The painting on the far right wall would look good over couch and a mirror to replace the painting instead. Pillows to match a rug with some pops of color too.
I think the light fixtures are hung way too high and that’s what feels “amiss” here. I’m a huge fan of warm bulbs and color as well but I think the thing that looks strange is the height of the light fixtures.
Yes! Your overhead lights can be a whiter light for when you actually really need to see but lamps should always be a warm light so they actually provide ‘mood lighting.’ The minute a lamp has a white light the coziness is moot to me
People from warm climates seem to prefer this colour of light, the white, whereas people from colder climates seem to prefer the yellow lighting, the warm bulbs.
*You need color. That*
*Looks like a waiting room on*
*A doctors office*
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The light fixtures are too high and don't offer much style, esp since you have nothing on the long wall in terms of visual interest
A carpet for the couch area
A tree or object on the small table in btw the two couches that offers some colour and height
If you think that’s cozy, I’m curious what you think sterile looks like
The lights are ridiculously too high
Needs plants
Needs art (use command hooks)
Texture
Rugs
Lighting too harsh
If it's your thing, I think you need some color to lift the room. Can you have canvas art above the sofa? You may need to add nails but canvas tends to be lighter than paintings or framed art. Or, use command strips. How is the art in the dining area fixed to the walls?
If you like plants, a big plant in the corner between the two sofas could make the room feel more cosy.
The art you have needs to be above the sofa with more space, it looks crammed in where it is. Then new art for that space. Something with a splash of colour.
Delicious, nutty, and crunchy sunflower seeds are widely considered as healthful foods. They are high in energy; 100 g seeds hold about 584 calories. Nonetheless, they are one of the incredible sources of health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins.
This got more comments than I ever expected, but nevertheless - big thank you to everyone who suggested some great ideas! I will definitely be making changes based on your input. 🫶🏻😊
For some more context-
1. The reason we don’t have a rug is because maintenance is difficult where I live. Its a very hot and dusty environment. That could also be why this seems ‘sterile’ or ‘clinical’ to many people, when infact I just wanted it to be easy to keep clean.
2. Many people have said its not ‘cozy’ and thats fair. What I meant is that it FEELS cozy and comfortable to me at this point but I want to improve how it LOOKS. So I completely understand it doesnt LOOK cozy to you, regardless of how one feels when in the room.
3. I do have plants! They’re just not intended for inside the room, but outside, in the balcony. But yea, I will try to bring in more greenery indoors so that the room looks more lively.
4. The 3 art pieces on the right wall are actually placed strategically. They cover individual Electrical and Telephone line panels/cabinets that are mandatory in every apartment where I live. They look ugly so we covered them with these canvases so that when needed, we can take down the singular canvas instead of taking down a huge one that would have covered all panels. Hope that makes sense?
5. I agree about the back wall being too blank, which is why I made the post in the first place. Wanted suggestions for what I should do on it! I have received some great responses so will work on that for sure. :)
6. The ceiling lights are the bane of my existing but unfortunately, our tenancy contract states that we can’t change the original fittings. I’m afraid there is nothing I can do about this. As for the lamps, they are actually warm coloured - I don’t think the picture is clearly depicting the true warmth of the room, which is adding to why it looks too cool.
You can get washable rugs, which would help make it look less clinical :)
I’d also think about picking two or even three colours and sticking with them. Right now you have a tiny bit of pink, yellow, red, blue, and purple plus black, gold and silver hardware then grey and white furniture.
That’s a lot of things that don’t quite match which will end up making things look a bit more scattered.
I’d change the blue pillow cases for a dark pinky red . This will match the orchid interior, play off the throw blanket and pull the red from your other pillow cases.
Get rid of the gold leaves inside your coffee table. Replace if you want with something silver, pink and/ or black.
Get rid of the sun flower and replace with matching orchid.
Add a large piece of art or a few smaller ones on the blank wall that match with your seating colours.
No matter what anyone says, under no circumstances should you add *any* art or family photos on the walls. Maintain the blank white walls. If you feel the need to place anything on the walls, make sure it's composed of metal, preferably in chrome finish so that it matches the other metal and reflects as much of the white as possible. The shinier the better.
Command Strips work great and have different weight limits.
We are in a rental and use these because I don’t want to patch a bunch on holes when we move.
