How to create a cozy, comfortable den you won’t want to leave

While a den can be a home for family game playing, it’s important to have plenty of storage to keep things looking neat and tidy.  Photo by vitaly gariev/Unsplash

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Cosy, comfortable, and carefree — that’s how we want to feel when we hang out in a den. The multi-purpose rooms, which are enjoying renewed appreciation, are places primarily designed for relaxation.

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“To me, the best part about a den is it doesn’t ask you to behave, it asks you to put your feet up and get comfortable; it’s the room where the puzzle stays out on the ottoman for a week and nobody minds,” Erin Napier, co-host of HGTV’s Home Town, told Better Homes & Gardens.

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The key to a well-functioning den, she said, is versatility. First, think about the activities everyone in your home will do there during the week — whether it’s homework, having friends over for game night, watching movies, or reading. The next step is to “design for the busiest version of that room, not the tidiest,” said Napier.

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Adequate seating is essential, both in quantity and quality. You want to make sure that there enough seats and that they’re on the cushy side.

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“My No. 1 must-have for any den is having somewhere soft to land, whether it’s a deep sofa or a couple of oversized chairs that you can sink right into,” said Napier. She added, “A large ottoman is a great versatile piece because it can serve as a footrest tonight and extra seating tomorrow.”

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Lighting can also help create a welcoming vibe. According to Jo Plant, head of design at British lighting brand Pooky, pools of soft light can define sections of a room.

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“A cosy atmosphere is usually achieved by breaking up a space and creating smaller, more intimate, independently lit areas. Rather than strong overhead lights, try using more localized lamps, or a floor lamp to highlight a particular part of the room,” she told the Homes & Garden website.

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“Colour and intensity are also vital — try using a soft warm yellow or white light, rather than a stark white, and use a dimmer to find the right intensity.”

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And although a den should accommodate various activities, it shouldn’t look messy. That’s where smart storage comes into play.

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“I never want storage that looks like storage,” said Napier. “A vintage cabinet or an old dry sink can hide board games and cords just as well as a plastic bin and adds character instead of clutter.”

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She added that built-in shelving can display books and decorative objects in the open areas and conceal not-so-attractive items like wires and gadgets behind the cupboards. A built-in entertainment centre, meanwhile, will hold your television and things like DVD players and game consoles to seamless visual effect. Finally, pick a colour scheme that reads as intimate and enveloping. Emma Deterding, founder of Kelling Designs, told the Homes & Gardens website you can achieve this with either a deep or airy palette.

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“When decorating a den, it all starts with the walls — opting for darker tones such as deep blues, forest greens or burgundy reds will create a dark and moody space that sets the mood for relaxation instantly, while brighter and lighter shades will add colour, personality, and be just as restful.”

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