Creating a Cozy Family Room That Feels Collected Over Time, Just Like a Pro

There is something about the first hint of fall that makes us want to settle back into our homes. The evenings get a little cooler, everyone starts gathering inside again, and suddenly the family room becomes the place you want to be.

For this room, we wanted to create that feeling instantly. 

Not simply a pretty room, but one where you can imagine the whole family piling in for a movie, curling up with a book on a Sunday afternoon, or lingering long after dinner because no one really wants to leave.

The foundation of the room is good upholstered furniture.

We are big believers in buying sofas and chairs that are genuinely comfortable and beautifully made. These are the pieces your family uses every single day, and quality upholstery can stay with you for years and years. Rather than choosing something because it happens to be trendy right now, we look for pieces with great proportions, wonderful construction and the kind of comfort that makes you want to sink in and stay awhile. 

But comfort alone doesn't make a room interesting.

The magic is in the mix

One of the things we intentionally avoided in this family room was having everything feel as though it came from the same place.

Instead, we layered pieces that speak to one another without matching.

There are more tailored elements alongside relaxed ones. Richer textures mingle with quieter materials. Color appears throughout the room without making the space feel overly decorated. Different shapes, finishes and personalities give your eye somewhere new to land as you move around the space.

That combination is what makes a newly designed room feel as though it has been collected over years.

And that is almost always our goal.

A home should feel like you.

It should have enough variation that there is room for the things you've already collected and the treasures you'll find five or ten years from now.

Artwork changes everything

Artwork is also one of the easiest ways to keep a room from feeling generic, so we included Nest exclusive artwork in this space.

Art brings another layer of color and personality that furniture simply can't provide. It is also an opportunity to choose something because you love it, rather than because it perfectly matches the sofa.

In fact, we usually prefer when it doesn't.

Those slightly unexpected combinations are often what make a room memorable.

Texture is what makes cozy feel sophisticated

When we're creating a cozy room, especially one meant for fall and winter, texture becomes incredibly important.

Upholstery, rugs, pillows, throws, wood, artwork and accessories all contribute something different. Layer enough of those materials together and the room begins to have depth.

The trick is balancing all that softness with pieces that have a little structure. Too many soft, fluffy things and a room can quickly lose its sophistication. Too many formal pieces and nobody wants to put their feet up.

 

The best family rooms live somewhere happily in between. 

A room meant to become part of your family's story

We don't believe a family room needs to be precious to be beautiful.

Quite the opposite.

The best rooms get better when they're lived in.

The sofa becomes everyone's favorite spot. A chair develops an unofficial owner. Books pile up on the table. Someone leaves a throw exactly where they want it. New artwork and vintage finds eventually make their way into the mix.

 (Insert three wide grid of images with wood lamp, artwork and brass lamp side by side, maintaining own image link capability)

That is when a beautifully designed room starts becoming a home.

This collection was created as your own shortcut to that warm, layered feeling. We've already done the mixing and matching, combining comfortable upholstered pieces with color, texture, artwork and more distinctive elements so you don't have to start with a blank page. 

All that's missing is your family.