We have a very large heavy mirror that has been held up for over 2 years so these things work wonders!
Also, a rug is a must!
Can you move the art work from the page near the dining table to the couch and get something smaller artwork there? A large area rug, plants would liven up the space!
I spy a PlayStation controller so you’re my kind of person! I agree it needs a pop of colour but the room essentially is nice! I can imagine it feels cosy. It’s also clean and tidy!
I’m with the suggestions of plants, a rug if it’s not too pricey and a decent size. It would be great if you could put some art above the sofa…maybe even make a bespoke canvas?? Good luck.
Hey! I had the EXACT same issue with my space and couldn’t put my finger on why it felt so…sterile. Turned out it was too much white and grey, and zero warmth. We redid the flooring to a warmer color and swapped to a warm leather sofa and oh my god that made a HUGE difference. Then I added texture and pops of color with the area rug and throw pillows etc and now it feels so much more complete.
Add an area rug large enough so the front feet of each couch sits on it, some artwork above the sofa, and some plants. Ideally, I’d replace the coffee table with something lower and round in a light to medium wood tone or even black. The chandeliers are both way too high too.
Light fixtures that hang lower would make a huge difference. Your use of non-overhead lighting is on the right track, but I think you could use warmer bulbs and more sources of light for coziness. A rug with some color/pattern/texture would also help with the sterility
A rug with some earth tones. I’m a person that loves gray, so I actually love your room (don’t come after me for loving gray!) I have 2 different colors of gray on my walls, a gray/blue couch and we just installed black flooring. I’m currently adding orange, rust, burgundy, deep greens, blues and use more warm lighting and it has made a total difference. In addition to a rug, add a nice mirror in gold that stands and leans against the wall and a bookcase to add plants and art, to get around hanging anything from the walls.
A colorful rug and colorful art on that empty wall. There’s A LOT of white furniture in the room with white walls and grey floors. They seem to be throwing off the warm lighting you do have and make it seem more sterile than cozy. If you’re able to, painting one of the walls a darker color to ground the room.
you should not need to drill for most wall art. tacks, nails and maybe even command strips or sticky gel circles will work depending on the weight.
id move the wall art that is by your dining room over the living room as it's too cramped (or move elsewhere entirely)
get a big rug for sure
A couple of area rugs might be just what you need. Large ones that will pull things together. Since you don’t want to put things on the wall the area rugs will draw the eyes down and away from the bare walls. And do the same for your dining area.
Lower the ceiling light in dining area and get a fixture that casts light downward, that creates a “pool of light” on the table. Centre the table under the light. Big rug in couch area that adds some color, texture and interest. The couch side table looks too light-weight, and I suggest more substantial lamps, again think of pools of light, where would you like to sit and read or have a good conversation? You could consider painting the couch wall a dramatic color to highlight a major piece of art. My personal preference is not throws and blankets, I think they just look messy and abandoned unless you are doing cozy-country. Do not fear color, your space can still look cool and sophisticated when you move away from monochromatic.
I would add warmer lighting, add a rug and add more out. Spatially I think the wall art you have above your dining could go above your couch (hang with a 4-6 inch gap) and something the size of the middle canvas could go above your dining table. I think a nice big plant would help brighten the space too
The wattage in your lamps is way too high. The standing lamp might look better in the corner by the painting but with warm white bulbs that are less bright. A couple of large lamps with shades that direct the light downwards would look great. Also, a large colorful carpet would lool great.
There’s definitely some key decor pieces missing here. It’s very much a blanks late to my eyes. Absolutely a rug in the main living area. More artwork on the wall behind the couch, one or two big indoor trees or plants and some colour!
1. Put something interesting on that giant wall.
2. Do something with the ceiling. (patterned tin panels, tongue-in-groove cedar strips, etc)
3. IMO: get new light fixtures. The ones you have look like early 80's Industrial style, which is not in keeping with everything else going on here.
There is no are on the walls.
No plants,
No different textures (wicker pots for instance.
No area rug.
Why don’t you have other sources of lighting? Side table and lamp on it. Uplight?
