Create a Cosy Living Room

Create a Cosy Living Room

With the weather getting colder and the days getting shorter, you might be thinking about preparing your home for winter. One of the best things you can do to make your home feel warmer (aside from central heating) is to create a cosy atmosphere through your interior design and accessories. The living room is at the centre of most homes, so in this blog, we’ll go through some tips and ideas for how to create a cosy living room ready for winter!

Use a warm colour palette

One of the quickest ways to transform your living room into a warmer and cosier space is to use a warm colour palette. Warm colours have been shown to have the psychological ability to cheer us up and make us feel more comfortable. Rich and deep colours, such as burnt oranges, deep reds and earthy tones are in trend this Autumn and work really well to create a warm atmosphere in your home. Warm tones of blue, containing hints of red, or warm greens with hints of gold can also give your room a snug feel if you’re not a fan of red or orange.

Repainting your walls or large furniture is the best way to create an impact but for a quicker fix, you could just swap out some smaller accessories and furniture items for warmer colours. Check out our door replacement service for a quick and easy way to transform your existing furniture.

Layered thick and soft textures

Another fun way to create a cosy atmosphere in your living room is to layer soft textures and thick materials. The most common way to do this is to use thick blankets and fluffy pillows on a textured sofa or seating area. This could also be achieved by using rugs layered on carpet and decorating with art made from fabric materials, such as macrame.

Layers of soft furnishings are perfect for bringing a cosy living room vibe, but can also help you to balance your patterns with plains and keep your interior looking modern. Read our guide to adding texture to your home.

Top 10 Gallery Walls Inspiration

Create a gallery wall

If you don’t have the time or budget for a full revamp of your living room, you can get clever with wall decor to create a cosy atmosphere. Create a gallery wall using your favourite framed pictures and art prints to add depth and interest to your living room. Filling your wall with imagery will remove the empty space that makes a room feel more spacious therefore creating a cosier vibe. This would also work by creating decorative shelving displaying objects such as books, sculptures and candles. However, you shouldn’t overdo with it decorative items, as your living room will feel cluttered and make it hard to relax.

Use seasonal scents

Scents have been shown to trigger feelings and add to an atmosphere so can be used to add a sensory experience in our home. Why not add some seasonal scents to your living room to create a warm and cosy atmosphere? Winter-warming smells typically include spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg or sandalwood. A popular way to add scents to your home is to use wax burners, candles or reed diffusers that can visually create a homely atmosphere as well as fill the room with a scent.

Cozy Living Room: Tips for Creating a Relaxing and Comfortable Gathering Area - Melanie Jade Design

Choose soft lighting

Lighting is one of the most important elements of creating a cosy living room atmosphere. A harsh white spotlight can immediately ruin an otherwise cosy interior, whereas a warm, dimmed light can help to accentuate a cosy atmosphere. Prioritising table lamps or floor lamps instead of overhead lighting helps to create a more close and homely atmosphere. By creating small areas of warm light you can illuminate certain areas for a function such as a reading corner or a coffee table, rather than brightening the whole room unnecessarily. Another option is to use candlelight and lanterns to create an even more cosy ambience.

 

We hope you enjoyed this blog and feel inspired to mix up your living room interior to create a more cosy atmosphere. If you are looking to read more, take a look at our blog about how to make your bedroom feel warmer leading up to winter.

 

Autumn 2023 Interior Trends

Autumn 2023 Interior Trends

This year, Autumn Interior trends are all about being bold, and colourful with a lot of retro inspiration. With rich colour combinations, vintage finds and a 70’s comeback, you’ll be sure to find a trend that inspires your Autumn interior makeover.

Playful shapes

In contrast to the minimalism trend that has lasted for the past few years, 2023 interior design has been much more exciting. Including bold colour contrasts and interesting shapes, this fun and playful style will continue into Autumn 2023. Think asymmetric sofa shapes, geometric candles and vases and abstract art decor, anything goes! These unique adaptations of traditional home decor add an element of interest to your room that grabs attention and creates a fun and lively atmosphere.

Check out these Bubble Glass vases by Anthropologie.

