Nowhere in the house brings as much warmth and pleasure as the living room. It’s the one place the whole family can come together to entertain guests or just relax.
With winter on our doorstep, a cosy living room is high on the priority list, as the cold is best enjoyed from the comfortable warmth of your home. With that in mind, here are our cosy living room ideas for winter.
Use of Space
When we think of cosiness, we think of small rooms filled with comfy objects and soft lighting. However, you can still make a larger room look cosy with a few tricks. Try building seating around a focal point, such as a fireplace or window to visually reduce the room’s size.
Clever optical illusions with tall living room furniture can also make the space feel smaller. Bookcases and shelving units work well, as they take up space and give the impression of a smaller room. Another great way to break down larger rooms is by creating pockets of activity: a sofa with ottomans in front of the TV, a window-seat or armchair for a reading nook, a desk and chair for working, or a music stand and stool for playing an instrument.
This instantly adds character and personalises the space, while also creating the illusion of several smaller rooms in one. Throw in some soft accessories and furnishings like faux fur throws and cushions for a sense of opulence and even more cosiness.
Lighting
Lighting plays a big part in creating a room’s mood. Every aspect matters, from the bulbs to the shades to the placement. Subdued, low lighting tends to convey more warmth than bright, ceiling lighting – lamps and cleverly placed spotlights are key to achieving this ambience.
Our collection of floor lamps and table lamps includes both modern and antique designs. Whether you go for curved frames, paper shades, sculptural designs, classic styles or striking silhouettes, lamps will radiate warm, natural glows. Even lamps made from cooler materials like concrete or marble will warm up a room, especially with the right bulb.
“Every aspect matters, from the bulbs to the shades to the placement.”
Candles are another good option for making a room look cosy. They emanate a gentle, flickering light that lends a sense of intimacy to your living room. Place them on a mantelpiece, a side table or a decorative tray. Choose candle holders made from materials that enhance the warmth, like ceramics and wood.
Layer & Texture
Layers and textures give your living room depth and warmth. Rugs are an easy way to achieve this, especially if you have tile or hardwood floors. Our rug collection includes sheepskin, wool, viscose and textile blends, designed in patterned, woven, tufted and textured styles. Pick the right shape for your living room – rectangular for a long, skinny space and circular or square for a wider room.
“Maximise visual impact by arranging objects in a slightly haphazard way.”
Too much empty space can make a room feel cold, so fill your living room with ornaments and objects to create a homely feel. Maximise visual impact by arranging them in a slightly haphazard way. Adorn your walls with textured frames filled with artwork and family portraits. Throw together an assortment of playful, mismatched cushions and drape brightly woven throws over armchairs and sofas.
Layer your shelves and tables with ceramic or glass vases and other decorative items like metal bowls, small sculptures and lacquered trays. With these simple tips and some attention to detail, your living room will be cosy and comfy this winter. So snuggle under a blanket on your sofa, curl up with a good book in your armchair, or sip tea at your table – you deserve it!
[ INSPIRATION ]
Trends & Lifestyle
Perfect for an aperitif or a champagne reception, these classic cocktail recipes are sure to get the party started.
Set the standard: Old fashioned
While the Old Fashioned was originally concocted to cover up the taste of bootleg liquor, there’s no excuse for scrimping when it comes to your cocktail. Whether you take yours with brandy, bourbon or whisky, opt for a good quality spirit every time. After all, it’s not like you won’t enjoy a neat serving every now and then.
The method: In a whisky tumbler, stir together a teaspoon of caster sugar, 4 dashes of Angostura Bitters and a splash of hot water.
Next add 3-4 ice cubes to the glass, pour over a shot of your spirit (roughly 25ml) and stir for up to a minute.
Top up with ice and pour another shot of spirit and stir once more. To finish, add the orange peel give it a final quick stir and serve.
Tips & Tricks: The key to a good cocktail - quality ingredients.
From the spirits in the glass to the vessel, invest in the best.
Chill your glasses in the freezer for 10-15 minutes prior to serving for a frosty effect.
