One of the best things about Christmas is snuggling on a sofa with a cozy throw in front of a roaring fire in a beautifully decorated living room. Picture the scene: you’re resplendent in your favorite Christmas outfit, glass of mulled wine in one hand, mince pie in the other while the snow falls steadily outside . . . Okay, we can’t guarantee a White Christmas by any means, we can help you to transform your living room into a sanctuary of warmth, coziness and festive cheer.

Sofas

A comfortable sofa is a prerequisite in any living room – you’re never going to be able to relax on a wooden bench or an alleged ‘design-classic’ chair, so you may as well go all out and choose a plush sofa you can really sink into and lose yourself. Consider getting two for the price of one and opting for a stylish sofa bed – that way, you can flake out if you’ve tucked into too much turkey or if you fancy a festive film. Don’t forget to strew your sofa liberally with copious cushions for additional comfort and joy.

Throws

A cozy throw draped over your sofa adds a tasteful and toasty touch to a living room (and can hide a multitude of sins). Snuggle down and relax on your sofa under a cozy knitted throw that is both snug and sophisticated. If you want to get more festive, try a throw that has a festive red-and-white color scheme, adding instant seasonal feel to your room.

Rugs

Adorn your carpets or un-cozy wooden floors with an expansive rug or two – they’re perfect for padding around on in your socks and will add extra warmth to your living room. Choose a long, slender runner if you have a corridor with naked floorboards and consider investing in a large, soft pile rug for the space in front of the fireplace.

Lighting

If you’re looking for soft and ambient lighting, fluorescent strip lights are never going to be quite the job. Always opt for soft lighting in your living room – table or floor lamps emanate a warm glow which is lustrous but never overpowering. String up a few rows of twinkling festive fairy lights around the room and you will be filled with immediate festive cheer.

Accessories

You might be surprised at how a few small touches around your living room can create a big impact. Candles at Christmas symbolize good cheer and celebration and are a great way of instantly creating mood lighting. You could create a candle display around your fireplace or on the mantelpiece, accompanying it with holly and berries, pine cones and ribbons. A cinnamon-and-nutmeg-scented candle will make you want to positively devour your living room with its evocative Christmas scent. If you’re nervous about fire hazards, LED pillar candles are a good alternative – they run on batteries and look surprisingly like the real thing with their soft, flickering ‘flames’. Finally, festoon the place with festive flora – in addition to a Christmas tree you could include a few poinsettia or amaryllis plants to complete the splashes of color and warmth in the room.

Follow some of these simple, affordable tips and you’ll have a home that’s the very definition of Christmas cheer in no time!

Photo Sources: 1. Yvonne McFadden LLC, 2. Zuniga Interiors, 3. BHG, 4. The White Company, 5. AMR Design, 6. – 7. Ikea, 8. BHG, 9. Design Associates, 10. Courtney Bishop Design