How to Create a Cozy Living Room Without Spending a Dime

Whether you like to curl up under a warm blanket on snowy or rainy days, or you’re the type who likes to rest during warm summer nights, having a cozy room is a must. There’s nothing better than enjoying the time with your family in a room that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. It’s not important whether it’s small or large because every space can be transformed into a restful piece of heaven. You don’t have to spend a dime on an interior designer or on brand new furniture and ornaments to do this. You just need to balance a couple of things here and there, and you’ll create a cozy room in a second.

How to choose colors

You can’t plan a peaceful room and then leave your walls painted in bright or dark tones. When it comes to choosing wall colors, opting for pastel and neutral shades is what you need to do in order to create a restful surrounding. Choose a color that will suit you the most and pay special attention to the furniture and details you are going to add later. You can even find patterned wallpaper and cover one wall in inspirational quotes or a peaceful landscape to avoid having all the walls look the same. Two-toned walls painted in complementary tones will set the mood and create a warm feeling for your warm atmosphere. If you find that you want to add a few stuff, you can search through your old things, re-purpose and repaint them DIY style to save on costs.

Comfy furniture is the key

After setting the tone with wall colors, you can continue with choosing everything else and keep this neutral/pastel spread through the entire room. Having a huge ottoman instead of a coffee table is practical, but it can also be a great feature for the relaxing flow you’re creating. An elegant piece of furniture, such as this one, can elevate the look and come in handy when you’re looking for a spot to leave your books or a hot cup of coffee. The centerpiece of the room should be a great and comfy sofa, so try to find one that not only looks great, but is also a place where you’d like to relax all day long. You can place a relaxing chair next to it and cover them both with some interesting materials. The upholstery fabric you choose can help you create a nice harmony and change the overall design of your room.

Use textures where you can

Layering different materials may seem like just adding clutter, but on the contrary, it creates depth and, therefore, a cozy feeling. Just imagine a sofa covered with a blanket, a small fluffy rug on top of another rug, and comfortable fabric over your entire furniture. The texture isn’t just about adding a few rugs and blankets. Go a bit further and incorporate a few woven hanging decorations or place some textile boxes for your magazines. Don’t choose plastic window shades, but be creative and find a material that will complement the rest of the room – create a curtain, for instance, or pick a simple white curtain with some fabric along the ends.

Lighting is important

Although it’s often forgotten in the interior design, lighting is pretty important when you want to set a certain tone of the room, especially a cozy one. With everything being laid back, this part is no exception. Adding lamps and candles and spreading them across the room will create a romantic feeling, boosting the calmness of the ambiance at the same time. With a little help of artificial lighting, you can add warmth to your room. The overall sense of coziness can also be set with dimmers which are a great option if you can’t decide on the amount of lighting you’d like to add.

Display what you like

If you’re a true bookworm, then a bookcase filled with your favorite titles is a great way to create a relaxed atmosphere. Pile some magazines on the bottom shelves so they’re easy to reach when you want to leaf through them. Decide how you’d like to organize your shelves and make sure you don’t just place books randomly, without any order. Show off your collection and make everyone jealous of your love for books and the amount you have. Stack a few of them on your coffee table or an ottoman, and enjoy reading them with your feet up.

Mixing softer elements with the things you turn to when you want a moment for yourself is the key to creating a place where you can forget all your troubles. Every family needs that one special room to spend time together and why not make it a comfortable and enjoyable, too? You can apply these tips to every room in your house, but the family room is the place where the members are all together and emphasizing that bond is crucial. This little retreat will gather the family and you’ll be blessed with new memories created in your new nest.

Written by Emma Joyce

Emma B. Joyce is blogger based in Australia. She is a true home decor and DIY fanatic. Emma is interested in music and also is a big reading enthusiast. Finding new designs and patterns is her daily task. She got hooked on home accessories and decorations during her traveling and now cannot stop searching for new inspiration.

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