How to Create a Cozier Living Room
March 10, 2021
Lifestyle
For many people here in Chicagoland, the ideal living room evokes certain feelings from the moment you enter. It's relaxing and comfortable. It's the perfect safe haven to unwind and connect. It is, in a word, cozy.
The Science of Cozy
Coziness as a design concept is having a bit of a moment. You may be familiar with the trend of Scandinavian-influenced thinking on the subject, including the Danish concept of hygge, or the Norwegian koselig, both of which boil down to the cozy feelings of contentment, safety, and connection to those you love. For many, the perfect living room inspires deep and relaxing feelings of coziness. But what makes a room feel cozy? Here are a few proven ways to help create a living room that lets you relax and recharge, without leaving home:Add Rich, Bold Colors
The coziest living room is one where your family can grow closer by spending time together talking, laughing, and enjoying the day. One way to foster that feeling of closeness is to fill your room's visual palette with deep, rich colors, which can help give your living room an intimate feel. For instance, warm paint colors like deep reds can have the psychological effect of making a room feel warmer, while dark shades can make the room feel slightly smaller. Combined, these effects create instant coziness. If you're working in a room that's already on the smaller side, or if your living room doesn't get a lot of natural light, consider painting an accent wall or bringing jewel tones into your furnishings and accessories. This can help you achieve similar cozy alchemy without making you feel claustrophobic. In a larger living room, it's all about making a spacious and open area feel personal and intimate. You can spur cozy heart-to-hearts by arranging furniture to create one or more conversational nooks, where a few people can gather close together. You may also consider stopping your paint on the walls a couple of inches below the ceiling or adding crown molding, which can help make the room feel slightly more approachable.Layer Multiple Textures
When you think about the times in your life when you've been the most cozy, you probably remember certain textures — like the feeling of a scarf wrapped up almost to your eyes, or the comforting heft of a wool blanket. Mixing up textures is a core part of hygge-inspired design for a reason! Science shows that comfort is primarily a tactile sensation, which means that texture and coziness are deeply connected. As you imagine relaxing in your redesigned living room, consider layering a variety of soft and smooth textures throughout the space. Cushions, draperies, and throw blankets made of wool, cotton knits, velvet, or even silk all make for a visual invitation to sink into a chair and leave your cares behind. For furniture, natural materials like wood and rattan help to make us feel reconnected to a more natural rhythm, a key ingredient for true coziness. Plus, these natural accents pair nicely with a rich color palette. And for the ultimate in cozy leisure activities, don't forget bookshelves and built-ins, which add a unique visual texture that invites you to come closer and take a look, while helping store all of the things your family needs for a relaxing night in — books, games, candles, pillows, art supplies, and more.Use Warm, Ambient Lighting
Lighting is a key component of making a space feel cozy — and there are lots of simple swaps and switches you can make to help your living room feel warmer and more inviting in no time. Of course, it doesn't get much cozier than sitting around a roaring fire. If you have a fireplace, be sure to make it a focal point in the room. Warm, low light like the kind provided by a fire is a proven boost for creativity, and studies indicate that gazing at a fire can lower blood pressure and induce a relaxed state of mind. Even if you don't have a fireplace, you can imitate a fire's cozy glow with low, warm lighting. Avoid harsh overhead lights, and instead use ambient light sources spaced out around the room. Candles are a natural choice, which bring the added benefit of adding a pleasing scent into the sensory mix. Experiment with floor and table lamps or even sconces, which can cast soothing pools of light while letting you unwind and relax your eyes at the end of a long day. If you do use overhead lights, consider adding a dimmer switch so that you can raise or lower the lighting depending on the time of day and what you're doing.Let Your Personality Shine
Farmhouse chic? Industrial? Mid-century modern? No matter what style you choose for the relaxing living room of your dreams, you can make it cozy — because "cozy" is not a style, but a feeling. Research from the Happiness Research Institute found that people are happiest in their homes when they identify with their space. Personal or family photos, family heirlooms, favorite collections, or even a musical instrument proudly displayed help to truly make the space your own — with the added potential to spark up cozy conversations over a cup of tea. Ultimately, coziness is not a design style; it is a feeling or constellation of feelings that put you in the perfect frame of mind to relax. Because it's so based on emotions, your sense of what's cozy is unique to you. Whether that means chic mid-century furnishings or rustic overfilled couches, don't hesitate to embrace what feels right to you.Making the Most of Your Time at Home
Now more than ever, your home should be a place that makes you feel safe, connected, and relaxed. We know this as well as anyone. At Baird & Warner, Chicagoland has been our home since 1855. Looking to find ways to turn your space into a cozy retreat? Ready to start your search for a new home before the next bout of winter weather rolls around? Whatever your real estate goals may be, we're here to make things easier at every step of the way.Tags:
