How to Add Warmth to a Large Living Room

A large living room can appear cold and uninviting, especially if it is sparsely furnished. It should be cozy and comfy, even if it is exceptionally spacious. Warmer colors not only add warmth, but they also add visual opulence. Various shades of rich red, balmy yellow and spicy orange have the amazing power to turn a cold space into a welcoming area of the home. Costly remodeling is not a requirement. You can add warmth with color and creative furniture arrangement. Paint is one of the least expensive ways to make a dramatic difference in the look and feel of a large living room.

I had a spacious home in eastern Indiana, and it did not initially feel cozy or warm. The walls were painted construction grade white, and the flooring did nothing to improve the look or feel of the home. In my mind it was a blank canvas, and I could not wait to begin painting and decorating to add warmth and visual appeal to the home, especially my large living room. It was the home I had always wanted, but it needed warm splashes of color before it would feel complete.

Add Immediate Warmth With a New Wall Color

Color can make a huge impact in the look and feel of a large living room. Stark white has the power to make a space appear sterile and lifeless. Cool colors have a calming effect, and they are not the best choice when trying to add warmth and vibrancy to a living room. As the name implies, it is a space for living, and it should look and feel welcoming. Use hues from the warm side of the color wheel when decorating the space. They do not have to be bright or deep. Even very light creamy yellow can visually raise the temperature of a large living room by several degrees. I chose creamy topaz for my large living room, and it immediately made a dramatic difference.

Use Living Room Furniture Slipcovers to Add Visual Warmth

After painting my living room walls a rich shade of creamy topaz, my furnishings no longer coordinated with the color scheme of the space. I had used slipcovers in the past, and they would once again serve a very valuable purpose. I purchased fitted coverings in a ruddy shade of burnt sienna. The large space looked as if the seasonal clock had turned back from winter to autumn, and even though it was not complete, warmth radiated throughout the room.

Add Warmth with a Cozy Conversation Area

Since the living room was very large, I had many options when arranging the furniture. I did not want to line the walls and leave the center of the space completely barren. I moved the furnishings out from the wall and created a cozy conversation area around a beautiful area rug. The rug was abstract by design, and it included rich gold, deep maroon and raw sienna. The shapes were trimmed in floral green and creamy beige. It was absolutely beautiful, and it added visual and physical warmth to a large living room that would have otherwise been proverbially cold and visually unwelcoming.

Source: Personal and Professional Home Design and Decorating Experience