We independently select everything we recommend.
asserted
we → select → everything
Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.
uncertain
which → buy → work
Cosy, comfortable, and carefree — that’s how we want to feel when we hang out in a den.
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we → ’ → den
The multi-purpose rooms, which are enjoying renewed appreciation, are places primarily designed for relaxation.
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which → enjoy → relaxation
“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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Napier → ask → Homes
The key to a well-functioning den, she said, is versatility.
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she → function → den
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.
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it → think → movies
The next step is to “design for the busiest version of that room, not the tidiest,” said Napier.
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Napier → design → room
You want to make sure that there enough seats and that they’re on the cushy side.
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they → want → side
“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.
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Napier → have → that
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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it → add → footrest
Lighting can also help create a welcoming vibe.
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Lighting → help → 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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pools → accord → room
“A cosy atmosphere is usually achieved by breaking up a space and creating smaller, more intimate, independently lit areas.
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atmosphere → achieve → 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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she → try → website
“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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Colour → try → intensity
And although a den should accommodate various activities, it shouldn’t look messy.
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it → accommodate → activities
That’s where smart storage comes into play.
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storage → ’ → play
“I never want storage that looks like storage,” said Napier.
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Napier → want → storage
“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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cabinet → hide → clutter
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.
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shelving → add → cupboards
A built-in entertainment centre, meanwhile, will hold your television and things like DVD players and game consoles to seamless visual effect.
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centre → build → effect
Finally, pick a colour scheme that reads as intimate and enveloping.
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that → pick → scheme
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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you → tell → palette
“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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shades → decorate → personality
The Aporia
