25 Ways to Make Any Living Room Feel Ten Times Cozier (2024)

There's just something about old books that instantly makes a room feel cozier and more personal. Whether you've been collecting used books for a long time or you've inherited some from family members, consider putting them on display in an exposed shelving unit rather than tucking them away. In this living room designed by Oliver Thornton, they add character and speak to the layered warmth of the furnishings.

If your living room has hardwood floors or stone tile flooring and lots of glass surfaces like this one designed by Caroline Turner, warm it up with super plush seating and rich materials like velvet.

Put out your favorite coffee table books and display interesting items that speak to your favorite places and hobbies. This whimsical and warm living room by designer Scot Meacham Wood incorporates tons of conversation-starters, which contribute to the overall cozy and friendly atmosphere.

This sunny living room designed by Thomas Callaway exudes warmth, despite the grand size and ceiling height. Callaway broke the room into zones to enhance intimacy and then used soft buttery glaze on the walls to give the room a golden glow, and layered rich yet mellow fabrics.

If most of the items in your living room are super contemporary and modern, splice in some more shabby chic elements, like the casual wooden stool in this space designed by Lauren Nelson, and/or incorporate one antique statement piece. Here' the piece in question is a stately grandfather clock.

Verdant greens and leaf motif fabric will make your living room feel more connected to nature. In this living room designed by Alex Kaehler, the nods to nature are even cozier thanks to a roomy upholstered ottoman and tons of natural light. Even though the windows take up most of the walls, she still made sure to fill the corner with a gallery wall for a personal touch.

A modular sofa, white painted paneling, and loose, beachy layered materials give this living room a laidback and cozy personality that still feels sharp. And, because the living room shares space with the kitchen and dining room within a larger open floor plan, Studio DIAA installed a curtain. The semi-sheer fabric ensures plenty of light but also a sense of privacy.

This cozy sitting room in an upstate New York farmhouse by Heidi Lachapelle balances modern touches with restored architectural bones. It features plenty of antiques, evoking cozier, simpler days of yore.

If you have a smaller living room—or if you're in a rental and trying to figure out how to incorporate existing quirks, like funky tiles— take note of this living room designed by Arent & Pyke. First of all, the snug room manages to pack enough seating and surface space in, yet doesn't look overcrowded. And the firm incorporated the eccentric tiles around the firebox by painting light pink columns on the mantel and choosing a gorgeous Art Deco floral rug in complementary colors. The geometric cube table and contemporary lighting modernize the room. The end result proves that it's best to embrace and elevate what you have instead of fighting with it.

While colors can help cozy up a room, it's not the only route. Take this neutral-toned living room by Kristin Fine, for example. Soft and texture-rich upholstery mix with cream paint, rustic wood pieces, and plenty of antique accents to make a surprisingly modern impression. Best yet, Fine demonstrates that you can have a television above the fireplace (movie marathons = instant cozy vibes) without making it the visual focal point. She created custom sliding plaster doors, and the asymmetrical design makes them look like abstract art.

Mirroring all your walls to bounce light is a sure-fire way to make a room feel bigger. And we're here for that design trick, but we also love that designer Benjamin Dhong did so in a way that doesn't stifle the cozy feeling of a small space. The green monochrome approach prevents the room from looking busy while a distressed treatment on the fireplace mantel and rich velvets warm it up.

A chunky knit throw blanket, a leaning ladder to display and store extra textiles in a dimensional way, and plenty of plush throw pillows bring a softness to the edgier elements in this living room designed by Jeffrey Dungan, like the coffee table and sideboard.

A warm wood piano will automatically make a grand living room a cozier angle since it encourages gathering and general merry-making. Corals, grays, and brass tones work well to give this living room designed by Mona Hajj a more dynamic yet also more approachable color story.

A scraggly stone fireplace surround, rustic exposed beams, and layered rugs make this living room approachable and comfy enough for the whole family to enjoy—even, especially the dog!

This living room designed by Brigette Romanek makes another strong case for wall-to-wall bookshelves. The iridescent velvets and plush Art Deco carpet make the room feel like your kindest and coolest friend. The svelte-legged seating prevents it from feeling overstuffed.

Nothing puts gets at ease and ready for a good time like a home bar in the living room. Designer John Fondas turned a shallow closet into an out-of-the-way bar nook with tons of wall storage by removing the doors and building-in cabinets as well as side shelves. The nautical and aquatic motifs are perfect for a Palm Beach party house.

A wall-spanning built-in bookcase made of warm wood instantly personalizes this modern living room designed by Studio Shamshiri. Neutral and moody with plenty of nods to nature and big windows that let the light pour in, this living room is both formal enough to entertain guests and cozy enough to really make yourself at home and unwind. We're also digging the accent chaise instead of a classic armchair.

In this Boston Brownstone living room designed by Jae Joo, everything revolves around the fireplace. IF you can't fit a large sectional and a single couch looks awkward slash stifles interpersonal interactions, opt for two extra large and extra comfy club chairs with ottomans. Angle them inward and towards the focal point (in this case, the fireplace), and then put a small side table between them instead of a large coffee table in front of them. Fireside chats ahead!

We've loving the contrast of the whimsical tiles and realist painting that are also somehow complementary because of a shared color palette in this living room by Madeline Stuart. Two small sofas facing each other ensure good conversation, but also provide a cozy spot to curl up with a good book by the fire and natural light.

The sheepskin throw under the coffee table in this living room designed by Christian Burch and John Frenchette brings a softer and deeper element to the space. We're also loving how the pair played-up period pieces, like the Flinestone-esque walls and wood-burning fireplace.