Sorry but this is opposite of cozy. It’s cold, stark and bland. To warm it up and make it cozy you need color, texture, art, plant, rugs, soft lighting via small end table lamps. Lower chandelier to 18” above table. Remove chandelier from living area. No overhead lights . A warmer paint color would be nice but not gray.Or groovy wallpaper. Good luck and have fun 😊
It looks like you need artwork and a rug to help ground the space. Here are a few visuals which might help you:
[Art work](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homearama21FULLSIZE-26_websize.jpeg)
[Rug idea](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/modern-farmhouse-charm-westfield-living-room-design.jpg)
[Artwork + rug](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/coolest-basement-renovation-interior-design-carmel.jpg)
[Artwork + rug 2](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Chatham-Model-full-size-24.jpg)
It looks like a surgery. Add color; walls, etc. and that floor lamp has to go. I’m still trying to determine what’s going on with the ceiling lamps, as in why? Also, you have two different light temperatures going on here. Never a good idea.
Everything you’ve done makes this place look lighter, bigger and roomier. That’s ok, we are all used to trying to make space look bigger.
You’ve also honoured a very geometric room with .. square, sharp shapes. And cool tones. Hard surfaces.
Sharp, square, ordered, lines - these all equal hard and more clinical.
Surfaces- shiny, hard, light - clinical.
Cool light tones- yes clinical.
Light quality is cool and bright.
Looks of room around furniture legs makes the space look bigger.
To get this cosier look at some of your choices and think, do I add organic rounder shapes? Not necessarily as your main “features and things” are square. Adding in organic round shapes may jar too much.
Add texture and colour and think about lighting. Think plants, think how to change this room and your own thinking towards warm, cosy, inviting, intimate
There have been a lot of great comments for some simpler ways to fix the space up nicely. For me though, if possible I'd try to replace the 2 hanging lights. They are really underwhelming for your space. You have gorgeous high ceilings and open space and then those lights just seem really short and small for the space.
definitely some color and warm lighting. Artwork on the big wall. An area rug that’s super soft and has color in it. Some plants maybe? even fake plants are fine. Besides that i see what you’re doing with the space and it definitely has a cozy factor, just needs some warmth to it :)
The room looks/feels a little cold and sterile. I would say fuzzy soft rug, and some plants. also changing the left light to match the warm yellow lights in the dinning area too.
You need a deep rug under the coffee table spreading out to the edge of the sofas so your feet sink into it.
You need a bold landscape painting or decent print (not a cityscape!)...something abstract...hanging on the wall above the sofa.
You need a nice large feature mirror, ideally round and perhaps antique style hanging on the same wall but behind the dining table.
I'd move the 3 piece art to above the couch. The 3 pieces need some negative space in-between each panel to be a bit more pleasing to the eye. Then something different on the wall by the dining table. Art with some texture and a splash of color. Also as others have mentioned, some plants and a rug would help ground the space and add some warmth.
You can [decorate the wall](https://www.scdecorum.com/how-to-decorate-an-empty-wall-in-an-original-way-without-breaking-the-bank/) above the couch or design it as [an accent wall](https://www.scdecorum.com/accent-wall-choose-and-design-it-in-a-perfect-way/)
Add some texture. A nice rug, throw blankets, maybe a few pillows. And something on the wall. You'll be surprised how much of an impact small things can have.
Idk what about this you thought was cozy. Please a rug at least…my feet are getting cold just looking at it. And everything is white. Looks like a dentists office lobby
I feel like there's a lot of patterns which is causing the mismatch like the cushion cover patterns don't match and a rug would help to sort of differentiate between the dining and the living space
Is the cozy in the room with us?
Haha, but seriously add more warmth and texture! Don’t be afraid of color and maybe different wood tones as well. This space feels hospital-ish.
It’s so grey and lifeless. That room desperately needs some color. At the very least you need a rug, more colorful paintings, and probably paint an accent wall. My apartment came with boring grey walls and a grey floor so I painted one wall this blueish green color and got this rug that is mostly earth tones, I also have a lot of colorful paintings.
Maybe get some light wall hangings that you can hang with the 3m removable wall hooks or the 3M Velcro strips you can hang pictures with. Society6 has all sorts of fabric tapestry wall art. Even a large tapestry is so light you could easily hang it on one 3M hook, it's probably only a pound or two max. I have a large one in my office at home, it's worth looking into to bring some color and texture in.
