Cosy Living Room Ideas for Winter | In Conversation with Jo Forbes
As the cooler months arrive, our living rooms naturally become the heart of the home. For many people, winter is the perfect time to rethink how a space feels and explore cosy living room ideas that create comfort and a sense of connection throughout the season.
Creating a welcoming living room is about finding the right balance of comfort and personal style. Natural timber, tactile fabrics and thoughtful furniture choices can transform a room into somewhere that feels relaxed, practical and made to be enjoyed for years to come.
We sat down with Jo Forbes, Manager of our Melbourne showroom, to talk about creating a space that feels welcoming throughout the winter months. While Jo leads our Melbourne team, she has lived in Ballarat for the past 23 years, experiencing some of Victoria’s coldest winters firsthand. Her perspective comes from both her own home and years of helping customers choose furniture that reflects their lifestyle.
Here's Jo's advice for creating a living room that's warm, welcoming, and designed to be enjoyed all winter.
You’ve lived in Ballarat for 23 years. How has experiencing those colder winters influenced the way you think about creating a cosy living room?
“After 23 years living in Ballarat, I’ve come to appreciate the details that help a space feel warm and inviting during the colder months. For me, it comes down to layering textures, choosing natural materials and introducing soft lighting.
I'm drawn to neutral tones, timber such as oak and walnut, and fabrics that introduce softness and depth throughout the room.
A large floor rug, textured cushions, a beautiful throw and soft lighting all help create atmosphere. During winter, when the days are shorter, lamps and candles bring another level of ambience and make the room feel like somewhere you want to spend time.
For me, the perfect winter evening is a comfortable sofa, a warm throw and a glass of wine.”
When customers visit our Melbourne showroom looking for cosy living room ideas, where do you suggest they begin?
The sofa often becomes the foundation of a living room, influencing both the look of the room and how it will be used.
“I always suggest starting with the piece that will have the biggest impact, which is often the sofa.
Many customers come into the showroom looking for inspiration and a clearer vision for their living space. When considering how to make a living room cosy, I suggest first thinking about how you want the space to feel and function. Is it a place for family gatherings, entertaining friends or simply somewhere to unwind at the end of a busy day?
Once the sofa has been chosen, the other elements naturally follow. Coffee tables, rugs, lighting and occasional furniture can then be introduced to complement the space.
A beautifully designed room should balance form and function. Furniture should not only look good, it should support the way people live.”
Bouclé sofas are a firm favourite. What is it about this fabric that makes it so popular for living rooms during the winter?
A bouclé sofa brings texture, softness and depth to a living space. It has become a popular choice for those wanting furniture that feels inviting while still maintaining a timeless look.
“There is something appealing about bouclé. The texture creates warmth and adds another layer of character to a room.
A bouclé sofa is particularly suited to winter because its tactile quality creates a feeling of comfort during the colder months. The plush texture adds visual softness, making a space feel more relaxed when we naturally spend more time indoors.
Our Kurva and Arc sofas are wonderful examples of this. The curved silhouettes soften the overall feel of the room, while the bouclé upholstery adds texture and a relaxed quality.
I think people are drawn to bouclé because it feels timeless. It has a softness that makes a space feel welcoming, but it is also versatile enough to work with different interior styles.”
What’s the best way to style a cosy winter living room with a bouclé sofa?
Creating a winter living room with bouclé is about balancing soft textures with natural materials and thoughtful styling.
“One combination I love is our Arc Modular Sofa in Pumice paired with the Arke Round Timber Coffee Table. The softness of the bouclé upholstery works beautifully alongside the natural character of timber, creating contrast while maintaining a calm, natural feel.
From there, I would layer in cushions, a soft throw and a textured rug from the Bayliss or Weave range to add depth underfoot. Finishing with soft lighting helps create the right atmosphere during the colder months, making the space feel comfortable and inviting.
The key is allowing each piece to contribute to the overall feeling of the room. When textures, materials and colours are thoughtfully layered, the space feels effortless and becomes somewhere you naturally want to spend time in throughout winter.”
Coffee tables are often the piece that brings a living room together. How do you approach choosing the right shape and material?
Choosing the right coffee table can help define the flow and balance of a living space. It should complement the sofa, suit the proportions of the room and work naturally within the layout.
“The coffee table plays an important role in connecting the different elements within a living room. It needs to work with the proportions of the room and the way people use it.
The shape of a coffee table can have a surprising impact on how a room feels. A round coffee table helps create a softer flow within the space, particularly when paired with sofas that feature curved silhouettes. The Art Coffee Table is a beautiful example of this, bringing a sculptural element to the room while creating a centrepiece that balances both form and function.
Natural materials bring another layer of character into a living space, and timber has a way of adding depth through its unique grain and texture. A round wood coffee table such as our Aalto Coffee Table highlights the beauty of solid timber, showcasing the craftsmanship and natural variation that makes each piece unique. Paired with softer fabrics, especially bouclé, timber creates a balance of tactile finishes that feels relaxed and connected to the space.”
How does timber furniture bring warmth into a living room, especially during the colder months?
“Timber furniture has a unique way of bringing character, warmth and connection into a home. For me, that is what makes it such an enduring choice. I love that every piece has its own grain, texture and variation, giving it a unique character while adding beauty and depth to a space.
Timber introduces a natural warmth that instantly makes a living room feel more inviting. During the colder months, when we naturally spend more time indoors, I think timber works beautifully because it adds a grounded quality to a room, helping create a space that feels welcoming and relaxed.
This is one of the reasons Mid-Century Modern furniture continues to resonate today. The focus on craftsmanship, quality materials, clean lines and functional design creates pieces that are designed for the way we live.
What I also love about timber is how it continues to evolve over time. Its natural strength, unique grain and tactile quality allow each piece to become part of the home for many years to come.”
When creating a cosy living room for the colder months, what do you think people often overlook when choosing furniture and styling their space?
“People sometimes focus on how a room looks before considering how they want it to feel. The most successful spaces are not about following a particular style but more about creating a room that feels natural and personal.
When creating a cosy living room, especially during the colder months, I think it is important to choose pieces that genuinely suit your home and the way you live. The spaces we are most drawn to are often the ones that feel relaxed, personal and true to the people who live there.
My advice is to take the time to choose furniture that you truly love and that feels right for your space. During winter, our homes become places where we naturally spend more time, and when a room reflects your personality, it becomes somewhere you genuinely enjoy returning to.”
Creating a Living Room to Enjoy Through Winter
“I believe the best living rooms are those that invite you to slow down and enjoy being at home. They are spaces that reflect the people who live there and evolve with them over time.
Winter is a beautiful season to appreciate the rooms we use most. It’s about creating an environment that feels comfortable, relaxed and personal - somewhere that feels like home throughout the colder months.
Choosing furniture is about more than how a piece looks. It’s about how it feels, how it functions and how it becomes part of the home.
I’d love to welcome you into one of our showrooms to experience our collections in person, or you can explore our range online and discover pieces designed to help create a living room you’ll enjoy throughout the colder months.”
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