The concept of a cosy room is certainly different to every person, but most of us crave a comfortable sanctuary to curl up in at the end of the day. To some that might be a room that radiates a gentle glow, promoting a tranquil way of living, while to others nothing beats unwinding in deep rich colours that are upbeat yet intimate. Here are four schemes, each very different, that result in a warm and inviting space – and all through the power of colour.
For a low-ceilinged room
2024 is exactly the moment to bring earthy colours into our homes. We crave warm tones that will enrich our homes and create cosy sanctuaries away from the modern world, so are drawn to find refuge in the beautiful natural tones of the earth. Setting Plaster is an uncertain pink named after the blushing walls we so often admire in newly plastered houses, and works whatever the aspect of the space, but has a particularly engaging glow in south facing rooms. The inclusion of small amounts of yellow pigment make it feel soft and timeless and incredibly easy to live with – this colour makes no demands on us – it whispers rather than shouts and gives us a welcoming embrace. To achieve the ultimate in relaxation and prevent the eye being drawn to an uncomfortable contrast with white, it is best used on both walls and ceiling. However, its understated tone begs to be paired with invitingly rich colours like Mahogany on woodwork, enveloping the room in nostalgic comfort. This simple understated scheme, with its roots firmly in the past, has an honesty that results in inviting cosy, calm sitting rooms in which to escape, rest and regenerate.
For a large, airy room
If you want to create a cosy nook in a large room, one of the simplest ways is to break the space down into smaller zones using strong colour to define a more intimate feel in one area. Windows, and any panelling below them, cry out to be painted in Railings, which although strong, is more blue than black, so has a soft relaxed feel that is perfect to define a space in which to work. Creating a cosy zone like this will give the room a focal point, especially when teamed with wildly romantic Cinder Rose on the walls to create a warm dusty feel which works perfectly in dim light – either for a north facing room or in a room used mostly as the sun is setting. To make an even more enveloping interior the colour on the wall should be stopped either at the picture rail, if you have one, or at least 400mm shy of the ceiling. This will lower the ceiling and create a more intimate room, particularly when combined with a soft aged neutral like Shadow White on the top part of the walls and ceiling. Colour used like this is a practical way of creating a sanctuary in the middle of large space and creates a small interior zone that encourages personal growth and evokes a feeling of security.