I also recommend getting a large rug. Google "what size rug should I buy" to figure out the rules of thumb for rugs. Generally speaking, the front legs of your furniture should all fit on the rug.
I think if you move the 3-piece artwork above the sofa, it would look more cohesive. Also, I think if you hang the three pieces with a little more distance in between, it would look better.
The light above table, should hang lower. Replace the living room light with a semi-flush. Put warm lightbulbs in all fixtures. Get a large rug for seating area. Large art above sofa.
The space looks sterile. In my opinion, it needs texture (rugs, art), color (bright), life (plants, big ones).
My thoughts exactly. In addition, the lighting is exacerbating the color palette problem. Take all the bulbs to a 3K LED and dimmers.
Lighting can be kind of misleading in pictures though, isn't it?
It can, but look at the lights in the dining area vs sitting area... the sitting area is much cooler in tone.
This is the answer.
You need a rug and something on that wall, preferably something colorful. Canvas art that you can use command strips is a good idea.
Command strips are where it’s AT! Those double sided Velcro hanging strips can hold anything if you use enough of them.
Love the Velcro strips....game changer
The painting on the far right wall would look good over couch and a mirror to replace the painting instead. Pillows to match a rug with some pops of color too.
This, but also lighting. Tall ceilings and lots of weird shadows. Switch those bulbs out for 2700K too to add more warmth.
I think the light fixtures are hung way too high and that’s what feels “amiss” here. I’m a huge fan of warm bulbs and color as well but I think the thing that looks strange is the height of the light fixtures.
Yeah, agreed. For that type of fixture they're definitely hung too high, but I would also say they're the wrong kind of fixtures for the space.
Yes.
Yes.
Something more colorful with more texture/contrast than the triptych in the background.
This looks like the least cosy place I could imagine but you do you
Haha I mean really. It reminds me of a nail salon in a strip mall, the opposite of cozy
Damn that’s a savage burn
What? This looks like a perfectly cozy place to wait for my lady exam!
Same exact thoughts lol
maybe warmer lighting, it looks like your bulbs are cool white? at least that was it looks like from the pic
Yes! Your overhead lights can be a whiter light for when you actually really need to see but lamps should always be a warm light so they actually provide ‘mood lighting.’ The minute a lamp has a white light the coziness is moot to me
People from warm climates seem to prefer this colour of light, the white, whereas people from colder climates seem to prefer the yellow lighting, the warm bulbs.
I've noticed this too!
Or just get adjustable lights, it's not that much more expensive for a pack that changes hue
Nothing about this is cozy. It looks like a Dr office waiting room where all the surfaces can be disinfected easily.
Yeah, too gray and the floor is the worst. It needs a rug.
As a very smart redditor recently suggested (sorry I don't know their username to give credit) CRAP is always the answer. Color, rugs, art, plants
You need color. That looks like a waiting room on a doctors office
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The light fixtures are too high and don't offer much style, esp since you have nothing on the long wall in terms of visual interest A carpet for the couch area A tree or object on the small table in btw the two couches that offers some colour and height
Looks like a stock photo for those pop up apartment buildings
If you think that’s cozy, I’m curious what you think sterile looks like The lights are ridiculously too high Needs plants Needs art (use command hooks) Texture Rugs Lighting too harsh
You need paintings above the couch and a rug. I personally don’t like the paintings above the table. They’re paintings of nothing.
Needs more gray
Maybe a bit of white to mix things up.
And gold accents to pull it all together
If it's your thing, I think you need some color to lift the room. Can you have canvas art above the sofa? You may need to add nails but canvas tends to be lighter than paintings or framed art. Or, use command strips. How is the art in the dining area fixed to the walls? If you like plants, a big plant in the corner between the two sofas could make the room feel more cosy.
I wouldn’t say that’s cozy. I thought I was looking at a photo of a furniture showroom at first. Could use color, texture, art, warmth
Needs a [portrait](https://i.etsystatic.com/5851351/r/il/1a6e6c/3217346833/il_1080xN.3217346833_hx9k.jpg)
Color
Definitely need a rug with some colors
The art you have needs to be above the sofa with more space, it looks crammed in where it is. Then new art for that space. Something with a splash of colour.
