

5 Ways To Turn Your Modern Space Into a Cozy Home

How To

What winter blues? Transform your cool space into a snug and cozy home with a few simple furniture & decor tricks.

1. Sumptuous Seating

Nothing says 'curl up and stay awhile' like deeply cushioned furniture, and the good news for modern design buffs is the availability of a wide range of oh-so-comfy sofas and lounge chairs, elegantly enveloping enough to offset winter's chill. Gus* designs, like the velvet-clad Margot Sofa, makes a warm and welcoming sight in either neutral or jewel tones, and the Blu Dot Field Lounge Chair, below, personifies the lap of luxury on lazy winter afternoons. The perfectly proportioned MENU Offset Sofa, above, manages to be somehow both refined and homey, the ideal combination for offsetting winter's gloom.

2. Textural Rugs

Area rugs are an instant fix—both literally and visually—for warming up light filled spaces and bare floors. With the onset of winter, the more thick and textured the carpet, the more snug and secure the winter refuge. The plush pile of the Gus* Element Rug and the Naya Shag Rug from Surya pack cushioning inviting enough for bare feet and weary bodies, while the nubby knitted wool of the Gandia Blasco Mangas Rug is the perfect floor statement for sweater weather. Nanimarquina's Blur Rug, above, an inspired Afghan wool design by the Bourellac Brothers, brings year-round artisanal warmth to any contemporary interior.

3. Decorative Pillows

Decorative accents, like throw pillows, are one of the most affordable options for updating an interior scheme and injecting a homey vibe. In the colder months, compose a snug sofa setting with pair of felt pillows, like the Duck Duck Pillow from Blu Dot, which features a two-color scheme with contrasting piping. Or add a a flourish of fringe to a lounge chair with the GAN Rugs Garden Layers Cushion, above, clad in meticulously woven indoor/outdoor textiles. Patterned Salon Cushions from Ferm Living make an unusually vivid Danish decor addition to sofa, daybed, or armchair.

4. Throw Blankets

There's no easier way to counter a winter chill than by layering up. Whether strewn across a bare sofa or wrapped around a chilled shoulder, a throw blanket or two is a must for creating a casual, cozy home vibe. Scandinavian throw blankets—like Artek's graphic Siena Wool Blanket and Skargaarden's Haverdahl Throw—provide layered richness to a living room scheme, and offer an instant warm-up, thanks to their toasty wool fibers, while Surya's Timothy Throw presents an expanse of knitted fibers that begs to be cozied up to. Contemporary blankets by Ferm Living blend wool and cotton into a squarely winter-ready home accessory.

5. Greenery

Few interior elements present as exhilarating a contrast to the spare winter landscape as indoor plants. With their demands on time and care, plants also project a visceral sense of home and commitment. When tucking in for the colder months, invest in lush indoor greenery to help absorb air pollutants while infusing a room with ever-evolving natural beauty. Ferm Living's Round Plant Box, above, holds a hefty load of greens, while the UmbraShift Pleated Planter fosters growth with earthenware elegance.