Let’s face it: living rooms were put on this earth to provide comfort. Do we love a pristine linen sofa paired with an elegant marble coffee table? Yes. Are we all about a thoughtful collection of art displayed intriguingly in an open bookcase? Of course. But at the end of the day, what you most want from your living room: a supremely cozy space that you never want to leave. Because while not only is this the venue for your next book club or chic cocktail night in, we often book the living room for Chinese take-out and our latest Netflix binge (Inventing Anna, anyone?). It’s arguably the space where coziness needs to reign, both for you and your guests.

With that, we tapped Havenly designer Brady Burke for the stylish and practical cozy living room ideas he always comes back to. From ambient lighting to color palette, he has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Here’s exactly how to design a next-level cozy and comfortable living room for the ages:

1. Cozy Living Room Ideas: Textiles

A room simply cannot feel cozy without ample textiles, from rugs and upholstery to pillows and throws. This is an especially important design element in a living room. Try pairing oversized throw pillows with a plush wool rug and chunky knit throw blankets to give your space a warm, cozy vibe (just add Netflix). 

Neva Home Faux Fur Pillow // Loma Threads Abbot Rug // Collective Weavers Serin Blanket

Cozy Living Room Ideas: Lighting

Overhead lighting just isn’t going to cut it when trying to create a cozy, ambient space. It’s all about the soft, eye-level lighting here — start with table and floor lamps to give the room a cozy glow. For overhead or wall lighting (like can lights, chandeliers, and sconces), install dimmers to control the amount of light in the room. Finally, swap bright lightbulbs for lower wattage bulbs. 

Arlo Home Orla Table Lamp // Arlo Home Barrett Wall Sconce // Cove Goods Fremont Lamp

3. Cozy Living Room Ideas: Furniture

Cozy upholstery works wonders when trying to soften a space, particularly on a traditionally angular piece like a coffee table. Consider an oversized ottoman to infuse the space with softer materials like cotton or leather, and add a large tray on top for drinks, books, candles, and the like. 

CB2 Tufted Ottoman // Cb2 Leather Ottoman // Maren Home Discus Boucle Ottoman

4. Cozy Living Room Ideas: Color Palette

From warm neutrals to earth tones, some color palettes just feel cozier than others. Try infusing your home with warm tones like burnt orange, beige, soft sage, and rusty red to give the space an earthy, calm vibe. Warmer materials like leather and wood pair beautifully with these trending earth tones and will add to the natural, inviting atmosphere.

West Elm Hamilton Leather Chair // Crate and Barrel Dean Coffee Table // Collective Weavers Terra Vibe Rug

5. Cozy Living Room Ideas: Window Treatments

Window treatments are a must when curating a cozy space. Not only are they necessary from a practicality standpoint (bright lighting and zero privacy? No thanks), drapery makes a space feel polished and put together. Consider natural woven shades with cotton drapes — doubling up on window treatments elevates the design while washing the room in comforting textiles. 

Pottery Barn Riviera Stripe Drape // Pottery Barn Emery Roman Shade // Havenly Essentials Linen Drapery

6. Cozy Living Room Ideas: Collection

Large swaths of blank wall space can make a living space feel cavernous and cold, even if you have a smaller home. Add warmth and soul with built-in bookcases, floating shelving, or an etagere and fill it with collected books, personal heirlooms, family photographs, greenery, and the like. Want to go even cozier? Style in a few folded wool, waffle, or cotton blankets for a touch more softness.

Lulu & Georgia Apolline Curio Cabinet // Pottery Barn Livingston Bookcase // Cove Goods Otis Etagere

7. Cozy Living Room Ideas: Accents

Don’t get us wrong, bold color schemes can still have their rightful place in the coziest of living rooms. Take the color and dial up the comfort factor with ultra-soft fabrics like velvet or plush kick-off-your-shoes rugs. But to keep the space feeling more cozy than chaotic, make sure to strike a balance with a base of neutral tones, offset by some pops of vibrant color and pattern.

West Elm Flame Rug // Article Sven Chair // Roam Common Architecture Print

Want to take your living room to next level coziness? Our designers are standing by with swoon-worthy ideas and decor recommendations. Let’s get started.