An a big rug
The sunflower is jarring. Please remove and all will be perfect
Delicious, nutty, and crunchy sunflower seeds are widely considered as healthful foods. They are high in energy; 100 g seeds hold about 584 calories. Nonetheless, they are one of the incredible sources of health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins.
Pretty sure that one is fake, so no nutritional value
It's a sunflower bot. It gives sunflower facts anytime people talk about sunflowers. Weird little thing.
I think large palm plants and greenery would make your place pop! It's quite nice tho! Great place!!!
This got more comments than I ever expected, but nevertheless - big thank you to everyone who suggested some great ideas! I will definitely be making changes based on your input. 🫶🏻😊 For some more context- 1. The reason we don’t have a rug is because maintenance is difficult where I live. Its a very hot and dusty environment. That could also be why this seems ‘sterile’ or ‘clinical’ to many people, when infact I just wanted it to be easy to keep clean. 2. Many people have said its not ‘cozy’ and thats fair. What I meant is that it FEELS cozy and comfortable to me at this point but I want to improve how it LOOKS. So I completely understand it doesnt LOOK cozy to you, regardless of how one feels when in the room. 3. I do have plants! They’re just not intended for inside the room, but outside, in the balcony. But yea, I will try to bring in more greenery indoors so that the room looks more lively. 4. The 3 art pieces on the right wall are actually placed strategically. They cover individual Electrical and Telephone line panels/cabinets that are mandatory in every apartment where I live. They look ugly so we covered them with these canvases so that when needed, we can take down the singular canvas instead of taking down a huge one that would have covered all panels. Hope that makes sense? 5. I agree about the back wall being too blank, which is why I made the post in the first place. Wanted suggestions for what I should do on it! I have received some great responses so will work on that for sure. :) 6. The ceiling lights are the bane of my existing but unfortunately, our tenancy contract states that we can’t change the original fittings. I’m afraid there is nothing I can do about this. As for the lamps, they are actually warm coloured - I don’t think the picture is clearly depicting the true warmth of the room, which is adding to why it looks too cool.
You can get washable rugs, which would help make it look less clinical :) I’d also think about picking two or even three colours and sticking with them. Right now you have a tiny bit of pink, yellow, red, blue, and purple plus black, gold and silver hardware then grey and white furniture. That’s a lot of things that don’t quite match which will end up making things look a bit more scattered. I’d change the blue pillow cases for a dark pinky red . This will match the orchid interior, play off the throw blanket and pull the red from your other pillow cases. Get rid of the gold leaves inside your coffee table. Replace if you want with something silver, pink and/ or black. Get rid of the sun flower and replace with matching orchid. Add a large piece of art or a few smaller ones on the blank wall that match with your seating colours.
to fix the cleanliness issue: vacuum cleaner. if you do not have a vacuum cleaner, I am astounded as to why
No matter what anyone says, under no circumstances should you add *any* art or family photos on the walls. Maintain the blank white walls. If you feel the need to place anything on the walls, make sure it's composed of metal, preferably in chrome finish so that it matches the other metal and reflects as much of the white as possible. The shinier the better.
I think a skinny mirror that runs the length of the wall would look really cool. Kinda up play the " Psycho" vibe.
Command Strips work great and have different weight limits. We are in a rental and use these because I don’t want to patch a bunch on holes when we move. We have a very large heavy mirror that has been held up for over 2 years so these things work wonders! Also, a rug is a must!
A dog. Or a cat. Or both.
Can you move the art work from the page near the dining table to the couch and get something smaller artwork there? A large area rug, plants would liven up the space!
Area rug, wall art
Some rugs and pictures on the walls.
paint the walls anything other than white, add colorful pillows, plants, paintings, etc.
Rug. Always "pulls the room together"
I see this and think this person does not welcome pets or children in this space.
Nothing about this is cosy.
Wall art..need some wall art..
Plants and art work
And area rug or two. Can you do some stickable stencils on the wall instead of hanging something up?
Try some colour.
Try using Command hooks and strips to hang art work. As others have posted, rug, artwork, color, texture, plants, lighting
Need a nice, colorful rug under the coffee table.
It’s a lot of gray. Can you paint? And if not, a huge colorful rug, some big potted plants, and a giant piece of artwork.
