Step 1 Choose your palette carefully.
Start by selecting a warm and cozy color palette. This image uses deep greens, oranges, reds, and golden tones to create a comforting, homey feeling. The green wallpaper and floral accents provide a calm background, while the orange and red details bring warmth and energy.
When choosing your palette, think about the mood you want your illustration to express—warm colors make a scene feel lively and inviting, while cool tones can make it feel quiet and calm.
Step 2 Outline your shapes with bold lines.
Use clean, thick black outlines to define every object in the room—such as the girl, the cat, the furniture, and the background details. These outlines help the colors stay contained and give the artwork its charming cartoon look.
If you’re working digitally, use a pressure-sensitive brush to vary the line thickness slightly for a more natural, hand-drawn effect.
Step 3 Apply flat base colors first.
Begin by filling each section with flat color. The girl’s skirt, for example, starts with a solid gradient of orange fading into purple, while the walls are filled with an even dark green. Don’t worry about details yet—this stage is about blocking in the main hues so the whole composition feels balanced.
Step 4 Add shading and highlights.
Once your base colors are in place, add shadows to give the room depth. Notice the light source—here, the lamp above the table casts a soft glow. Shadows appear beneath the girl’s skirt, behind the cat, and on the floor where the broken vase lies. Use darker versions of each base color for shadows and lighter tones or yellows for highlights.
Step 5 Add patterns and small details.
To make the room feel cozy and lived-in, add patterned textures. The polka dots on the couch, the flowered wallpaper, and the framed wall art all help create personality. Keep these designs simple and use colors that match your overall palette so nothing feels out of place.
Step 6 Use gradients to create warmth.
Gradients are used throughout the image to add warmth and dimension. The girl’s skirt transitions from red to purple, while the lighting near the lamp softly brightens the upper walls. Gradients make the colors feel less flat and give the room a cozy glow
Step 7 Add finishing touches.
Finally, refine the details: smooth any uneven color areas, brighten the cat’s eyes for a lively sparkle, and ensure the shadows align with the light source. The end result is a colorful, storybook-style image full of charm and warmth.
By layering flat colors, gentle shading, and thoughtful details, this cozy cat scene illustration achieves its delightful, comforting look.