To some it may seem kitsch, but cut glass crystal and a garnish of cherries never fails to raise a smile.
Toast with a twist: Raspberry Prosecco
Sommeliers may have felt light headed when news broke last year that sales of Prosecco were outstripping Champagne, but for the rest of us it only confirmed what we already knew.
Sure there’s nothing quite like cracking open a bottle of Bolly, but the new fizz on the block has undoubtedly brought renewed vigour to the cocktail party – the lower price tag giving room for experimentation. Try these fruity mixers and use as a base on which to build your own recipe.
The method: Place 3-4 raspberries in a fluted glass and pour over one part raspberry vodka.
Wet the glass with 1 part Prosecco and allow to fizz for a couple of seconds (this prevents the contents from overflowing) before adding another 3 parts Prosecco.
Tips & Tricks:
Before you even think about mixing your cocktail, make sure the Prosecco is thoroughly chilled! No one wants a tepid glass of bubbles and a warm bottle is also more prone to spray everywhere once opened.
If you really want a frosty glass, try keeping your vodka in the fridge – the high alcohol content ensures it will not become a block of ice (applies to most consumer freezers).
As ever, we stress the importance of investing in a premium spirit - cheaper labels tend to be made using artificial sweeteners rather than infusions of natural fruits and will overwhelm the glass.
Freshen up: Tom Collins
Sure we all love a gin and tonic, but those refreshing junipers were made for so much more. The ideal palette cleanser in the afternoon, evening or night, the Tom Collins is refreshment in a glass.
Invented by the “father of American mixology” Jerry Thomas, this classic gin cocktail dates all the way back to 1876 and has changed little since.
The method: In a cocktail shaker add a teaspoon caster sugar, 2 parts London dry gin and 1 part lemon juice.
Add ice and shake for about 30 seconds before straining into a tall tumbler filled with ice. Top with soda water and a slender lemon slice or curl of lemon zest.
Tips & Tricks:
Always use real lemons, not bottled lemon juice! The aromas and appearance are all part of the theatricality of cocktail making.
If you’re in the market for a clean, unfiltered gin, you can’t go wrong with London based Sipsmith, who make all of their drinks in small batches using traditional copper distilleries.
A favourite of mixologists, we recommended topping up your Tom Collins with spring soda water by Fever Tree.
All of the items featured above are part of Heal’s glassware and barware collections. Back to top
We show you how to squeeze the most from a small space with three Sofa Beds that add new meaning to the phrase functional furniture.
For many the living room is the heart of the home. Yet more than ever, homeowners and renters alike are looking to this relatively small space as an alternative guest room for friends and family. That’s where Modern Sofa Beds come into their own.
Often overlooked, in no small part thanks to unflattering designs of the past, modern Sofa Beds combine the functionality to adapt from day to night with the chic style you would expect from a contemporary sofa.
To demonstrate the elegance and ease of this new breed of Sofa Beds we’ve created three interior styles that are perfect for small spaces.
50 shades: metallic finishes, solid wood furnishings and accents of colour are set against the deep button cushioning and slate grey upholstery of the 40 Winks Sofa Bed.
Studio space: keep your options open plan with the Danish designed Hinge Sofa Bed, just the thing for those into urban loft living.
Mid-century to midnight: this fifties inspired room set brings modern functionality to the fore by using the numerous configurations of the 40 Winks Sofa Bed.
Space at a premium? Clutter taking over your home? Get the most from your space with these versatile storage solutions.
Whether you own your property or belong to generation rent, there are times when we all feel that our home is being held hostage by our stuff. Yet by taking a different approach to storage and display pieces, you can really bring a sense of order to that cluttered or small space.
Shop Storage
Stripped back: George Leaning Mirror, Tra-Ra Clothes Rail (top image), Agnes Long Shelving in Oak (bottom image), Bristol Floor Lamp in Matt Black & Concrete and Zox Flatweave Runner.
