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Whether you live in a studio apartment or a large home with only one living space, turning your living room into a functional and beautiful space can be tricky. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to make the best out of this small area! Here are some tips on how you can make your small living room look bigger and more inviting:
If you’re stuck with a small living room, you can still make it look big and beautiful.
All you need is a few smart ideas and the right design elements.
Here are some tips for styling your small living room:
- Use light colors
- Keep furniture to a minimum
- Make the most of your space with furniture arrangements that maximize the flow between rooms
- Add mirrors to reflect the light in your space
Go Minimal
When it comes to your living room, the style mantra is: less is more. If you have a small space, use smaller furniture and accessories to create an airy feel. The idea here isn’t just in the size of your pieces but also the style. A small sofa definitely contributes to this effect, as do most other pieces that come with a minimalist vibe. Your coffee table should be no larger than 30 inches wide (and ideally much smaller), for example—and make sure it has legs so that it doesn’t take up too much visual space in the room!
For those who want another way of keeping things light and open-feeling without having to sacrifice on storage space or style: try using two different kinds of baskets instead of one large basket (one tall basket on top of another short one). You can store books or magazines here while still creating some texture by stacking them on top of each other. It’s also important not to crowd these shelves with too many items if possible; only one or two stacks per shelf should suffice otherwise they’ll start getting lost among all those books!
Use Multi-Functional Pieces
- Use multi-functional pieces. Pieces that serve multiple purposes are great for small living rooms. For example, a sofa that can be used as a bed is ideal for smaller spaces. Another option is to use a table that can be used as both a desk and dining table if you have the space for it. Lastly, I love using coffee tables that can also serve as TV stands or even storage units!
Use a Smaller Sofa
A small sofa can be a great way to save space, but you have to find one that fits the room. Traditional sofas are often bulky, which makes them hard to place in a small space. If you have an older-style couch with thick arms and legs, try making it work by placing it against a wall. This will help keep the width of your sofa in check and give you more space on either side for seating or decorating.
If you’re shopping for new pieces, don’t be afraid of sectional sofas—they make great additions for smaller rooms because they take up less floor space than other styles of furniture do. A sectional that includes an armless couch is particularly easy to position in tight quarters; just make sure all the pieces are proportionate (no longer than they are wide) and don’t take up more than half of your room’s length when placed together.
Use Lighting Tricks to Make Your Room Seem Bigger
Small spaces can feel cramped and closed in. There is a way to make them feel larger, though: by using lighting tricks to make your room appear larger than it actually is. Here are some tips on how to do this:
- Use mirrors to reflect light into the space. Large mirrors will work best for this, as small ones won’t reflect enough light into the room. By placing large mirrors at opposite corners of the room, you’ll be able to brighten up corners that would normally be dark and gloomy!
- Use dimmer switches so you can control how much light comes through your windows at different times of day—whether it’s just after sunrise or during dinner time with friends visiting from out-of-town (or both), you’ll always have control over how much sunlight shines on your furniture and flooring depending on what mood strikes first thing every morning! Do keep in mind though that using too many lamps may clutter up an otherwise nice looking living room set up though…so try not overdo it when decorating with lights 🙂
- Chandeliers add drama but require certain types of ceilings (usually high ceilings) which might not work well in smaller apartments unless there’s enough space above all four walls like what we have here at home; see below for more info about chandeliers and other accessories like sconces & wall sconces which can also help create interesting effects throughout any room whether big or small 🙂
Accessorize with Mirrors
Mirrors are great in small spaces because they reflect light and make a room seem brighter. They can also be used to break up large areas, or add interest to an otherwise bare wall. If you’re trying to create the illusion of more space, try hanging them on opposite walls so that they reflect each other as well as the furniture in between them.
Although mirrors don’t give off heat like most other types of glass, they do help keep rooms warmer than if you didn’t have any at all! Try placing them strategically in your living space so that one reflects sunlight into another room during wintertime; this will help provide some extra warmth for anyone who spends time there!
With the right layout and decor, you can create a small living room that is beautiful, functional and friendly.
- Use a smaller sofa.
- Keep multi-functional pieces that can serve double or even triple duty.
- Add lighting tricks to make your room seem bigger.
- Accessorize with mirrors to create the illusion of more space and light in your small living room.
