish and light translucent curtains (or their absence). Sometimes mirrors of strict geometric shapes are used in the living room.
The main task of furniture and lighting is to visually push the boundaries and give light. This is especially important in small living rooms.
Modern interior of a small living room
When every meter is precious, it is important to combine a classic approach with innovative ideas and use design techniques. The following tricks will help you achieve space:
- No curtains on the windows. Alternative options are white tulle, light cream-colored blinds;
- Light wallpaper on the walls and delicate shades of the ceiling;
- Mirrors and mirror inserts on cabinets, walls or sofa area;
- Compact multifunctional furniture and a minimum of accessories (replacing them with houseplants).
A small room does not tolerate eye-catching patterns on the wallpaper.
But decorative fireplaces, niches, open console shelves and podiums are the most practical attributes of modern style. It is possible to expand the space due to the balcony or the combination of the living room with the kitchen.
Lighting plays an important role in small rooms. A combination of several sources is appropriate here (chandelier, sconce, lamps). The space of the hall will visually increase if the light is directed to the walls. A peculiar design idea for such premises is a high-tech interior, practical, strict and without unnecessary details.
Photos of real projects
Strict lines of minimalism or techno live not only in catalogs. All modern living rooms, photos of which are presented below, were brought to life in ordinary city apartments.
Small and bright living room. Practical and functional design:
A few photos of modern wall-slides in the living room:
Such multi-level structures in a modern style with open and closed shelves allow you to place everything you need without cluttering up the space.