Connecting rooms such as hallways and landings can often feel a little bare or even a wasted opportunity, and while it's good to preserve the space, adding a few storage pieces can help to redefine how the room is used. A wall leaning mirror is a great way of opening up the space and alongside a hanging rack turns that thoroughfare that is the hall into a place to get ready before you head out.
On the move: Passe Passe Coat Stand (top image), BrunelLeaning Mirror (bottom image), Brunel Bench with Shelf, Agnes Long Shelving, Bend Table Lamp in Copper and Zox Flatweave Runner.
If you're in need of flexibility or like to regularly give your interior a refresh, go for multifunctional designs (see the Brunel Bench with optional shelf shown above) and pieces that can easily be installed in any room. Freestanding hanging racks and leaning designs provide fuss free alternatives to cumbersome wardrobes and are especially handy when a room lacks built-in storage.
Stripped back: Tra-Ra Clothes Rail (top image), Agnes Medium Shelving in Oak (bottom image), George Leaning Mirror, Agnes Long Shelving in Oak (bottom image), Bristol Floor Lamp in Matt Black & Concrete,Zox Flatweaver Runner.
Designers are always looking to break the rules when it comes to how we use a piece of contemporary furniture, and so should you when designing your decor. Who says a bookshelf should only be used for paperbacks and encyclopedias when it can just as easily provide a practical piece of storage to display your shoes.
Shop Storage
Back to top
Tender is the night when spent with a copy of The Great Gatsby, as Heal's Design Consultant Victoria Rowse explains in her first Everyman's Book Club review.
Over the coming weeks Victoria be will giving her own take on five classic pieces of literature, all of which have been beautifully repressed by Everyman's Library, along the way offering insight and advice on how to develop your interior design by building a library of books. “
F Scott Fitzgerald has a rhythm to his prose that leaves me daydreaming as much of the man behind the tale of Mr Jay Gatsby as of Gatsby himself. A short but passionate read, The Great Gatsby not only gives you the joy of a story that develops characters and plot with expert finesse, but also provides a near autobiographical insight into the author and his time.
“And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.” Neri & Hu furniture for De La Espada, designs that are perfect for any soirée. Written in the roaring 1920's, the book captures the time in which it was written with such livelihood that you cannot help but believe Fitzgerald himself had tasted those same decadent excesses as his subjects.
The characters come to life with such speed and depth that the reader is left totally invested in the lives of Jay Gatsby, and Daisy Buchanan, their grasps at the “American dream” and the resulting chaos that enfold around them.
“Evoking its own tale of music, it could not suit the Jazz age better.”
What is most striking about The Great Gatsby is the rhythm of Fitzgerald's writing. Evoking its own tale of music, it could not suit the Jazz age better. It is a masterful composition that carries the reader along pianofortes, crescendo and right up to the novels grand finale with a passion and energy that is only befitting for a story of decadence, idealism and tenderness in equal measure.
"It makes me sad because I've never seen such – such beautiful shirts before." Bedroom furniture fit for Gatsby's wardrobe from Riva 1920. Now held as a modern literary classic, The Great Gatsby has never gone out of print since its release in 1925.
This latest edition from Everyman's Library is worthy of even Gatsby’s resplendent bookshelves and with limited space in my, let's say, “quirky” London apartment, this book is a great example of beautiful design that helps make a house a home. ”
In search of somewhere to house your growing library? From decadent designs fit for Gatsby's mansion through to more functional furniture, we have classic and contemporary furniture, bookshelves, storage and reading chairs to suit every home.
Shop Now
Back to top
Ever wondered why we need sleep or are you simply tired of restless nights? Let our guide to getting the perfect night’s rest demystify the science of sleep and help you create your very own sanctuary.
We’re all familiar with the old saying ‘there aren’t enough hours in the day’ yet many of us are guilty of not giving our minds the rest it deserves whether that be through lifestyle choice or how much we invest when purchasing Bedroom furniture. So how does sleep improve our day to day lives and what things can you do to make sure you get are getting enough?