How to style a small living room with fireplace
You can add a few items of furniture to create some visual interest in your room, such as:
- Pendant lights
- Sofa table lamps
- Side tables
A small living room with fireplace can be tricky to style. The fireplace is an attractive focal point, but it also takes up a lot of space. Here are some ideas for styling a small living room with fireplace that will make the most of your space.
Use a sofa and chair set: If you have a sofa and chair set, this is a great way to style a small living room with fireplace. You can move the furniture around to create different looks, depending on what you’re doing in the room. If you want to cozy up by the fire, try placing the sofa facing it, with the chairs on either side of it. If you want to entertain guests or watch TV, place one chair at each end of the sofa and use another chair as an ottoman between them.
Place rugs strategically: A rug can help define your seating area while adding color and texture to your space. Use larger area rugs in front of sofas or chairs so that people aren’t tripping over them when they walk into the room (or when they leave!). You can also use smaller rugs under coffee tables and side tables to pull together different areas of your living room design scheme.
The decorating dilemma: You have a small space and you want to make it feel even smaller with the addition of a fireplace.
The solution: Make it an accent piece, not the focal point. The best way to do this is by incorporating other elements into your design that will draw attention away from it. As much as possible, try to avoid placing furniture in front of the fireplace itself. Instead, place it on either side and leave space behind for traffic flow or seating.
If you must have chairs in front of the fireplace, use ones that are not too bulky so they don’t block off too much space or get in the way of people walking around them. Also, be sure they’re positioned so they don’t block traffic flow or prevent people from seeing each other when seated (see image below).
To add interest to this area without making it feel like “the focal point,” consider using wallpaper on one wall (or even two) behind your furniture arrangement and keep everything else neutral so that it doesn’t compete with the wallpaper for attention.
How to style a small rectangular living room
- Use furniture that has a lot of storage space.
- Choose furniture with simple lines and a clean look.
- Make sure that all pieces are the same color or at least very close in tone.
- Add some greenery to break up all the wood and add a touch of nature to your space.
- Don’t forget about accessories! They can make or break a room.
When you have a small living room, it’s important to make sure that you use the space wisely. Small rooms can be just as stylish and comfortable as large ones, but they do require more thought when it comes to decorating.
A good way to make your small living room feel more spacious is by choosing light colors and keeping your furniture arrangements simple. Here are some tips:
Use the wall behind sofas and chairs as an accent rather than a focal point. Paint them in white or pale colors to lighten up the room, or paint them in darker colors like charcoal gray if you want a more masculine look.
Choose furniture pieces that have clean lines and few details. If there’s anything that stands out in your design, it should be the rug — not your sofa or coffee table.
Keep accessories minimalistic and try not to put too much stuff on shelves or tables around the house — this will help keep things looking neat and tidy without making them look too cluttered at first glance.
The best way to style a small rectangular living room is to make it look bigger than it really is. And this can be achieved by using color, light and texture.
1. Use color to make the room look larger
The key to making a small living room look bigger is to use warm colors like yellow, orange and red. These colors will help create the illusion of space since they tend to draw attention up and away from the floor. Pale or neutral colors like white and grey have a similar effect but they make smaller rooms feel even smaller because they draw your gaze down towards the floor.
2. Use light to make the room look larger
Lighting can also be used as an effective tool for making small rooms appear bigger than they are in reality. The best thing about lighting is that it doesn’t cost anything other than electricity so you can experiment with different types until you find something that works for you! Some suggestions include:
- Floor lamps with adjustable heads; these will enable you to direct light exactly where you want it
- Ceiling lights with adjustable heads; these are especially useful if you have high ceilings because they allow you to create interesting shadows on the walls which will make them appear higher than they actually are.
- Make It Feel Bigger
If you’re trying to make a small rectangular living room seem larger, use light colors and large furniture pieces. The idea is to mimic the effect of sunlight from large windows, so avoid dark colors and heavy furniture that will make your space feel smaller. To create the illusion of more space, don’t overload shelves with books and knickknacks. Instead, keep them sparse and add plants or artwork for interest instead.
- Make It Feel More Intimate
If you want your small rectangular living room to feel more intimate, use darker colors like browns and blues that help create a cozy atmosphere. You can also add soft lighting from lamps or candles on end tables rather than overhead lights for an inviting effect. This can be especially helpful if you have an open floor plan with no walls separating your dining area from your living room so that guests aren’t distracted by bright lights while they’re eating dinner or talking with each other at the table (and vice versa).
