How to make a living room cosy when it is 40°C outside

In cold countries, cosy means warmth: a fire, heavy blankets, closed curtains. In the UAE, the outside is the hot part, and the home is a cool shelter from the heat and glare for much of the year. So cosiness has to come from somewhere else.

It comes from four things: soft, warm light in the evening, textures that invite touch, seating that holds you, and a sense of enclosure, furniture grouped close enough to feel sheltered. None of these makes the room hotter. All of them make it feel lived in.

Light changes the mood of a living room more than any piece of furniture. Many homes rely on bright ceiling downlights, which are practical for cleaning but flatten a room in the evening.

A common rule is at least three light sources at different heights. After sunset, switch off the ceiling lights and let the lamps do the work: pools of warm light make even a large room feel intimate.

The sofa is where cosy happens. Three things make the difference:

• Depth: 58 cm or more lets you tuck your feet up or lean into the corner with a book.
• Softness: plump back cushions and a seat that gives a little. On every Pufflo sofa you choose the feel at the same price: Cocoon, very soft, you sink in; or Classic, the medium feel most sofas have.
• Height: a lower seat feels relaxed and lounge-like. Nuage sits at 40 cm, with a 58 cm seat depth.

A chaise adds the final touch: one person can stretch out completely while the others sit. The Nuage corner, 262 cm with a 152 cm chaise, is made for exactly that. For the full comparison of comfort levels, read soft or firm sofa? Cocoon and Classic explained.

In a cool, air-conditioned room, soft textures feel comforting rather than heavy. Layer two or three of them.

• Bouclé is the softest: loops that feel like a warm knit. It is lovely in calm homes, and a weekly vacuum keeps the loops fresh.
• Corduroy has a velvet touch and a gentle sheen that catches lamplight in the evening.
• A wool or wool-blend rug underfoot makes a huge difference on stone or porcelain floors.
• Linen and cotton cushions and throws stay pleasant in every season.

Mixing textures in the same colour family, for example a sand bouclé sofa, a cream wool rug and oatmeal linen cushions, looks calm and rich at once. Our fabrics page describes each fabric honestly, and the How it feels guide on every sofa page shows how it feels when you sit and when you touch it.

Large living rooms can feel more like halls than havens. A few layout changes bring the warmth back:

• Pull the seating together so everyone can talk without raising their voice, within about 3 metres across the group.
• Anchor the group with a rug big enough for at least the front legs of every seat. See our rug size guide.
• Create a corner. A chaise against a wall, an armchair by a lamp, a sofa angled towards a window: corners feel sheltered.
• Keep the sofa out of the direct airflow of the air conditioning. A cold draught on your shoulders is the opposite of cosy.

Cosiness is not only visual. Many UAE homes have stone or porcelain floors, high ceilings and large windows, all hard surfaces that bounce sound around. Voices echo, the television sounds harsh and a room can feel restless even when it looks lovely.

Soft materials absorb sound. An upholstered sofa, a thick rug, lined curtains and a few cushions calm the acoustics of a room noticeably, which is one reason a furnished living room feels so much warmer than an empty one. If your room still echoes, add a larger rug or fabric on the walls, such as a woven hanging or bookshelves filled with books.

Scent plays its part too. Many homes here burn bakhoor or use oud in the evening. Keep the burner at a distance from the sofa and air the room afterwards, because smoke and fragrant oils settle into upholstery over time.

Cosy colours are warm, but in a sunny climate they work best when they stay light enough to breathe. Sand and warm white on the large surfaces keep the room fresh by day. Clay, deep green or caramel in cushions, throws and ceramics bring warmth in the evening, when the lamps are on.

Deep, dark walls can look beautiful, but in a room flooded with sunlight they can feel heavy. Use deep tones on a wall away from the windows, or in smaller doses. For palettes that work in UAE light, read desert colours for your living room.

The UAE has two clear moods: long, very hot summers and mild, pleasant winters, when evenings can feel cool, especially in the desert. A cosy room shifts with them.

The sofa stays the same all year, so choose one that feels good in both seasons. Under the air conditioning, a soft textured sofa feels as inviting in August as it does in January.