The benefits of sleep
While people are happy to shell out thousands of pounds on fad diets, skincare products and their morning coffees, many of us neglect the one thing that is proven to make you happier, healthier, more intelligent, more attractive and add years to your life – sleep! Sleep is something of a biological enigma.
We know we need it but we can’t pinpoint exactly why. Researchers believe that the primary function of sleep is to allow our brains to recover from the stresses of the previous day, however, we also need it to maintain our organs and immune system.
Other ways in which sleep improves our overall well-being: Sleep is important for retaining information – those with good memory recall are more likely to have had a proper night’s sleep You learn during the night – get a good night’s sleep and you’ll be up to 17% better at a task the next day The sleepier you are the more you crave sugary and fatty foods - if you only get half your required sleep you will eat up to 1000 calories more because you are tired (that’s roughly three donuts) Not only are you less motivated to exercise but if you do so when sleepy you are 35% more likely to suffer a sports related injury.
How much sleep do you need?
Sleep is crucial to children’s development and just half an hour less than a child’s required sleep amount can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health. Typically a new born child requires 16-20 hours a night where as a ten year old will need approximately ten hours of sleep.
It is also recommended that until a child is six they should have at least one long nap during the day. Teenagers generally need to sleep longer than adults, approximately between nine and nine and half hours, as they are going through puberty. Once you get to your early twenties, however, your sleep need (the amount of time sleeping) becomes fixed for life. This is different for everyone and can range anywhere between three to eleven hours a night.
The simple test to find out how much sleep you need is whether you feel happy and alert or sleepy and miserable. Try recording how long you sleep each night to get a measure of your mood and it will soon become apparent whether you are a six or eight hour sleeper.
What to look for when buying a luxury mattress
We spend up to one-third of our lives in bed, so investing in a quality made mattress isn’t so much a luxury as a necessity. Everyone’s idea of comfort is different - which is why we recommend laying on a mattress before committing to a purchase so that you can genuinely get a feel for it - however there are a few basic things to look out for.
Does the mattress allow you to easily move?
We naturally move between 40 to 60 times a night not only to relieve pressure on certain parts of the body but also to maintain body temperature by moving to the cooler side of the bed.
Does it provide comfort and support in every position?
The position you fall asleep or wake up in is not the same as the position your sleep throughout the night.
What is it made from?
Natural fibres provide breathability, keep you cool and wick away moisture whereas synthetics materials will lead to overheating during the night.
Are you getting the correct support?
Your spine needs to be straight when laying on your side while on your back the natural curve of the spine needs to be preserved – a good test is whether you can fit your hand underneath the small of your back.
Have you tried it with a pillow?
No sleep specialist worth their salt will try to sell you a mattress without providing a pillow to test it. We even recommend buying your pillows at the same time as the mattress so that you can find the perfect match.
Shop Mattresses
Creating the ideal environment
It’s not just the furniture that can affect your sleep, but the type of environment you create within your bedroom. Here are a few simple tips for making the space more conducive to rest:
Lights out: the bedroom should ideally be pitch black but failing that as dark as possible. Thick curtains or dark blinds are an effective way of blocking out light.
Keep the noise down: the World Health Organisation claims that anything above 35 decibels will disrupt sleep, so it’s important that the bedroom is the quietest space in the home.
Remove technology: in an ever more connected world it’s becoming harder and harder for us to switch off. The bedroom should be designed solely for sleep, so turning off your phone before bed and removing the television will help avoid any such distractions.
Don’t overheat: our bodies need to drop half a degree in temperature during the night, so the bedroom needs to be cool (between 16 and 18 degrees) while the bed itself needs to be warm. Provided you are sleeping under a Tog 15 duvet, you will rarely need to run your heating overnight in the UK as the temperature is not low enough.
Shop Bedroom
Now that you know what to look for, you can start designing your own soothing sleep space. Remember, when it comes to getting 40 winks it's not worth sparing on quality something you'll always find in abundance within Heal's Bedroom collection.
Shop Now
Back to top
Discover more
-
Behind The Design
-
At Heal's
-
Tips & Advice
