How to make your living room cosy for autumn
After such a hot summer, there’s something quite appealing about cosiness. That feeling of being able to snuggle up under soft layers, put the side lamps on and just enjoy being indoors for a while. Here are our best cosy living room ideas to help get you in the mood.
Clean your space
Winter can mean a long time of having doors and windows shut to keep out the cold, so take this opportunity to air out your home while it’s still warm outside. Shake out and wash any throws and cushions, hoover the sofa and dust your surfaces. One of the most effective things you can do is clean your windows inside and out. After months without rain, you might be surprised at just how thick the layer of dust is.
Starting your transformation for autumn feels great when you’re working with a spotlessly clean canvas.
Declutter and streamline
People accumulate clutter quickly, sometimes without even realising it, so having a couple of ruthless clear-outs each year is worth your time. If you go by the mantra that you should only have things in your house that are beautiful or useful – or as Marie Kondo might say, things that ‘spark joy’ – you can’t go far wrong.
If storage space in your living room is at a premium, you might want to consider investing in some fitted furniture to maximise your space. Our fitted living room furniture can make the best use of alcoves, bays and any awkward spaces, giving you a streamlined look and plenty of space to hide things away. From the traditional lines of our Hatton range to the more contemporary handle-less Avon, there are plenty of choices when it comes to style.
Choose an autumnal scent
Warm, cosy living room ideas always need to include a scent, and autumn has some great ones. Rich-scented candles and diffusers with notes of spice and orange will help create the ultimate cosy haven. Electronic room diffusers are great for creating more stable and long-lasting aromas, while candles look gorgeous as well.
Opt for autumnal colours
Autumnal colours are famously warm in tone. Modern cosy living room ideas often revolve around the colour scheme, which features rich, earthy tones such as browns, yellows and burnt oranges.
You don’t need to redecorate the room entirely – unless you want to. Instead, invest in some key accessories to tie the look together. Cushions and rugs are a great way to introduce new colours to a room, while lampshades and vases can make an easy instant change.
Sometimes it’s as simple as bringing a bunch of autumn flowers into the room and using that as your inspiration. Decorative lantern flowers are a perfect choice.
Think texture
There’s nothing cosier than curling up on the sofa beneath a warm blanket. It’s one of the best things about the change of seasons. Textures add depth and richness to a room, so think about variety if you’re kitting it out with new soft furnishings. Chunky knits, sheepskin and thick pile rugs all work well together, and you could bring in some velvet cushions for an extra touch of luxury.
You can carry this right through into your accessories too. Mirrored or clear glass picture frames contrast nicely with all the fabrics, and some crystals in your light fitting can add some sparkle.
Invest in additional lighting
The key to creating a cosy living room is a few strategically placed lamps. As the evenings get darker, turning on a lamp can make everything feel okay.
Traditional side lamps with covered fabric shades always look classic. Coloured glass bases are popular right now and work especially well in rust or amber tones. But if you want something a bit different, you could try a salt lamp as they add a gorgeous warm glow.
Let Hammonds help you
If you want to revamp your living room in time for cosy autumn evenings, book a design visit with one of our experts. They can help you create the perfect streamlined space.