Making a home more cosy

[Boredofbeinganadult]

Hi, I am bored to death of my living room/kitchen but have no idea what to do to make it a more welcoming and cosy space. It’s open plan and quite a big space, it has potential to look so nice but I’m boring and don’t know how to make it look better. It’s a really odd shape too.
my walls are boring white. Any tips on how to make it more cosy and on a budget? Any ideas appreciated

Lots of pictures.
Side lamps rather than overhead lighting.
Bring in some colour.
Rugs

Use furniture to section the living area off - don't push furniture against the walls. Low lighting. Cushions, texture, a footstool. A rug in the area that isn't the kitchen.

We need a picture or diagram really.

Plants and fresh flowers.
Soft furnishings such as cushions, throws and rugs in cosy rich jewel colours.

Add natural materials, like wood or plants or flowers, make sure they’re a good size for the room. Some kind of art on the walls, again the right size. Then textured items like throws or rugs or blankets. Look up rooms on Pinterest that you want your room to look like and “copy” the bits you like

Nice curtains, rug, picture on the walls, cushions, candles

I could post a picture but don’t judge haha

Texture and lighting make a big difference. Rugs, cushions, flowers and plants (real or really good imitation) and lots of side lights and lamps. I think Abigail Ahern does this really well, I’d recommend browsing her Instagram and blog for ideas.

Change the walls from white to cream.

Look on Pinterest for ideas. It's how you place things and include green plants and group photos together..

What aspect does it have, and how much light does it get? How much are you prepared to change — flooring, furniture, lighting etc?

Fairy light vase. I bought a glass vase, some pebbles and fake foliage and entwined some warm fairy lights around them and it's very calming. Has to be a clear vase to show the lights off fully.

We need to see the space and maybe a floorplan!

But in general, rugs, throws and lamps (no big light EVER) help a lot.

Not for everyone but I have a large wicker basket with rolled up fleecy throws that we use in the evening. Aside from being useful, it makes the room look more homely.

Pictures, lamps, cushions, rugs, blankets on the sofas, ornaments, plants.

This looks such a good potential for a cosy space! I would get a nice chunky oak piece of furniture in the bother and done curtains/blinds in a neutral colour. Add a plant/vase of flowers, lamp and a picture in a nice chunky frame.

Wooden tv stand, round rug, thicker curtains, large prints on the wall, plant, side table with lamps, blanket and cushions. As others have said, natural materials and textures.

Oh and blinds if you haven’t already😊It could look like a lovely cosy space quite easily. Dunelm is great for the bits I mentioned above.

Thank you so much, I’ll have a look around

Hang the curtains higher and it’ll make that space feel bigger.

You need a much bigger rug.

I would also swap furniture for wood, mango or oak so soften the white

Lots of soft lighting and plants

It’s a good space, just needs warmth for that cosy feeling 😊

Oh and coving & ceiling roses are inexpensive & fairly easy to DIY

I’d also switch out the lamp shade for a diffusing shade if you use the main light a lot

I agree with moving the curtain rail higher and buying longer curtains. It will make a huge difference.
Also buy a much bigger rug. That one makes the room look bare.
And I would put a table for craft or a chest of drawers or drinks cabinet or something pretty for storage to the side of the sofa in that empty space.

Can you move the radiator? I’m assuming that’s why you keep the curtains open so as not to lose the heat — putting radiators under windows is unhelpful. If you move it to another wall, then you can buy heavy, beautiful curtains. What direction do those windows face? Are you prepared to change the wall colour? It looks rather under-furnished. What about something in the corner beyond the sofa? A shelving unit, bookshelves? You could put the things on the windowsill on it.

The lighting is the other thing that will make a big difference. A nicer standard lamp, a table lamp on a low shelf or table. And yes, a far bigger rug, oriented to the sofa/sofas, not the TV. And things on the walls, not just the children’s art.

Depends on budget! With that room I would:

• change the curtains- as other said raise higher, nice thick cream colour and perhaps have two pairs (one per window) to show that you have two windows!
• change the sofa and furniture black looks very stark. Nice wooden TV stand and coloured fabric sofas or neutral colour
• get rid of rug and get one about 4 x bigger. Either nice neutral colour or go for something patterned with colour in that can be picked out in cushions etc
• change the lampshade to something bigger and perhaps natural material- rattan or similar?
• side lights- nice standing lamp giving some warmer light
• take taped up pics off the wall (my kids do this haha) and get some nice wood framed prints it photos and add a bit of interest.

Sounds a lot but could be done cheaply at Dunelm or ikea etc. if the sofas and furniture need to stay understandable I’d add those other soft touches including the odd bit of black to the other bits still tone in.

Yes a much larger rug, matching tv cupboard and maybe sideboard between the sofa and window, plants, lamps, & cushions to coordinate with the rug.