TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Livingetc published a Q&A with London-based designer Filippo Calvagno on making homes feel cozy through layout, lighting, materials and color. His advice includes building a reading spot around an existing chair, using a bench and mirror in an entryway, and considering Farrow & Ball’s Dimity or Lick’s Pink 02 for warm neutral schemes.
Livingetc has published a home-design Q&A with London-based designer Filippo Calvagno, who offers practical suggestions for making rooms feel cozy without relying only on layers of cushions and throws. His advice addresses small reading areas, entryways that can become cluttered with shoes and bags, and neutral paint colors that change in natural light.
Calvagno’s approach, as presented in the report, centers on how color, texture and layout shape the experience of a room. For a reading spot in a limited space, he says homeowners do not need to set aside a separate corner or create a dedicated room. An existing armchair can become the starting point, paired with a side table and reading lamp.
He recommends choosing a chair large enough to sit curled up in, with a low table nearby for a book or drink. A lamp should provide enough light for reading without straining the eyes; Calvagno suggests a fabric shade to soften the light. He also advises selecting materials that invite everyday use, naming slubby linen, warm leather and bouclé as examples.
For a busy hallway, Calvagno suggests a bench where guests can sit to remove their shoes, while using an urn or vase beneath it to discourage the space from becoming shoe storage. He favors lighter colors in entryways to create a bright welcome and recommends a large mirror. For warm neutral walls, he names Farrow & Ball’s Dimity and Lick’s Pink 02, describing the former as appearing white before sunlight brings out amber or pink tones.
Small Choices Shape a Cozier Home
The advice is relevant to readers looking for ways to make existing rooms more comfortable without a major renovation or a separate room for every activity. Calvagno’s suggestions focus on small-scale adjustments: placing a lamp and table beside a chair, choosing softer materials, and using furniture to guide how an entryway is used.
His hallway recommendations also address a practical tension: an entrance should feel welcoming, but it can become a drop zone for shoes and bags. A bench, a mirror and deliberate use of the space beneath the bench offer ways to balance comfort with everyday organization. The report presents these as design suggestions, not as tested guarantees that clutter will be prevented.
The paint advice highlights how a neutral color can look different as daylight changes. That is useful for readers comparing samples or planning a room, though the article does not provide technical details such as light measurements, room orientation or finish. Its central point is that coziness comes from the combined effect of color, light, materials and layout, rather than from decorative layers alone.
Products Worth Considering
Philips Hue Festavia Outdoor Globe String Lights, 8 Bulbs, 22 ft
LEVOIT Vital 200S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms up to 1875 ft², Quiet 27 dB Operation, AHAM VERIFIDE Certified, Air Quality Monitor,
Philips Hue Festavia 65-Foot Smart LED String Lights, 250 Color-Changing Mini LEDs
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Calvagno’s Approach to Interior Design
The Livingetc report introduces Calvagno as a London-based designer with a Sicilian background, born in Germany, who has also lived in the United States. He says this international experience has shaped his approach to design. The article also notes that his background in dance informs how he thinks about movement, rhythm and people’s experience of space.
The Q&A is organized around reader questions rather than a project announcement or product launch. It covers three everyday design problems: fitting a reading area into a living room, managing a welcoming but functional hallway, and choosing neutral paint for a cozy atmosphere. The report includes examples from Calvagno’s work, including a Ligne Roset Togo seat placed beside a fireplace to form a reading area.
In that example, Calvagno says the client also found the seat low enough to use as a baby-changing station. That is an anecdote from the designer, not a general recommendation or a claim about the product’s intended use. The supplied article does not state when the Q&A was published.
““It’s nice to walk in and be met by a bit of brightness.””
— Filippo Calvagno, quoted by Livingetc
Details the Q&A Does Not Provide
The supplied report does not give a publication date, so the timing of the Q&A cannot be stated more precisely. It also does not identify the specific reader who submitted each question or provide a broader survey of designers’ views.
Calvagno’s guidance is presented as professional advice and personal preference. The article does not include independent testing of the paint colors, measurements for lighting or room layouts, or evidence that the hallway styling ideas will prevent shoes and bags from accumulating. Readers’ results may depend on room dimensions, daylight and household needs.
Applying the Advice at Home
The report does not announce a follow-up project, product release or scheduled next step. Readers considering the suggestions can start with the constraints in their own rooms: whether an existing chair can anchor a reading spot, where guests can sit in the entryway, and how daylight affects paint samples.
Calvagno’s named paint colors and furniture examples provide specific starting points, but the article does not establish that they are the only suitable options. Any further guidance or updates would depend on additional material from Calvagno or Livingetc; none is identified in the supplied source.
Key Questions
How can I make a reading area without a separate room?
Calvagno recommends adapting an existing armchair with a side table and a reading lamp. A chair large enough to curl up in and materials that feel comfortable to use can help define the spot without taking over the living room.
What does Calvagno suggest for a welcoming hallway?
He suggests a bench, a large mirror and lighter colors. He also proposes placing an urn or vase under the bench so the space is less likely to be treated as shoe storage.
Which neutral paint colors does he recommend?
Calvagno names Farrow & Ball’s Dimity and Lick’s Pink 02. He says Dimity can appear white before sunlight brings out amber or pink tones; these are his preferences, not a universal ranking of paint colors.
Does the article say cozy interiors need lots of cushions and throws?
No. The report describes Calvagno’s approach as more nuanced, emphasizing the combined effect of color, texture and layout rather than relying on layers of cushions and throws alone.
Source: livingetc.com
