How to warm up a room?

[Nospringflower]

I have decided I am going to do up our living room and I want it to be warm and cosy. So, I am going to get new bigger radiators but not sure how to decorate it - was thinking velvet settees might be warm looking and maybe a plant and new larger TV. Anyone got any good ideas for warming up a room? I will get a rug but so far the dog has always puked or shit on it and I have throw them out so it seems a waste of cash! Thanks.

[SunnySomer]

Is it physically cold now, or just cold looking?
To warm up our physically cold living room we: double-glazed the (draughty single glazed) window; had thermal linings put in the curtains; insulated the floor (draught blowing up from cellar); replaced dead gas fire with wood burner. We do have velvet sofas, but I'm not sure how they'd cope with dog sick.
Also bled the radiator - that made a big difference!

[Nospringflower]

It is both! We looked at getting a wood burner but the design of the house / roof means it cant relaly be done so we are going to get larger radiators and a rug to try and make warmer plus also get new curtains and paint the walls which are currently nearly white and cold looking.

The room has 3 outside walls and the floor is just above concrete so cold as well. The dog isnt often sick but when it is it seems to choose the rug to do it on so think the velvet sofas should be safe! I was looking at sofa.com and they had ones that were a sort of purply colour that I thought might be a warm shade but not sure - I have a vision in my head of a sumptuous cafe style but not sure that I can translate my vision to reality!

[girlelephant]

Giving a mix of looking and being warm here too.

Agree with PP re new windows if you need them.

We have leather sofas as i regularly spill things! But we have furry cushions on top and on the three-seated sofa we have a folded up throw. Sometimes it's not cold enough to need the heating on but it's nice to cuddle up under a throw.

I also think candlelight adds a nice warm/romantic look to a room. The colour of the paint or wallpaper also makes a big difference to a room looking warm.

Do you have a fire? Can one be added? Can you change light bulbs to a warmer tone

[girlelephant]

PS recommend looking at Pinterest for ideas of pulling colours together

[girlelephant]

Sorry X posted!

[Nospringflower]

Our windows are fairly new so cant change them (and they arent draughty) but I do need to change the lighting to try and improve it.

I dont really know how to use pinterest! Whenever I put in search terms e.g. warm velvet sofas it just seems to come up with millions of pictures and most are not what I like - is there more to it that I should be doing?!

I know I need new sofas, a rug, lighting, pictures, paint the room, new tv, maybe a plant, the odd table etc and yes, candles do look nice. My problem really is how to decide on what and how to put it together - the room is round and open to hall which further complicates matters!

Thanks

[SunnySomer]

I got sofa.com sofas and they're really good as well as being good value. Check the cleaning instructions of whichever fabric you go for: we got cotton velvet (liked the colour) without realising it must not get wet. I think other velvets might be more forgiving.

With paint: don't assume that darker necessarily feels warmer - it all depends on the light coming into your room. It's worth painting some samples onto pieces of lining paper and putting them up on the wall to see how the light reflects off different colours in your space.
I'm not a very good Pinterest user either, I think the idea is you take the images that you actually DO like and pin them onto your mood board. So your sofa shape and fabric colour, then try "ambient lighting living room" and see what comes up.... pin anything that appeals until you come up with images of everything you think you're aiming at

[Artandco]

Add rug to a wall hanging for actually keeping heat in room a bit and decor

[wobblywonderwoman]

I would be inclined to get a leather suite for the simple reason being keeping it clean - life much easier !!

Loads of texture, cushions, throws, candles

Keep the room simple but maybe a nice glam mirror with candelabra to add to it

[wobblywonderwoman]

This type of idea - still all creams and frets but very warm

[Nospringflower]

That room looks lovely and has made me think I dont need lots of colour just need it to look nice.

I have a leather settee at the moment tho and so will definitely change it to get a change! Also think a nice mirror would be really good.

Thanks for all the suggestions so gar!

[wobblywonderwoman]

You know aldi gave a lovely lamp coming in that is a tripod type.. Would work well. What about a grey fabric sofa and Greg stripe cushions and textured throw.

I bought a mirror recently in a window pane style (melody maison) and I am going to place a large vase of lillies in front.

[ChishandFips33]

Textures, soft snugly oversized throws, lighting, cushions, candles

We changed our lamps and that makes a big difference

What colours do you like?

[Ellypoo]

Lamps are a really good way of providing warm, soft lighting as well.

[Ellypoo]

Ops should have rtft! Cushions, rugs, lamps, throws & candles all will make a room feel cosier & warmer.