Simple Ways to Add Warmth to a Modern Living Room

So excited to share our new living room reveal along with Simple Ways to Add Warmth to a Modern Living Room! The story is pretty neat about what started all of the madness. Blaming that all on my daughter!!

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First of all, she has never liked our previous sofas. They were not comfortable enough for her. Quite frankly, I agreed with her. Since she is away for college, I will do anything that makes her want to be home more. RIGHT?! Who wouldn’t?? She wanted a sofa she could plop in and just hang out.

When I initially furnished this room, I did so to create more of a formal living room since we plan to bring the two-car garage behind our fireplace into our home by turning it into a family “great room”. Our home was built in the early 70’s, so it only has a formal living room and dining room…no main floor family room. Based on that, I was adamant about not having a TV in this area.

This was another request of hers that I obliged…allowing for a small TV in our living room. Actually, I am really liking it because my family hangs out in this space a lot more and I cannot complain about that! In our basement, we have a large TV in our living area down there AND a home theater behind it that seats 10…no shortages of TVs around here! This is why I have been resistant to adding another one.

With all that being said, I wanted to create a more modern space but still keep it cozy and warm. Here is how to do exactly that…

Simple Ways to Add Warmth to a Modern Living Room

• Feature color tones that occur naturally in nature.
• Use warm-toned woods and finishes.
• Feature a textured rug to bring everything together.
• Add textural accessories.
• Layer your accessories.
• Consider your lighting to add softness.
• Include plants…faux or real.
• Add personal touches to “personalize” your space.
• Set the mood with candles to add warmth.

Now, let’s break this down…

Feature color tones that occur naturally in nature…browns, greens, greys, and golds. Modern spaces can sometimes feel cold and uninviting. Using these warmer color tones can really create a soothing feel.

Use warm-toned woods and finishes. Once I decided that would oblige my daughter with a TV in this space, I knew I wanted to paint the side walls on either side of my white marble fireplace black to help the TV disappear visually (one of my designer hacks!!). Black is the new neutral. You will see me using more of it through our home!

Considering the black backdrops, finding consoles with warm wood tones was key! I also needed a lot more storage than I previously had in this room (gee…I wonder why?!). I flipped when I found these beautiful Caramel Live Edge Wood and Gold Metal Sloan Sideboards. They are modern and not too formal…perfect for a family area. You won’t believe the price! They are actually on sale now.

They were the perfect size and really stand out against the black walls…don’t you think?!

Feature a textured rug to bring everything together. When deciding on a new rug, I knew I wanted something textural and patterned. However, it had to be economical because of our dog and a pending puppy on the way.

Since it was so well priced and I liked it so much, I actually bought two in case it gets ruined by a puppy (more news on that later!!) 😉

Add textural accessories. This includes blankets, baskets, plush pillows, throws, and art.

Layer your accessories. This can help add depth and personality. How I layer my accessories is an ever-changing process. You can do this is groups of two, three, and even five.

Use trays and books to help layer your accessories.

Consider your lighting to add softness. Like candles, lamps can add such warm ambiance to any space. Dimmable lights can also create warmth.

Adding picture lighting is another way to add warm softness to your room. I found this battery-controlled picture light on Amazon and am obsessed! It is a Battery-Operated LED Picture Light with a Remote, 13 Inches Rotatable Light Head with 3 Lighting Modes, Dimmable Display Lamp with a Timer. Plus, it comes in three finishes…a must have!

Include plants…faux or real. In this makeover, I decided to use mostly real house plants. I really think they add a natural element to the space. My local O’Toole’s Garden Centers are my go-to for all of my live plants!

To see more Ways to use Indoor Plants in your Home Decor, click on this recent post of mine HERE.

Add personal touches to “personalize” your space. This could include coffee table books, personal books, artifacts, family treasures or keepsakes. These items help tell your “story” making your guests feel at home. They can also provide conversation starters. This antique brass compote sat next to my grandmother’s favorite chair for as long as I can remember.

These two pieces of original art were gifted to me by a very close friend and I cherish them deeply! You know who you are!

Set the mood with candles to add warmth. In my humble opinion, there is nothing that adds more warmth to a space than glowing candlelight! This is such a simple element to add while adding a lot of impact.

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I hope you enjoyed seeing these Simple Ways to Add Warmth to a Modern Living Room! I would love to hear what you think about the new changes!! Things changing around here are a constant endeavor. Just ask my husband!! 😉 I look forward to sharing how I am transitioning my spaces slowly into a fall aesthetic. Oh, happy day!!

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