How to add a sense of warmth and comfort to your home

The light, airy look that suits summer starts to feel a little bare once the clocks go back. As the evenings get longer and darker, most of us want something softer underfoot, warmer to look at, and more inviting to come home to.

The good news is that it takes very little to shift the whole feel of a room. Here are the changes that make the most difference.

Get the lighting right

Lighting does more for atmosphere than almost anything else, and overhead lighting is rarely the answer in winter.

Switch to lamps in the evening. Two or three table and floor lamps placed around a room create pools of light that feel far more relaxing than one bright light from the ceiling. Choose warm white bulbs rather than cool white, and use dimmer switches where you have them.

Candles need little explanation, but placement matters. A cluster of different heights on a mantelpiece or a tray looks better than one candle on its own. String lights are not only for December, and a set tucked along a bookshelf or around a mirror gives a gentle glow all season.

Start with warmth underfoot

Cold feet will undo any amount of blankets, so this is the place to begin. A large rug in a well-chosen spot changes a room immediately, both in how it feels to walk across and in how it looks.

Go bigger than you think you need. A small rug floating in the middle of a room tends to look lost, while a generous one that sits under the front legs of your sofa anchors the whole seating area. Wool, jute and thick pile all work well, and a rug is particularly worthwhile over tiles, laminate or floorboards.

A runner in a hallway or a smaller rug beside the bed gives you the same effect in the spaces where bare feet notice it most.

Layer up your textiles

Layering is what separates a room that looks warm from one that simply is. Throws over the arm of a sofa or folded at the end of a bed, cushions in different textures, and heavier curtains at the windows all add depth.

Mix the materials rather than matching them. A chunky knit throw next to a linen cushion and a velvet one reads as comfortable and considered. Wool, boucle, corduroy and sheepskin all bring warmth that cotton on its own does not.

Curtains are worth a particular mention. Swapping thin blinds for full-length lined curtains makes a room feel instantly softer, and it keeps the warmth in once you draw them at dusk.

Bring in scent

Scent is the first thing people notice when they walk into a house, and the easiest thing to change. Cinnamon, clove, apple, ginger, orange, cedar and vanilla all suit the season.

Candles and reed diffusers are the obvious route, and candles made with natural wax and essential oils tend to give a cleaner, more pleasant scent than heavily fragranced ones. There are simpler options too. A pan of water on the hob with orange peel, a cinnamon stick and a few cloves fills a kitchen beautifully, and fresh rosemary or eucalyptus in a jug by the sink works all week.

Choose a richer colour palette

Deeper, warmer colours do a lot of the work for you. Burnt orange, terracotta, ochre, deep green, plum and warm neutrals all feel right at this time of year and sit comfortably alongside the colours you already have.

You do not need to repaint. Cushions, throws, a vase, a lampshade or a stack of books in these tones will shift the feel of a room for very little. If you do want to paint, a single wall or an alcove in a deeper shade adds warmth without closing the space in.

Natural materials help too. Wood, rattan, stone and ceramic all bring warmth that painted surfaces alone do not.

Style the spots that draw the eye

Every room has a place the eye lands first, and giving that spot some attention lifts everything around it.

If you have a fireplace, the mantelpiece is the obvious focal point. A mirror or a piece of art above it, a few candles, a vase with seasonal foliage, and perhaps a small stack of books is all it needs. Branches of eucalyptus, dried grasses, rosehips or bare twigs collected on a walk all look lovely and cost nothing.

A bookshelf is the other easy win. Grouping books by colour, turning a few to face outward, and adding a candle, a plant and a small object or two makes a shelf feel deliberate rather than simply full.

Keep the warmth where you want it

A few practical touches support the cosy feel rather than working against it. Draw your curtains at dusk to hold the heat in, and make sure furniture is not pushed up against your radiators, since a sofa in front of one absorbs the warmth meant for the room.

A draught excluder at the foot of an external door is a small thing that makes a noticeable difference to how a hallway feels. Our guide to saving energy at home has more on keeping your home warm through the colder months.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make my living room feel cosy? Start with a large rug, add layered throws and cushions in different textures, and switch from overhead lighting to lamps with warm white bulbs in the evening. Heavier curtains and a few candles finish the look.

What colours make a room feel warm? Burnt orange, terracotta, ochre, deep green, plum and warm neutrals all add warmth. You can introduce them through cushions, throws and accessories rather than repainting.

How can I make my home cosy on a budget? Rearranging lamps, adding a throw and some cushions, grouping candles together, and bringing in foliage from a walk all cost little or nothing. Simmering orange peel and spices on the hob is a free way to make a home smell wonderful.

How do I make a rented home feel warmer? Focus on things you can take with you. Rugs, lamps, cushions, throws, curtains and candles all make a significant difference without any permanent changes to the property.

What is the quickest way to make a room feel more inviting? Change the lighting. Turning off the overhead light and switching on two or three lamps transforms how a room feels in seconds.

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