It’s an aesthetic that seeks to offer spaces that are calming, that stills the mind and warms the heart. To cultivate a warm feeling in your home interiors, opt for natural fabrics, tactile textures, soft ambient lighting, and rich refined colours. Add a few personal touches, snapshots of your personality, and layer it all with lashings of charm.
It’s also important to note that it’s possible to design warm spaces, regardless of your style preference. Traditional or classic-style homes tend to naturally conjure a cosy ambience, but of course you can design interior spaces that are warm and comfortable in combination with coastal, French provincial, Hamptons or minimalist design.
When designing your spaces with warmth and comfort front of mind, it’s imperative to not only look at the space holistically, but to drill down and focus on specific sections. Karen Akers from Designed by Karen Akers says a room can be stripped down to three levels. “The first is ground which is flooring, then midlevel like sofas and chairs, along with high floor lamps, then window coverings and overhead lighting,” she notes. “All three levels need to be considered to achieve any style you are looking for.”
Take the time to consider fabrics, materials, colours, furniture and decor. Thinking ahead and looking at aesthetics as well as functionality is key.
Designer Morgan Brady from Pearl Interiors says embracing warm interiors means designing every space with intention. “Each area should have a clear purpose, making it easy for both residents and guests to feel comfortable and at ease,” she says. “Thoughtful touches invite people to stay longer and engage with their surroundings.”
From the moment you step into your home, the feeling is tranquil, relaxed, and of course it goes without saying that it’s tasteful. Richelle Langdon from Oliver Myles Interiors says a great place to start is your entry. “No matter what its size, there is opportunity here to add functionality and personality,” she says. “A drop station will corral the everyday necessities, be it a console table, joinery, or a bench seat and some hooks. There are many ways to experiment with colours and patterns and show your personality.”
Colourful comfort
For 2025, the Pantone Colour Institute has named Pantone Mocha Mousse as the colour of the Year. It’s a rich evocative warm brown, with an earthy elegance. The Pantone Institute has described it as “nurturing us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort”.
Morgan says colour is a powerful tool in creating warmth. “While it’s tempting to stick to neutrals, I believe it’s important to be bold and playful with colour as it can bring life and energy into a room,” she notes. “Rich, earthy tones like terracotta, mustard or deep greens can add warmth and interest, making a space feel lived-in and inviting.”
When deciding on your own personal flavours, let your heart lead the way. Whether it’s a sofa with caramel latte tones, a warm walnut dining table, or ottoman in a bold blue, be your authentic self when designing your interiors.
The power of touch
Materiality is arguably one of the key factors that create warmth and comfort in a home. For a dynamic and simple way to add textural warmth, Richelle suggests grasscloth wallcoverings. “You’ll be amazed at how it changes the way a space feels, and everything in it gets a glow up!” she enthuses. “One day you have bare white walls and the next you have a room with warmth and character.”
Materials that connect organically to nature are another way to bring warmth into your interiors. Richelle says the use of timber profiles for wall linings and ceilings is another method to introduce extra warmth, detail and cosiness. “Aesthetically, timber is also a wonderful partner to concrete or steel and aids with insulation and sound absorption,” she explains.
This goes with that
While conservative design philosophy advocates complementary forms and colour, it’s ok to take a walk on the wild side and mix it up with contrasting textures and materials. Morgan says contrast is a great way to add warmth to a space. “One of my favourite methods is through texture-mixing rich, tactile fabrics like boucle, velvet or mohair with smoother ones like linen or cotton to create a beautiful contrast that adds depth and warmth,” she notes. Also try mixing it up with metals and timber, or cool smooth stone and leather.
Karen says creating opportunities for contrast in design is a valuable design tool to engender attention. “For example, try patterned accent cushions on a plain sofa or darker-coloured walls with lighter furnishings,” she suggests. “Or a streamlined, smooth, light-coloured ceramic lamp base with a rattan shade. There are contrasting textures on top and bottom, and a warm textured light through the shade.”
Illuminating spaces
Lighting can transform a space. It serves to highlight architectural features or focal points and can enhance colours by adding depth and intrigue. Lighting can also elevate textural elements.
Morgan suggests that instead of relying on harsh overhead downlights, think in layers. “Highlight cosy nooks and zones. A floor lamp beside a reclining chair, table lamps with soft shades casting pretty shadows, and candles on mantels or coffee tables can all add to a restful, inviting atmosphere,” she shares.
Richelle agrees that lamps are a wonderful way to evoke feelings of warmth and comfort in a space. “They provide texture, shape, scale, colour and ambience,” she says. “I rarely use overhead lighting unless it’s a pendant. Wall sconces are also a favourite feature.”
Cool and cosy
When curating warm interiors, thinking outside the box can pay dividends. Richelle says if you decide to inject warmth, it’s ok to go in boots and all. “Commit to it! For example, don’t just do a feature wall colour or wallcovering — go for it and include the ceiling for dramatic effect.”
Creating warm spaces boycotts the notion of a throwaway society. It embraces longevity and eco-friendly living. A beautiful preloved piece of furniture is something to treasure, to hand down through the generations. To get you started, Richelle suggests sourcing secondhand or antique finds. “I look for vintage chairs and have them reupholstered in my favourite fabrics,” she reveals.
The concept of creating warm interiors can also be applied to window furnishings. A heavier fabric or using a second back curtain can help dampen noise, provide another layer of insulation, intimacy and a bit of drama, adds Richelle. When designing your interiors, she advocates upholstery fabrics like leather, velvet and linen. “Roman blinds made from woven natural fibres add another layer to your space,” she notes.
Winter warmers
With the chilly weather upon us, it’s time to ramp up the cosy factor at home. For toasty winter toes, Karen suggests reconfiguring the layout in your living space. “Position two armchairs on either side of the fireplace. This will frame it beautifully, and also encourages conversation and connection,” she says.
Karen adds that pulling furniture away from walls to the centre of the room helps to create a more intimate feel. “Comfort is key during winter, and supporting a distance of about 2.5m between seating arrangements fosters warmth rather than separation,” she says.
Add a splash of colour with a rug, layering one new winter rug over another for a fresh look. Incorporate textured rugs — they’ll feel beautiful to walk on in the cooler months. Add some colourful trinkets, a fresh new piece of art, and a winter table centrepiece infused with colour and texture.
With thoughtful intent and planning, your warm interior will begin to shine with all these additions, but Richelle says it’s important not to forget the final pieces. “Settle in with books, vessels and candles, and of course cushions are a most rewarding change up,” she says. “Then get out all the blankies; we are spoilt for choice with weaves and textures — I don’t think you can have too many. And I can’t be without a drinks tray and an old vinyl on the turn table.”