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However, all is not lost! The end of summer means cosy season is nearly upon us, which translates to hot chocolate by a toasty fire, pumpkin spiced candles flickering through the evening, and the return of snug woolly jumpers and cool chunky boots!

These in-betweeny months are also the perfect time to incorporate change into our homes, whether that be small tweaks, like swapping out the sofa cushions to reflect the seasons, or a whole room refurb.  

In this blog we’ve compiled a couple of ways to really cosy up your living room in time for the latter ‘ber’ months!

Embrace Patterns and Prints: The addition of patterned fabrics or a printed wallpaper can completely transform a room. 

When it comes to making your space snug and winter-friendly, think of more traditional designs such as gingham, stripes and busy florals. A really great way to create a cosy aesthetic is to layer up on different patterns to infuse depth and character. If this sounds a little daunting try sticking to this rule of thumb when choosing which fabrics/wallpaper to combine together: a large scale print, a small scale print and a geometric pattern such as a check or stripe.

iLiv - Chalet collection

Choosing Your Colour Palette: Your paint choices are just as key as your pattern choices to shaping your warm and homey interior! That’s not to say that you’re limited on options though; most colours can be manipulated to create a cosy atmosphere,  as long as you bear in mind other colours that will be working alongside it, plus the lighting and furniture. We’ve tried to narrow it down a little here and provided a couple of general routes you could think about going down: 

Pastel shades can certainly have their place in a cosy living room, as the muted tones are calming and easy to live in. If you’re veering towards a pastel aesthetic, try decorating the room with natural (or natural looking) materials such as wooden furniture or woollen cushions, so that the space will look romantic and traditional rather than clean cut and contemporary. 

Studio G - Northwood collection

Some soft Little Greene colours perfect for including in a cosy living room:

Chemise (139)                                       Delicate Blue (248)                                    Green Stone - Light (269)  

For those who prefer a bolder interior look, dark and rich colours can be just as successful in creating a comforting space. Bold doesn’t have to mean bright; strong yet slightly muted shades are visually soothing - think jewel toned greens, deep navy blues, and opulent reds. Try pairing them with contrasting neutrals to balance the look, or alternatively go all out and colour drench the walls, woodwork and ceiling to really cocoon the space!

Some statement Little Greene colours that are still easy on the eye:

Baked Cherry (14)                             Deep Space Blue  (207)                             Mid Azure Green (96)              

Colours reminiscent of the natural world will always evoke feelings of tranquillity and relaxation, therefore earthy shades will help your room to feel inviting and cocooning. Forest greens, orangey reds, and deep browns are just a couple of examples that will help to envelope a space and connect you to soft, rustic landscapes. 

Some earthy Little Greene colours to help your interior feel warm and welcoming:

Tuscan Red (140)                                  Chocolate Colour (124)                                 Sage Green (80)

Little Greene - Chocolate Colour

“Cottagecore”: Our next shop window display is heavily influenced by the Cottagecore aesthetic that took the internet by storm in 2018, and has continued to be seen throughout social media platforms since. It is based on a romanticised view of simple, English countryside life and embraces a traditional, quaint and rustic interior feel - perfect for if you’re wanting a cosy living space! 

A living room inspired by the Cottagecore trend will often boast layered patterns, soft colours and plenty of plants. Try not to overthink what furniture and decorations you adorn the space with  - the more ‘clutter’, the cosier it will feel! A room full of seemingly mismatched things will appear full of life and character, so if it’s feminine, floral or vintage inspired, throw it in! 

When it comes to choosing your wallpaper and fabrics, think busy botanicals, romantic woodlands, and folky fairytales. For our window display prints we have delved into the world of William Morris, as we thought their traditional yet unapologetically bold designs would really fit the bill. If Morris isn’t for you however, Little Greene’s Spring Flowers wallpaper from their National Trust collection, or Abbeville courtesy of Sanderson’s Country House fabrics range would make the perfect starting point!  

Morris & Co  - Bedford Park collection

If you’re using the changing of seasons to update your home’s decor, why not pop into our Milners store and have a chat with one of our lovely interior staff members to get the ball rolling? If you’d rather we leave you to flick through our many sample books, our first floor is the perfect place for you to sit down and have a good browse, simply give us a shout when you’ve found what you’re looking for. 😊