How to Create a Cosy Living Room in a New Build House

Before and After RevealsHow To
Written By Clare Bolger

As the owner of a period property, people sometimes assume that I prefer to work on older homes that have lots of original features. While it's true that I'm rather fond of a restored fireplace and an original floorboard, I also LOVE designing rooms in new build houses! They're the perfect blank canvas for showing clients what a massive difference clever interior design ideas can make - the transformations can be amazing. There are lots of easy ways to bring new build homes to life and today, I'm sharing the final reveal of a lounge that I designed for some clients near Halifax, together with my top tips on how to make a living room in a new build feel cosy.

The Interior Design Scheme

Before

I've been working with these clients for a few years now and I've already shared the final reveal of their girl's room, boy's room and playroom. They were really keen to add personality to their lounge and transform it into a welcoming, comfy family room where they could all spend time together. 

The Layout

This room is quite a small space and the door is at an angle which can make layout planning quite tricky. The clients had originally positioned their TV opposite the door but that meant there was no room for a large sofa because they'd have to squeeze past it to get in and out of the room. It made much more sense moving the TV to the door wall which meant that we could have a large 4 seater sofa facing it. We also incorporated another small sofa opposite the window.

And now here's the finished room and my top tips for creating a cosy lounge in a new build property!

1. Go dark 

Painting the walls dark is a great way of creating a cocooning, cosy feel. In a room like this that doesn't get much natural light, lots of people assume that they should go with white walls to make it feel lighter but because there's no light and shadow to bring things to life, that could have made it feel flat. We did the opposite and embraced the dark, opting for bold colours instead. I wrote a blog post a while ago which explains more about how to choose paint colours depending on the natural light in the room.

We kept the colour scheme here simple. The walls and woodwork are painted in Benjamin Moore's Knoxville Gray which is somewhere between green, blue and grey. The Aura Eggshell finish is great for woodwork if you're going dark because, unlike other water based paints, it doesn't tend to chip and it also has a built-in primer so you can save quite a bit on decorating costs. Although the same eggshell tin can also be used on walls, I prefer to use the Aura Matte for a flatter finish.

When going dark in a new build home where the ceilings are low, I usually recommend either:

  • colour drenching the room and painting the walls and ceiling in the same dark colour, or 

  • stopping with the dark colour about 15cm from the top and choosing a lighter colour for the ceiling, continuing it down over the top of the wall. That's what we did here.

Both of these techniques blur the line between the wall and ceiling so that the ceiling feels higher.

2. Add lots of texture

The existing grey carpet was in really good condition so the clients decided to keep it to save on costs. We added a soft berber style rug to make it feel extra cosy underfoot.

Choosing a sofa fabric in a similar colour to the wall is a great way of making a small living room feel bigger. The Scott sofa from Made.com is in a smooth velvet and it feels super comfy. I chose tufted cushions in different textures to add interest.

And it’s not all about the soft furnishings! Natural elements like rattan are always great for adding warmth and texture. I dotted rattan details around the room in the wall art, wall light and storage baskets. We also added a wall hanging next to the TV.

3. Create history with vintage pieces

Without any original features or old items, new build homes can sometimes feel soulless. That's why I always recommend adding at least one vintage item, whether through furniture or decorative elements. When it comes to furniture styles, the oldest I'd go in a new build is mid-century. While heavy antique furniture like a Victorian dresser, for example, would feel too big and out of place in a new build house, the simple lines and smaller scale of mid-century furniture work perfectly. 

I found the small oak coffee table on Facebook Marketplace and the size is perfect for this room. The teak record cabinet in the corner is in a similar wood tone and both of these items add a lovely warmth in contrast to the walls.

4. Create a focal point with a gallery wall

Walking in to your living room and seeing a collection of artwork that means something to you will instantly make it feel more inviting. Before I start designing a room, I always have a chat with clients about their hobbies and interests to inspire their artwork and final touches. For the gallery wall above the sofa, I chose frames in different sizes and colours to create a more relaxed, informal feel. And it’s also a great opportunity for adding contrasting accent colours.

5. Add different light sources

As well as ambient lighting in pendant lights, incorporating other light sources such as floor lamps and wall lights at different heights makes a space feel much more intimate. I sourced a plug-in wall light for above the sofa to avoid the hassle and expense of getting an electrician to chase cables into the walls. We also incorporated candles for a warm, soft glow in the evenings.

SOURCE LIST

I’d love to know what you think! Let me know in the comments. And take a look at the affordable kitchen-diner reveal for this project here.

If you want to update your living room and you’d like some help, please get in touch. Whether you need a full room design or a quick makeover, my online interior design packages are designed to suit all budgets and I pass on my trade discounts to help make your money go further!

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Clare Bolger
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