A Snug Room Is the Cozy Space Your Home Is Missing—Here's How to Create One

As the name implies, a snug room is a warm, inviting place dedicated to relaxation. Different from a living room, reading nook, or rest corner, a snug room is a self-contained area that is reserved for lounging on your own or with loved ones. A well-known concept in the United Kingdom, these cozy rooms are becoming increasingly popular elsewhere, too.

If a comfy at-home oasis sounds enticing to you, a snug room might be the perfect fit for your space. To help you create your own, we turned to interior designers to learn about what makes a snug room so unique and how to create one of your very own.

What Is a Snug Room?

The word "snug" immediately evokes feelings of warmth, coziness, and comfort, and a snug room is a room designed for exactly that. A snug room is a space in your home intended for total comfort and relaxation where you can cuddle up by yourself, with a pet, or with family and friends. Think plush furniture, cozy blankets, and a peaceful atmosphere.

“A snug room is a room that makes you exhale upon entering it,” says interior designer and founder of Lindsay Laine Interiors, Lindsay Lucas. If you’ve ever dreamed of having a dedicated room for downtime, a snug room might be exactly what you need.

Snug Room vs. Reading Nook

While you can most certainly curl up with a good book in your snug room, it’s still a markedly different space than a classic reading nook. A snug room is a small, self-contained space designed for relaxation, including activities like watching TV or snuggling with loved ones, says Krystal Reinhard, interior designer and founder of Old Soul Design Studio.

Snug rooms are meant to be soothing, and they have comfortable seating, plenty of ambient lighting, and may even contain a fireplace. A reading nook, on the other hand, is usually a tucked away space within another room used just for reading that is often no larger than a closet. Many reading nooks feature bookcases or shelves lined with books that give off the feeling of a library.

Where to Put a Snug Room

The first step to creating a dreamy snug room of your own is deciding where in your home to put it. “A snug room is a fun, tucked away space that would work well in a spare corner of the home or off the main living spaces,” says Maggie Griffin, interior designer and owner of Maggie Griffin Design. The best setting for a snug room is one that offers privacy, separated from the rest of your home.

“Small, even awkwardly shaped rooms can make the best snugs,” says Reinhard. Historically, homes were built with smaller rooms because they were easier to warm with a fireplace in the years predating central heating, she explains. If you have an older home, those small spaces make great snug rooms. In newer homes, a corner or small office is the perfect spot to establish a snug.

How to Design a Snug Room

Ready to create a snug room in your home? Follow these essential, designer-approved tips.

Go Small for Added Coziness

You don’t have to have a large home to create a snug room. “Smaller spaces are prime snug real estate,” says Sarah Hargrave, an interior designer and owner of The Dallas Collective. You can use a small den or office if you have the space, but even an oversized stair landing or corner of a room with plenty of ambient lighting can work beautifully. One of the reasons snug rooms are so cozy is because they are enclosed, so corners and low-traffic areas can really help create that feeling.

Incorporate Layers of Light

Lighting sets the mood for any room, but it's especially important for striking the right ambiance in a snug room. According to Griffin, layers of lighting create a space that will draw you in. A combination of natural daylight and soft light sources creates depth and warmth. Consider adding sconces, lamps, and task lighting to allow for all different types of activities. A fireplace can also add warm light to your snug room.

Choose Soft Furnishings

Soft furnishings are key in creating a snug room. A snug room should be comfy and layered in textures, says Lucas. Velvet and wool are ideal choices, and sofas, chairs, and daybeds should be plush. The more comfortable your furniture, the easier it will be to relax and decompress, so prioritize function over form when selecting pieces for your snug room.

Opt for Dark and Moody Colors

A snug room presents an opportunity to play with color in your home. “Dark and moody are inherently cozy,” says Reinhard. Part of human nature is to sleep when it’s dark outside, and dark colors can help you wind down, especially in the evenings. Reinhard recommends choosing color palettes that feature saturated earth tones like deep blues and charcoal verging on black. Dark colors make spaces feel smaller, which can create the feeling of a safe and cozy retreat.

Add Cozy Touches

First and foremost, a snug room should be comfortable. Up its cozy factor by incorporating comfy elements, like throw blankets, pillows, and an area rug. These plush accents will make your space feel warm and inviting. Opt for warm colors and simple patterns to keep your snug room from getting too loud or distracting.