Preparing your living room for the holiday season

Sep 2 2011 Advertisement Feature

The days are getting colder and, even though it seems as though we’ve barely had a summer, the leaves are turning golden. Before we know it, winter will be setting in, with snow on the ground and dark, dreary, grey days. It’s not all doom and gloom though, there are some fun parts to the winter rolling in, and interior design is one of them.

There’s nothing better than coming home to a cosy, inviting living room and there are some easy ways to revamp your living room ready for the chilly winter months.

If you’re due a new sofa, then winter is a great time to invest in one, as the chances are you will be spending quite a bit of time on it as the evenings get darker. Leather sofas can be a great addition to any living room and their natural, soft material means that you will always be snug. Many people think that leather sofas are cold to the touch but they warm up really quickly, retain heat and feel great against your skin. Fabric sofas also do much the same thing and, if you pick one with large cushions and deep seats, it’s a great place to curl up in front of the TV.

Whatever sofa you go for, or if you keep your existing one, there are some great ways to make it nice and cosy. Old fashioned crochet throws make your sofa a cosy place to snuggle up, or incorporate some shabby chic with patchwork cushions. For a cleaner look, opt for dark chenille throws and brighten up your winter by incorporating one of the season’s biggest trends; primary colours, with some bright cushions.

Wooden and laminate flooring is chic and stylish, but it’s not very practical in the colder climate. Cosy up your living room with a large rug; you don’t need a fireplace to lay it in front of either. Opt for a deep, rich rug that you can really sink your toes into – you don’t want to be hot-footing it across a thin, chilly rug to reach the sofa. Keep things nice and snug with a deep, warming colour like burnt orange or a rich, ruby red and remind yourself of those summer sunsets.

Lighting is really important in the living room. You don’t want it to feel cold and sterile like a hospital ward, so avoid bright spotlights and uncovered bulbs as they won’t make your living space warm or inviting. Instead opt for softer lighting. Candles are a great way to bring warmth to your room and the soft, flickering light will make it everything seem much cosier and are a great alternative if you don’t have a fireplace. If you have kids or pets and candles just aren’t practical, opt for coloured paper lanterns to give a subtle glow to your room, or go for low wattage light bulbs in an uplighter to bring a bit of light without making your room too stark and bright.

So, there you have it – a cosy living room, ready for the cold winter months.