 

Rich & bold colours

Colour is one of the most important elements in interior design and changing your paint or furniture colours can change the feel of a room instantly. If you’re looking to update your interior colours, an autumn colour scheme can stand the test of time. 2023’s autumn colour trends are based around rich and warm colours that create a cosy atmosphere, perfect for the colder weather. Deep reds and browns make a bold statement and create a feeling of warmth and comfort, especially if used in large amounts, such as for walls and large furniture. If these warm tones aren’t for you, contrasting shades of green have been on trend during 2023 and are set to continue throughout Autumn. A dark green creates a cosy autumnal vibe but can be contrasted with lighter shades such as sage green.

 

Wall-to-ceiling colour

Another 2023 trend that creates a cosy, autumnal atmosphere in your home is wall-to-ceiling colour. Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls enhances a room’s cosiness by creating the appearance of a lowered ceiling making the room feel warmer, especially if using a warm colour paint. If you have particularly high ceilings that make the room feel cold during Autumn, you can use a darker colour on the ceilings to create the impression of a lower ceiling. Terracotta is one of the most popular Autumn shades this year and when used on walls and ceilings it can create a soft, warm light which produces the calming sensation of a sunset.

If you’re looking for more interior tips to make your home feel warmer check out this blog.

Vintage & second-hand finds

With more and more people valuing sustainability and choosing to shop second-hand, buying vintage and second-hand items has become a trend in itself. For Autumn 2023 we are going to see this vintage trend evolve into more of a 70’s style. Rich earthy tones with pops of bright colour and bold geometric patterns. Darker woods and distressed finishes also lend themselves to a 70’s theme and match the rugged and relaxed feel of Autumn. Reclaimed and custom items also make a space feel more personalised and homely.

We hope that you have enjoyed this summary of Autumn 2023 trends and that you feel inspired to give your home a 70’s-inspired Autumn makeover. If you liked this blog, be sure to take a look at some of our other blogs.

 

Our Open Plan Living Guide

Our Open Plan Living Guide

Open-plan living has become increasingly popular because it allows you to move freely between areas. Open floor plans tend to have fewer walls in favour of seamless spaces and zones separated by furniture. This layout creates an attractive environment and allows easy movement from room to room, perfect for a social space or family home. However, whilst an open floor plan can sound attractive, it can also present a few decorating and organisational challenges.

In this blog, we’ll take you through some tips and ideas for planning and decorating an open-plan living space.

Consistency is key

When designing an open-plan living space it is important to consider the whole space as one large room. Paint colours, wood finishes and furniture styles don’t need to be exactly the same, but some consistency is important so that it doesn’t look thrown together and unorganised. However, you might actually want to plan some contrasts and differences to purposely separate certain areas. For example, you could establish a subtle rustic theme that connects all areas but add blue accesories to your kitchen and warmer furniture in your living area.

Edison Kitchen Living Space

Make it cosy

One downside of a large open space is that it might not feel as cosy as a smaller compact room. There are ways to get around this, predominately with strategic furniture placement. For the living room area of your space, group the sofas and chairs closely together and centre them around a focus point to create an enclosed and comfortable space. You can then use soft furnishings such as blankets and rugs to further distinguish a cosy seating area.

Create a flow

Another important factor to consider with an open-plan living space is to make sure there is a “flow” that directs you through the space. Create walkways with enough space to allow you to walk through each area comfortably. Keeping these walkways clear will also help to keep the space looking more organised.

Add dedicated storage

To keep an open space looking organised, it is important that objects are kept stored away in dedicated storage. Especially if your space has been built for entertaining or is a busy family area. By installing custom-fitted furniture you can personalise your storage to your needs and fit it into the space you have available. Storage units can also be a great way to separate areas and provide some structure. For example, you could place a bookcase behind your sofa to divide the lounge and dining areas.

Whether you need a bookcase, a TV unit or kitchen storage, we can help you to achieve an organised open space. Contact us to find out more about our fitted furniture services!

Slat Wall Interior Inspiration

Slat Wall Interior Inspiration

Slat wall panels are a great way to introduce contemporary Scandinavian design into your home and they can be used in any room. The natural wood finishes give a bespoke hand-crafted look whilst creating a modern structure that will balance out a minimalistic room. Wooden Slat Walls create a big impact and look like they have taken a long time to construct, however, they are actually quite simple and easy to assemble.

In this blog, we’ll look at some interior design inspiration for using wall slats in the rooms of your house.

Living Room

A wood slat wall can be used to create a cosy and stylish atmosphere. A popular choice for living rooms, the texture of wood slats creates the perfect sleek backdrop for your seating area and can help you separate areas such as a dining area and lounge area.