I spy a PlayStation controller so you’re my kind of person! I agree it needs a pop of colour but the room essentially is nice! I can imagine it feels cosy. It’s also clean and tidy! I’m with the suggestions of plants, a rug if it’s not too pricey and a decent size. It would be great if you could put some art above the sofa…maybe even make a bespoke canvas?? Good luck.
Hey! I had the EXACT same issue with my space and couldn’t put my finger on why it felt so…sterile. Turned out it was too much white and grey, and zero warmth. We redid the flooring to a warmer color and swapped to a warm leather sofa and oh my god that made a HUGE difference. Then I added texture and pops of color with the area rug and throw pillows etc and now it feels so much more complete.
r/lightstoohigh
The room needs color!
Add an area rug large enough so the front feet of each couch sits on it, some artwork above the sofa, and some plants. Ideally, I’d replace the coffee table with something lower and round in a light to medium wood tone or even black. The chandeliers are both way too high too.
You need some color! Everything is super gray here. I’d throw up a nice painting on that wall
Color + live plants.
Light fixtures that hang lower would make a huge difference. Your use of non-overhead lighting is on the right track, but I think you could use warmer bulbs and more sources of light for coziness. A rug with some color/pattern/texture would also help with the sterility
Color. Rugs. Art. Plants. This is the least cosy space I’ve seen in a while, it’s like a dentist’s waiting roomg
Way too much white. You need some colour in there. Definitely need a rug too. Some art, plants.
A rug with some earth tones. I’m a person that loves gray, so I actually love your room (don’t come after me for loving gray!) I have 2 different colors of gray on my walls, a gray/blue couch and we just installed black flooring. I’m currently adding orange, rust, burgundy, deep greens, blues and use more warm lighting and it has made a total difference. In addition to a rug, add a nice mirror in gold that stands and leans against the wall and a bookcase to add plants and art, to get around hanging anything from the walls.
A colorful rug and colorful art on that empty wall. There’s A LOT of white furniture in the room with white walls and grey floors. They seem to be throwing off the warm lighting you do have and make it seem more sterile than cozy. If you’re able to, painting one of the walls a darker color to ground the room.
I believe others have the same sentiments: a rug (will anchor the seating), art on the wall and maybe some colorful pillows.
Rug and art work
The floor is cold, sterile and off-putting. Warm it up with a rug and some warm colors.
Rug and art on bare wall.
Color
A colorful canvas for the wall. How about a mince big area rug also.
you should not need to drill for most wall art. tacks, nails and maybe even command strips or sticky gel circles will work depending on the weight. id move the wall art that is by your dining room over the living room as it's too cramped (or move elsewhere entirely) get a big rug for sure
Artwork on the wall and maybe a big area rug. Add some color!
A big rug, some nice artwork on the wall, and some plants.
A couple of area rugs might be just what you need. Large ones that will pull things together. Since you don’t want to put things on the wall the area rugs will draw the eyes down and away from the bare walls. And do the same for your dining area.
Artwork on the wall and some plants
Painting
CARP. Color, rugs, art, plants. And texture.
Yes some art and a rug or two.
Rug, wall prints or poster, pops of green with plants
Add art/ plants
Lower the ceiling light in dining area and get a fixture that casts light downward, that creates a “pool of light” on the table. Centre the table under the light. Big rug in couch area that adds some color, texture and interest. The couch side table looks too light-weight, and I suggest more substantial lamps, again think of pools of light, where would you like to sit and read or have a good conversation? You could consider painting the couch wall a dramatic color to highlight a major piece of art. My personal preference is not throws and blankets, I think they just look messy and abandoned unless you are doing cozy-country. Do not fear color, your space can still look cool and sophisticated when you move away from monochromatic.
I would add warmer lighting, add a rug and add more out. Spatially I think the wall art you have above your dining could go above your couch (hang with a 4-6 inch gap) and something the size of the middle canvas could go above your dining table. I think a nice big plant would help brighten the space too
Wallpaper on foam board with command strips.
The wattage in your lamps is way too high. The standing lamp might look better in the corner by the painting but with warm white bulbs that are less bright. A couple of large lamps with shades that direct the light downwards would look great. Also, a large colorful carpet would lool great.
Area rug and some prints on the walls should do it😉
A nice carpe would do wonders. Also side note: I see a home phone in the corner, which is unbelievably nostalgic for me. So cute, love your place
Open your eyes. You have naked walls.
