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Livingetc published advice from designer Filippo Calvagno on creating a comfortable home through practical furniture choices, lighting, materials and color. His suggestions include setting up a reading spot beside an existing armchair, using a bench and mirror in an entryway, and considering Farrow & Ball Dimity or Lick Pink 02 for warm neutral schemes.
Livingetc has published advice from London-based designer Filippo Calvagno on making a home feel cozy, with recommendations for a small reading area, a more organized entryway and warm neutral paint colors. His answers focus on how furniture, light and materials shape the experience of a room, rather than relying only on decorative layers such as cushions and throws.
For a reading spot in a small living room, Calvagno says a separate nook is not necessary: a comfortable armchair can become the center of one. He recommends pairing it with a side table and table lamp, leaving room for a book and a drink and directing the light so it is comfortable for reading. A soft or fabric lampshade can diffuse the light, while a chair large enough to curl up in helps make the spot inviting.
Calvagno also suggests choosing materials that feel suitable for everyday use, naming slubby linen, warm leather and bouclé. In one example described in the interview, he placed a Ligne Roset Togo seat beside a fireplace, where it became a reading area. He said the client also found the low seat useful for changing a baby; that anecdote is the client’s reported experience, not a general design recommendation.
For an entryway, Calvagno recommends a bench for guests to sit on while removing shoes, along with a cupboard nearby for footwear. He suggests placing an antique urn or vase beneath the bench to discourage people from treating the space underneath as shoe storage. He says he usually uses lighter colors in hallways than in other rooms and includes a large mirror, aiming for a space that feels warm and bright without becoming a place where guests leave bags and belongings.
Small Choices Shape a Welcoming Home
The advice addresses common household constraints: limited living-room space, entryway clutter and the difficulty of making neutral rooms feel warm without making them look overly creamy. Calvagno’s suggestions are practical design ideas, not reported results from a study. They show how a few considered choices—a lamp beside a chair, concealed shoe storage or a reflective surface—can influence how a room is used and perceived.
For readers planning changes, the recommendations also distinguish comfort from accumulation. The reading spot can use furniture already in the room, while the hallway bench is paired with dedicated storage. That approach may be useful to people seeking a more welcoming home without adding a new room or filling every surface with décor.
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Calvagno’s Approach to Interior Design
Livingetc describes Calvagno as a London-based designer with a Sicilian background, born in Germany and with experience living in the United States. In the interview, he said this international background has influenced how he approaches design. He also cited his background in dance as an influence, particularly in how he thinks about movement, rhythm and people’s experience of space.
The article frames coziness as a quality created by the combination of color, texture and layout, rather than by adding layers of soft furnishings alone. Its questions cover three different parts of a home: a place to read and relax, the first area visitors encounter, and paint choices for a warm-looking room.
On color, Calvagno names Farrow & Ball Dimity as his preferred white, saying it can appear white on the wall before sunlight brings out an amber or pink glow. He also recommends Lick Pink 02, which he says works well with brown, a color he often uses. These are his stated preferences; the source does not compare the paints or test how they appear in different homes.
““It’s nice to walk in and be met by a bit of brightness.””
— Filippo Calvagno, speaking to Livingetc
What the Interview Does Not Establish
The source presents Calvagno’s professional advice and personal preferences; it does not report independent testing, reader outcomes or a comparison of the paint shades across different lighting conditions. The appearance of a color can vary by room, natural light and surrounding finishes, but the interview does not specify project measurements or conditions for the examples it describes.
The source also does not give a publication date, pricing, availability or detailed product specifications for the furniture mentioned. It is not clear whether Livingetc plans follow-up coverage or whether Calvagno’s suggestions were developed in response to a particular seasonal trend beyond the article’s reference to winter reading and holiday guests.
Readers Can Adapt the Suggestions
The article offers no announced event or future milestone. Readers considering the ideas can start with the existing layout: identify a chair that can support a reading spot, add a suitable lamp and table, and check whether the entryway has a place for shoes and bags. Anyone considering paint can test a sample in the room’s own light before deciding, since the source provides Calvagno’s experience rather than a guarantee of how a shade will look in every home.
Key Questions
How can I create a reading corner in a small living room?
Calvagno says it does not need to be a separate corner. Use an existing armchair or a chair large enough to curl up in, then add a side table and a reading lamp. A soft shade can help diffuse the light.
How does Calvagno suggest keeping shoes from cluttering an entryway?
He recommends a bench for sitting and a cupboard close at hand for footwear. He also suggests placing an urn or vase beneath the bench so the space is not read as shoe storage.
Which neutral paints does Calvagno recommend?
He names Farrow & Ball Dimity as his preferred white and also likes Lick Pink 02, which he says pairs well with brown. These are his personal recommendations, not a comparative paint test.
What materials does he suggest for a comfortable reading spot?
Calvagno names slubby linen, warm leather and bouclé as materials that do not feel too precious for a place intended for long reading sessions.
Source: livingetc.com
