Snug, nook, den, reading room… whatever you call it, the only rule for this small room is that comfort is key. These interiors from the ELLE Decoration archive show that snugs can be integrated into homes of all sizes and styles, providing a much-loved room that provides a retreat within a home.
Rustic vibes abound in this Oxfordshire new build
With its chic exposed beams, painted in ‘Harley Green’ by Farrow & Ball, and vintage bamboo stools, you’d be forgiven for thinking this cosy snug is part of a heritage home rather than a new-build. That’s down to interior designer Katie McCrum, who was tasked with adding layers, character and a proper sense of home to this off-plan property in Oxfordshire.
A snug with New York views
Designer Jason Saft took one of the bedrooms in this airy New York loft and transformed it into a cosy snug. A tomato red paint across the walls and ceiling, vintage objects and a welcoming banquette covered in Dedar’s ‘Tiger Mountain’ combine to create a space that is cosy, comforting and incredibly stylish.
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Wall-to-ceiling print in a London home
When overseeing the ‘gut job’ renovation of her London home, designer Emma Stevenson wasn’t afraid to push the boundaries when it came to the architectural restructure by installing a double-height atrium into the small home and challenging her architect to think laterally when it came to storage. Her fearless approach extended to decorating, too; she wrapped the snug, which functions as a television room, in ‘Astrea’ wallpaper from Fermoie with custom seating in the same print from The Sofa and Chair Company.
A custom sofa in a cosy snug in Amsterdam
Formerly an unloved office space, designer Nicole Dohmen saw the potential in this 19th century building to become an inviting family home. Cosy touches abound, from layered textiles to wooden beams and a snug off the main bedroom featuring a custom-made sofa by Designed by David covered in a cotton velvet from Misia.
A dark and moody nook in Marylebone
The bespoke daybed that fits so perfectly into this reading room in a London home is covered in fabric from Caravane, while the colour in this space – ‘Silent’ by Francesca’s Paints – makes for an indulgent retreat. Above the daybed is a canvas by German multimedia artist Kai Althof. On the other wall of the snug is a bespoke desk and a stool by Carlo Mollino for Doro, part of a range originally designed for the Lutrario ballroom in Turin.
A snug in the eaves of a Swedish barn
‘I love natural materials because they withstand time with dignity,’ says Martin Nygren, the homeowner who built this modern barn in Skåne, southern Sweden. A perfect little hideaway slotted into the space between the eaves, the snug features a ‘Baseline’ sofa by Eilersen paired with an ‘Oak’ coffee table by Jonas Lindvall for Scandiform.
The snug that's home to a treasure trove of objects
‘I was born in Germany to an interior-designer mother with Persian heritage, so I was exposed to, and fascinated by, different materials from a young age.’ The vibrant home of designer Miriam Frowein reflects her love of storied and sentimental pieces; the snug, wallpapered in ‘Priya’ by Scion, is home to a collection of vintage treasures. The daybed, sofa (reupholstered in velvet from Kvadrat) and coffee table by Danish designer Peter Hvidt are all secondhand finds while the metallic floor lamp is a vintage Italian piece.
A party-ready snug in Maastricht
This sexy take on a snug is located in the penthouse of this glamorous Maastricht apartment. Referred to by the owners as the observatory, the space has a stellar quality thanks to its custom-designed sofa, upholstered in gold ‘Champion’ fabric by Jab Anstoetz, and the deep blue ‘Wallstreet-14’ wallpaper by the Dutch Walltextile Company. The bronze and mirrored-glass coffee table is a bespoke design by Nicemakers, realised by Soons Interieurbouw. The ceiling lights are the ‘Austere’ by Hans Verstuyft for Trizo21.
A snug made for talking in Melbourne
This roomy conversation pit was part of the original architecture of this Melbourne home. Studio Doherty added a little comfort and vibrancy with the modular ‘Tufty-Time’ sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia. The blue curtain separating this poolside room from the study is made using sheer ‘Rocket’ fabric from Kvadrat. The side table is from local store Dust Merchants and the vessel on it is a piece by Tara Shackell.