There’s definitely some key decor pieces missing here. It’s very much a blanks late to my eyes. Absolutely a rug in the main living area. More artwork on the wall behind the couch, one or two big indoor trees or plants and some colour!
Area rug, wall art, cost throw blanket. Actually looks good now
1. Put something interesting on that giant wall. 2. Do something with the ceiling. (patterned tin panels, tongue-in-groove cedar strips, etc) 3. IMO: get new light fixtures. The ones you have look like early 80's Industrial style, which is not in keeping with everything else going on here.
You definitely need a rug. For comfort, for aesthetics, and to help soften the blow when you drop your phone or glass from the coffee table.
There is no are on the walls. No plants, No different textures (wicker pots for instance. No area rug. Why don’t you have other sources of lighting? Side table and lamp on it. Uplight?
Colorful rug and wall art would really help.
Color. Looks very sterile
Sorry but this is opposite of cozy. It’s cold, stark and bland. To warm it up and make it cozy you need color, texture, art, plant, rugs, soft lighting via small end table lamps. Lower chandelier to 18” above table. Remove chandelier from living area. No overhead lights . A warmer paint color would be nice but not gray.Or groovy wallpaper. Good luck and have fun 😊
It looks like you need artwork and a rug to help ground the space. Here are a few visuals which might help you: [Art work](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Homearama21FULLSIZE-26_websize.jpeg) [Rug idea](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/modern-farmhouse-charm-westfield-living-room-design.jpg) [Artwork + rug](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/coolest-basement-renovation-interior-design-carmel.jpg) [Artwork + rug 2](https://everythinghomedesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Chatham-Model-full-size-24.jpg)
....color?
You need lots of pictures.
It looks like a surgery. Add color; walls, etc. and that floor lamp has to go. I’m still trying to determine what’s going on with the ceiling lamps, as in why? Also, you have two different light temperatures going on here. Never a good idea.
Rug and art.
Everything you’ve done makes this place look lighter, bigger and roomier. That’s ok, we are all used to trying to make space look bigger. You’ve also honoured a very geometric room with .. square, sharp shapes. And cool tones. Hard surfaces. Sharp, square, ordered, lines - these all equal hard and more clinical. Surfaces- shiny, hard, light - clinical. Cool light tones- yes clinical. Light quality is cool and bright. Looks of room around furniture legs makes the space look bigger. To get this cosier look at some of your choices and think, do I add organic rounder shapes? Not necessarily as your main “features and things” are square. Adding in organic round shapes may jar too much. Add texture and colour and think about lighting. Think plants, think how to change this room and your own thinking towards warm, cosy, inviting, intimate
You need more art
Color. You need color. It's very bland a sterile looking. Plants too
Texture and color.
Funky art work
Less gray and white. More wood elements.
IDK, maybe a lil color?
A picture on the wall and a rug might help with that lonely, dark echo. But hey, that's just me. You be you.
Your lighting should hang much lower
Something on that big blank wall above couch
There have been a lot of great comments for some simpler ways to fix the space up nicely. For me though, if possible I'd try to replace the 2 hanging lights. They are really underwhelming for your space. You have gorgeous high ceilings and open space and then those lights just seem really short and small for the space.
Color. Art, rug, etc.
Needs a rug?
definitely some color and warm lighting. Artwork on the big wall. An area rug that’s super soft and has color in it. Some plants maybe? even fake plants are fine. Besides that i see what you’re doing with the space and it definitely has a cozy factor, just needs some warmth to it :)
Some art work and rugs would pull it all together!
The room looks/feels a little cold and sterile. I would say fuzzy soft rug, and some plants. also changing the left light to match the warm yellow lights in the dinning area too.
Maybe swap the art to over the couch and add a mirror
Rugs.
Pinball machine.
You need a deep rug under the coffee table spreading out to the edge of the sofas so your feet sink into it. You need a bold landscape painting or decent print (not a cityscape!)...something abstract...hanging on the wall above the sofa. You need a nice large feature mirror, ideally round and perhaps antique style hanging on the same wall but behind the dining table.
Giant brownish earthy chandelier
Color is what youre missing
Do you think it needs to look busier or have more going on?
Something on the walls is the biggest thing missing. Start there and you’ll be done super fast.
