A small living room can be light and airy! The tricks below will make the most of limited space using creative furnishing choices, smart use of color, and simple layout techniques. Once you have these ideas down, you can decorate even the tiniest spaces.
Small Living Room Decorating Ideas
Arranging and styling is often the easiest way to create the illusion of a larger space. With these small but flexible changes, you can create a big space in a small townhouse or studio apartment.
Smart Layout Ideas for Small Living Rooms
Choosing Furniture for a Small Space
The most common mistake in small living room decorating ideas is trying to turn a small space into a large one. You end up using bulky furniture that blocks walking space and makes the small space feel even smaller.
Leggy furniture is your friend here. Because light can pass through, an otherwise solid space is opened up. Over 200 square feet? Avoid a sectional and opt for a loveseat or two-seater sofa instead.
Investment pieces can include multi-purpose items. For example, an ottoman with storage can serve as a coffee table. Some pieces of furniture can grow as needed, such as an ottoman with a top that stretches to serve as an additional work surface and folding nesting tables that allow for additional surface space for guests to use while staying under a bed or in a corner until they are needed.
Use Color and Light to Open the Space
Color makes a significant difference when it comes to the appearance of space. Light or neutral colors occupy less space, while darker colors can make a space feel cramped when used improperly.
Color and lighting suggestions:
- Soft whites, greys, beiges, and other warm neutrals are great for painting walls.
- Bounce light around with a wall-sized mirror.
- Use floor and table lamps as well as lighting fixtures instead of overhead lighting that casts glares.
- Use sheers that allow light to come in.
The use of the right lighting improves the space and decreases energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy has some excellent suggestions regarding the use of lighting to get a warm and flattering light.
If you need more tips on how to decorate a small living space, check out our living room ideas for a modern small space.
Smart Layout Tricks for Small Living Rooms
Where you place your living room furniture is as important as the size of each piece. Shoving all the furniture against the wall results in an empty middle of the room and makes it difficult for people to converse.
Instead of pushing the furniture against the wall, try floating your sofa a couple inches out from the wall. Floating the furniture out from the wall most of the time makes a small space feel more thoughtful and intentional. Place one or two accent chairs in the open to create a small conversation area.
Rugs are larger space influencers than most people realize. A small rug gives the appearance that the furniture is floating on an island. To give the appearance that the furniture is connected, choose a rug at least the size of the front legs of the furniture.
Horizontal space is limited in small rooms, so it is important to use the wall space to your advantage. Bookshelves are a good way to maximize vertical space, and with the use of tall and narrow bookshelves, you can easily store more than you would with a short and wide shelf. Wall-mounted shelves free up floor space and allow you to have more room for decor.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Decorating a Small Living Room
We have some bad habits that can ruin the best intentions. Here are the most important to avoid:
- Not having sufficient storage. Clutter shrinks a room. Baskets and closed cabinets can help keep surfaces clear.
- Too much matching furniture. Furniture sets can appear boring and lack interest. Look for different wood tones.
- Scales ignored. A petite accent chair next to an large sofa throws off the overall balance and proportions of a space.
- Wall treatments. Place individual pieces of art thoughtfully instead of randomly sprawling art across each wall in a room.
Many tenants are not able to do major changes to their rental units. Our post on renter friendly home decor ideas has some great ideas on how to update the look and feel of your space using easy and temporary solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you arrange furniture in a small living room?
Floating the seating away from the wall slightly in an angle across the room toward the focal point, for example the TV or window, is better than seating up against the walls.
Should small living rooms has light or dark colors?
In small spaces, light non-distracting color palettes work best, but a large space can be created with a single dark wall.
How do you add storage and not make the room feel smaller and more cluttered?
Furniture with closed cabinets and seating that doubles as storage, like ottomans or bench seating, help conceal storage and avoid leaving open shelves.
Is it ok to use large rugs in a small living room?
Large area rugs are actually more suitable for small areas and help bring a space together as opposed to rugs that are too small and feel choppy.
Conclusion
When compared to a big living room, decorating a small living room may seem like designing in a straightjacket. The use of appropriate scale furniture, proper lighting, and an efficient layout go a long way to create enough positive space to relax in. Just start with a couple of these small living room ideas and you can easily add to your small living room styling as you adapt it to your home.
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