Hallway / Entrance Room

Adding a slat wall to your hallway or entrance provides immediate impact when stepping inside your house. A linear layout will help you heighten the visual impact while highlighting a specific area, such as alcove seating or decorative furniture. 

Bathroom

Morning rituals and evening routines are important for mental and physical health, so it’s important to look after your bathroom space. Adding a sleek slat wall will create a luxurious spa-like feeling in your bathroom and help you to wind down at night.

Bedroom

Slat walls can be installed as an alternative to a headboard to draw attention to your bed and give it a hotel-worthy makeover. The slats can be matched to your other furniture or used as a contrasting centre piece. Natural wood textures and a biophilic theme have been shown to help create a calm atmosphere, perfect for sleeping.

If you feel inspired by this blog and like the look of any of these ideas, get in touch to find out more information about our slat walls! Also make sure to check out our other blog posts for more interior design inspiration.

Add Art Deco Design to Your Home

Add Art Deco Design to Your Home

The Art Deco design movement originated in France just over a century ago and influenced everything from interiors to cars to architecture. Recognisable elements of Art Deco design are abstract geometric patterns, vibrant contrasting colours, mirrored panels and stylized imagery of figures, plants and animals.

In recent years, the Art Deco style has remerged into the interior design world and is constantly being re-interpreted and combined with other styles. In this blog, we’ll take you through some key elements of Art Deco in interior design and suggest how you can add Art Deco design to your home.

 

Striking Colours & Bold Contrasts

Art Deco design is defined by vibrant colours and dramatic contrasts. Highly saturated jewel colours such as red, green and blue, are used frequently. Silver, black and gold metallics create rich and glamourous accents. This rich combination is then contrasted and balanced out with more subtle pastel and neutral tones, such as beige and cream.

To add an Art Deco colour scheme to your home, choose dramatic contrasting colours. Start by choosing one or two bright colours; teal green and red or dark blue and orange work well together to create interesting contrasts. Then select gold, silver and/or black for your metallic accessories, and finally pick a neutral pastel colour to balance out the palette

 

Geometric Patterns & Shapes

Art Deco patterns are quite distinguishable, usually made up of geometric shapes, tightly repeated patterns and emphasised vertical lines. Often depicting motifs such as animals, flowers, arches, feathers and fans in a bold line style.

You can make an impact with Art Deco patterns in your home by using patterned wallpapers or geometric tiled flooring. If you prefer a more subtle effect, you could try patterned pillows, art prints or light fixtures.

Art Deco interior in classic style with pink sofa and table

 

The stylised motifs used in Art Deco patterns are also utilised to inspire sculptural furniture and accessory shapes. Sculptures and other works of art were abundant throughout the Art Deco period, so it will complement your theme to add a sculpture or two for decoration. If you have a bigger budget, you could introduce sculptural furniture; curved sofas and waterfall-style consoles create a luxury Art Deco presence.

Art Deco-style lighting is a prominent accessory that can transform your space. Usually, large chandeliers or geometric-shaped pendants are fashioned from steel, polished bronze and glass, often coloured to create a stained-glass effect.

Reflective Surfaces

High gloss surfaces and reflective materials are another important element of the Art Deco style. The rich shine of a lacquered table, a decorative mirror wall or high gloss furniture creates a glamorous and luxurious atmosphere, perfect for an Art Deco interior. Glossy surfaces can be overwhelming so they are more commonly used as accessories or smaller furniture pieces and balanced with patterns or less glossy surfaces.

To add these to your home interior, choose glossy furniture finishes, mirrored tables or metallic accents. Metallics, in particular, have risen in popularity in recent years, so there is an abundance of options when it comes to metallic accessories and furnishings.

Luxury kitchen in art deco style with golden, black and white colours

 

Luxurious Materials

The luxurious feel of the Art Deco style lends itself to working with other elegant and unexpected materials. Interesting wood textures, velvet, crystals, animal prints and marble have all been used to compliment an Art Deco theme.

These materials can be used for large furniture pieces such as a marble worktop or a velvet sofa. Or for a more subtle and budget-friendly option, luxurious accessories such as velvet cushions, crystal decor or marble vases work well.

 

We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and feel inspired to introduce the Art Deco style into your home. Make sure to check out our other blog posts and get inspired by more interior design styles!