Colour and print abound in this Lisbon apartment
‘This is not your all-white, boucle-textured or sculptural algorithm of an interior,’ says designer Gracinha Viterbo of this colourful and art-filled home in Lisbon. The joinery in the snug is coated in ‘Charlotte’s Locks’ by Farrow & Ball with the walls covered in Thibaut’s ‘Wicker Weave’ grasscloth wallpaper. A Maison Pierre Frey rug and cushions by Viterbo Interior Design atelier on the custom sofa pick up the rich rusty tones of the room.
A downstairs snug made for relaxing
This home in bustling east London is a serene escape for its owners, with a lower-ground floor snug offering a sanctuary within a sanctuary. The intimate space features bespoke storage in white-oiled Douglas fir and a ‘Camaleonda’ sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia, reupholstered in moleskin velvet by Béton Brut, while the side table is a Jacques Hitier design from the 1950s.
A paint box box of a snug in Melbourne
In this largely white home the snug provides a surprise pop of bold, 80s-inspired colour. To create an intimate feel in this sunken space, walls and custom-made cabinetry were painted in the distinctive ‘Mosaic Tile’ by Dulux, with a carpet in a similar shade of green. Brass details – on the door handles and cabinetry – and a mirrored wall lend a touch of glamour. A vintage ‘Numero’ chair by Australian designer Grant Featherston and a mustard-coloured ‘Bonnie’ armchair by Pierre Paulin for Ligne Roset sit either side of a ‘Plec’ coffee table by Antoni Pallejà Office for RS Barcelona.
The snug with garden views in London
Milanese architecture firm Quincoces-Dragò & Partners transformed this Notting Hill townhouse by installing a skylight into the attic, flooding what was a tall dark home with light. The snug also enjoys natural light, while a vintage sofa reupholstered in terracotta coloured velvet offers a comfortable spot to hide away while enjoying view across the garden.
An inviting fireplace is the focal point of this den
Part of the original 1930s bones of this renovated Melbourne home, this cosy room is centred around the original brick fireplace. The walls are painted a moody green – a shade echoed by the tones of Michel Ducaroy’s ‘Togo Fireside’ chairs for Ligne Roset – while Gubi’s rattan ‘9602’ floor lamp by Paavo Tynell introduces another texture into the scheme. The rug is from Lahandira, the wooden stool is a vintage find and above hangs a ‘Milana’ by Jaume Ramírez for Marset pendant light.
A rustic hideaway in a London apartment
This former artist’s home in Notting Hill is an ode to the wabi-sabi philosophy of Belgian minimalist Axel Vervoordt. Homeowner Rafic Said worked with interior designer Saskia Blyth-Collinson to source reclaimed wood from France and Belgium to create a rustic, lived-in feel. The snug features those rustic beams along with a custom-designed stone coffee table, with ‘Flo’ by Foster + Partners for Lumina floor lamps.
A velvet sofa is the star of this snug
Interior decorator Simone Haag used ‘velvet, clashing patterns and pops of soft colour’ to temper the ‘masculine elements, such as the abundance of raw concrete,’ of this modern home in Melbourne. The snug features a red velvet ‘Softly’ sofa by Nick Rennie and a ‘Lace’ footstool by Benjamin Graindorge, both for Ligne Roset. The ‘Zig Zag’ marble coffee table is by Patricia Urquiola for Budri and the rug is a custom-design by Simone.
Comfort meets brutalism in this cosy space
The raw, robust materials like concrete and exposed brickwork that define this London home are tempered by warm tactile materials. The snug, which sits below the former carport, sums up this juxtaposition of brutalism and comfort; a vintage ‘Togo’ sofa by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset is paired with a black sofa from Klein Agency in Los Angeles, an artwork by Arran Gregory and ‘Nimbus’ side table by Heerenhuis.
