As fall approaches and the cold winter weather approaches, it’s important to have a cozy and inviting space to relax. There are many simple updates you can make to make a room feel instantly more inviting, but it also creates a truly warm and inviting space that will last for a long time. Over the years, care and consideration has been given to every aspect of interior design. In fact, creating a cozy, timeless space requires thoughtful decisions about everything from wall and floor treatments to furniture selection, layout, window treatments, and accessories.
If you’re embarking on a decorating project and want to project a lived-in, warm look, you’ve come to the right place as we’ve gathered top tips from experienced interior designers on what to look out for. It can make your home look less inviting (don’t forget our valuable advice on how to make your home look more welcoming).
What causes an interior to feel uncomfortable?
1. Minimalist or overly modern schemes
(Image credit: Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors)
If you want to create a warm, welcoming and cozy home, experts say it’s best to avoid minimalist plans that feature hard surfaces, modern materials, and strong angles. While minimalist planning may look great in a city apartment, it’s best avoided if it’s a sanctuary of peace that you’re looking for.
Cotswold-based interior designer Lauren Gilberthorpe says: ‘Contemporary touches are nice, but too much minimalism, sharp lines and polished finishes can make your home feel cold.’ Let me explain. With experience working with rural and older properties, Lauren is a master at designing cozy rooms, and while minimal design is appropriate, it’s always the best approach for rural properties. I would advise that it is not limited. Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors adds, “Incorporating too many modern materials like shiny metal or polished glass can break up the rustic charm and connection of your home.” Ta.
Conversely, when decorating a country home, it’s important to embrace rustic textures and maintain original features. “Covering or altering a building’s original elements, such as exposed beams, stone, or textured floors, can rob a home of its character. Removing these features can leave a space sterile. It can make you feel disconnected from your roots.”
“It’s important to embrace the original structure of the building. Highlighting the bones of the home, such as attractive textured walls and stripped floorboards, add character and history to the design. These imperfections tells a story and gives the space a lively, authentic feel.”
2. Lack of color and texture
(Image credit: LB Copeland, photo Adam Cain Macchia)
A room without color or texture can feel uncomfortable. In fact, color is one of the most important elements in an interior designer’s tool kit for creating an instantly inviting atmosphere in a room.
“For me, a lack of color or texture can make a home feel unwelcoming. White walls, bright lighting, and neutral, light linens are beautiful in themselves, but they lack true warmth. It doesn’t evoke a feeling of beauty,” explains Louise Copeland, founder of LB Copeland Interior Design. “For the darker months, I like to incorporate rich, cozy colors, different textures, and layered materials to create a more inviting and comfortable space that’s perfect for winter.”
“We made this West Village apartment feel cozy by adding lots of soft textures (like velvet wallpaper) and a dark color palette. It’s not too dark or too saturated, so the space remains calm and doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
Louise Copeland
Founder and Principal Designer of LB Copeland Interior Design
Louise Copeland, founder of LB Copeland, creates timeless interiors that are sophisticated for modern living. Her career began in Jackson, Wyoming, followed by several important years in New York City, collaborating with world-renowned fabric and furniture companies. This experience paved the way for a five-year stint with esteemed AD100 designer Steven Gambrel. Louise went on to found a design firm, LB Copeland Interior Design, in San Francisco and relocated to New York in 2017. Currently based in North Carolina, the firm works on a wide range of residential projects across the United States, from Greenwich, CT to Miami, FL.
3. Poor lighting
(Image credit: Lauren Gilberthorpe/Coombe End Manor)
Cold, clinical lighting, or simply a lack of lighting, can have a huge impact on the mood of a room.
“Bright, cold lighting can flatten a space and detract from the warm, inviting feel that is the hallmark of a cozy home,” explains Lauren Gilberthorpe. “Instead, choose soft ambient lighting or use dimmable options to create a more comfortable environment.”
Many interior designers agree that a thoughtful lighting plan that combines task, accent, and ambient lighting is essential for a cozy living room. In addition to this, make sure you choose the right type of light bulb that emits a warm light, says Gaia Guidi Filippi, founder of Gaia G Interiors. “There are many things that can make a home feel cold, but lighting has to be one of the biggest culprits. In reality, low temperature light bulbs (over 4000 Kelvin) have no place in most homes. Layering is also important, and without multiple types of lighting in your home (overhead, lamps, task lights, art lights), it will inevitably feel unwelcoming.”
4. No window decorations
(Image credit: Tori Murphy)
Window treatments are often overlooked when it comes to interior design, but they should always be considered by interior designers. Not only does it help control privacy and light levels, it also provides a layer of insulation and sound insulation.
“I always feel uncomfortable entering a house with exposed windows, except for more modern houses or houses with great views,” explains Gaia Guidi Filippi. “If you don’t consider different fabrics and textures for your furniture and don’t have rugs on your floors, your home will look like an icebox.”
For the ultimate in cosiness, you can’t go wrong with fabric curtains or Roman blinds. You can also add some welcome patterns. Curtains made of natural materials, especially merino wool, have a very homely and enveloping feel. It’s a beautiful, soft-touch fabric that works incredibly hard to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter,” explains Tori Murphy, designer and founder of the eponymous home brand. “There’s something special about taking time to punctuate your day, drawing the curtains to block out the outside world, and enjoying a warm, cozy night at home.”
5. Decorate with colors that are too cold
(Image credits: Interior: Suzannah Lockwood, Photo: Katrina Lawson Johnson)
A common mistake when choosing paint colors, especially when decorating with neutrals, is choosing a shade that’s too cold for the space. Considering the orientation of the room and the type of light it receives is key to successful decorating. In general, north-facing rooms, basements, or rooms that get little light benefit from using warmer tones of paint to make them feel cozier. Choosing cool colors for these spaces tends to make them feel drab.
“White and light gray, the colors that reflect the most light, can help north-facing rooms make the most of what little sunlight there is and brighten up the space.” Choose warm tones. and bring sun-kissed warmth to a space,” says Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux. Summer linen, natural hessian or pressed putty are all great options for this. South-facing rooms often receive plenty of sunlight, so they can benefit from cooler tones for a little more balance,” adds Marianne Shillingford.
“When choosing colors, it’s also important to consider the function of the room. Bathrooms designed for relaxation often have white sanitary products, a welcome antidote to the overabundance of white sanitary products. You can benefit from a warm color scheme.”
6. Choose furniture that is too small for the room.
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball, photography Boz Gagovski)
The size of your furniture can have a huge impact on the overall feel and feel of a space. Make sure to choose furniture that matches the room you’re decorating so the space doesn’t feel empty. When it comes to the living room, if you have a large room, don’t be afraid to choose a chair that fills the space rather than a few small pieces, as this can make the room feel cluttered. Choosing larger pieces shows confidence and intention when displaying them, creating more impact.
“Reducing the size of a section can make a space feel small, disproportionate, and uncomfortable,” explains Tracy Morris, founder of Tracy Morris Design. “Make sure the sectional takes up a third of the room so it fits in the room. Side tables and lamps should be placed next to the sectional and there should be space to walk around. If the furniture is too small (or If it feels too big, it probably is.
At the end of the day, there are some important rules and don’ts that most interior designers follow when it comes to decorating for comfort. Perhaps the most important way to prevent your plans from becoming cold and sterile is to always consider sufficient light sources and textures to ensure a warm welcome. This especially applies to living rooms and bedrooms intended for relaxation.
There are no rules when it comes to colors, but try to choose a layered and balanced palette. In general, warm, cozy colors work well in rooms that want a comfortable, relaxing feel, but cool colors can also be wonderfully calming and inviting when layered in a balanced manner. .