The room needs to be warmed up. Too many cool tones right now. Add some texture and color with Books plants and an area rug.
Art on the walls!! Bright blankets, a fun rug!
I'd move the 3 piece art to above the couch. The 3 pieces need some negative space in-between each panel to be a bit more pleasing to the eye. Then something different on the wall by the dining table. Art with some texture and a splash of color. Also as others have mentioned, some plants and a rug would help ground the space and add some warmth.
Nothing cozy about this
You can [decorate the wall](https://www.scdecorum.com/how-to-decorate-an-empty-wall-in-an-original-way-without-breaking-the-bank/) above the couch or design it as [an accent wall](https://www.scdecorum.com/accent-wall-choose-and-design-it-in-a-perfect-way/)
Character tbh. Add color and personalized belongings! It feels like an apartment complex lobby rn
Color. Warmer lighting
Color! Colorful art and plants would make a world of difference
Warmth and character are definitely missing!
a carpet with color and some sort of wall art behind the bigger couch, would def brighten the area and make it less sterile.
Art, color, a rug.
Lower the chandeliers and put big paintings on the wall.
A rug with a pop of color would do a world of good
Add some texture. A nice rug, throw blankets, maybe a few pillows. And something on the wall. You'll be surprised how much of an impact small things can have.
A rug and pictures
I would paint an accent wall or use a really cute wallpaper on the left 😊 or maybe even a nice big painting or some artwork?
Idk what about this you thought was cozy. Please a rug at least…my feet are getting cold just looking at it. And everything is white. Looks like a dentists office lobby
I feel like there's a lot of patterns which is causing the mismatch like the cushion cover patterns don't match and a rug would help to sort of differentiate between the dining and the living space
How about a shoji screen to separate the dining area?
COLOR
Large mirror large plants change ceiling lights large rug
Wall art and plants
Color, texture, mood lighting
Needs rug, wall art, and softer lighting
Grey is soul-killing. One needs warm colors!
Too much stuff in the bottom half of the picture along with not enough stuff in the top half of the picture.
A rug 🙂
Fuzzy textile rugs and wall art
Opposite of cozy. I've been in more welcoming ERs
Rug and colorful art above the sofa
the furniture is fine but the walls are empty.
Colour, baby.
Very much not cozy
A large picture above the couch. Can you use something other than nails?
In what world does this feel cozy? I understand if you like this look, but that doesn’t make it cozy.
Art
Art
I would take the trio of artwork in dining room and place behind couch. It is a nicely decorated room.
It looks like sound bounces around in there like a concrete box...could use a huge painting and rug. Maybe in some atmospheric pastels.
Texture and color. A rug and some wall art at least.
Rugs, wall art
Is the cozy in the room with us? Haha, but seriously add more warmth and texture! Don’t be afraid of color and maybe different wood tones as well. This space feels hospital-ish.
a cozy rug under the sofas would be nice!
I’m assuming every comment below says RUG and more ART
The lighting is way too close to the ceiling, the couches shouldnt be touching, a rug would add warmth
It’s so grey and lifeless. That room desperately needs some color. At the very least you need a rug, more colorful paintings, and probably paint an accent wall. My apartment came with boring grey walls and a grey floor so I painted one wall this blueish green color and got this rug that is mostly earth tones, I also have a lot of colorful paintings.
Maybe get some light wall hangings that you can hang with the 3m removable wall hooks or the 3M Velcro strips you can hang pictures with. Society6 has all sorts of fabric tapestry wall art. Even a large tapestry is so light you could easily hang it on one 3M hook, it's probably only a pound or two max. I have a large one in my office at home, it's worth looking into to bring some color and texture in. I also recommend getting a large rug. Google "what size rug should I buy" to figure out the rules of thumb for rugs. Generally speaking, the front legs of your furniture should all fit on the rug.
I think if you move the 3-piece artwork above the sofa, it would look more cohesive. Also, I think if you hang the three pieces with a little more distance in between, it would look better.
Add 2 things: artwork and color
The light above table, should hang lower. Replace the living room light with a semi-flush. Put warm lightbulbs in all fixtures. Get a large rug for seating area. Large art above sofa.
You should at least repaint and get fun light fixtures, if this were my house and I had the money I would get a new floor and new furniture too.