How to decorate a small living room farmhouse style
A small living room can be one of the most challenging spaces to decorate. It’s important to take into consideration the size of the room, as well as how much space you have for furniture and accessories.
To start, make sure that your furniture is placed in a way that makes sense for the room’s layout. If your couch is too big for the space, it will overwhelm it and make it look smaller than it really is. Instead, choose a sofa that fits both the style of your living room and the amount of space available.
Next, consider adding decorative elements to create visual interest and balance out any empty areas in your small living room. For example, if there’s only one window in your room, hang curtains or drapes over it to draw attention away from it and help create an atmosphere that feels more spacious than it actually is. You can also add artwork above your fireplace or mantelpiece to make the area feel more cozy and welcoming.
Another way to make a small living room feel larger is by choosing furniture with clean lines and simple silhouettes so there aren’t any bulky pieces obstructing views throughout the space. When choosing new furnishings for this purpose, opt for designs with less ornate details.
How to style a small apartment living room
A small apartment living room can be a challenge to style. It can be hard to make a room look good with so little space, but it is possible! Here are some tips on how to style a small apartment living room.
1. Get creative with your furniture choices
2. Use an area rug to define the space
3. Use color wisely
4. Add texture and layers
5. Use the right lighting
How to style a small square living room
If you have a small square living room, you can still make it look stylish and cozy. Here are some tips on how to do that:
Use less furniture
A small space can be made more welcoming by using fewer pieces of furniture. Instead of a sofa, try using an armchair or a settee with only one seat. This will help open up the area and make it feel more spacious. You can also use a chaise longue instead of the second chair.
Choose light colors for the walls and ceiling
Darker colors tend to make smaller rooms appear smaller than they actually are, while lighter shades will give your room a brighter feel and allow sunlight to shine through into other parts of your home when there is plenty of natural light available outside during daytime hours.
Choose accent pieces wisely if needed at all
If you want to add some focal point accents to your living room’s decorating scheme, choose them carefully so as not to overwhelm the rest of the space or distract guests from enjoying themselves while they’re visiting with you!
How to decorate a small living room cottage style
A small living room has its own unique challenges. For one, there are not many places to put all the furniture that you need. And if you have a lot of people coming over, the space can quickly get cramped. But don’t let the size of your room deter you from making it look great! With a little creativity and some simple strategies, you can turn any small living area into an inviting space for entertaining guests or just relaxing with family.
Here are some ideas for decorating a small living room:
- Use light colors on the walls. Light colors make rooms seem larger than they really are and make them feel airy and bright. If you’re not sure about which color to use, go with white or pastels for a classic cottage style look.
- Choose furniture pieces with clean lines and no clutter. A cluttered room makes everything seem smaller than it really is — both visually and in useable space. Choose pieces with simple lines that have built-in storage to maximize functionality while keeping things neat and tidy at all times.
- Place your sofa in front of windows where possible so that natural light shines through during the day and into evening when it’s dark outside.
- Don’t crowd the room with furniture. Remove any pieces that don’t serve a purpose and rearrange the remaining ones so they’re more evenly distributed throughout the room.
- Use rugs and area rugs. They define spaces, help with dusting and sound absorption, and add color and texture to your space.
- Opt for bright colors, especially in small rooms where it can make them appear bigger than they actually are.
- Choose white walls (or light colors) with dark furniture to give your space some depth and dimension, while keeping it from looking too cluttered or small.
How to decorate a small living room country style
Country style is all about comfort, warmth and simplicity. It’s the opposite of pretentiousness and formality, which makes it perfect for a small living room.
If your space is on the smaller side, you’ll want to keep things cozy and make sure that there’s enough room for everyone to be comfortable without feeling crowded. Here are some tips for decorating a small living room country style:
1. Choose warm colors like browns, tans, oranges and yellows for your walls and furniture. This will help expand the appearance of your space so it doesn’t feel small or cramped.
2. Select furniture that has clean lines and simple shapes; avoid anything overly ornate or decorative since this will only make your room look smaller than it really is.
3. Use throws or pillows instead of heavy blankets or quilts on chairs or sofas; these tend to look better in a more contemporary setting rather than an older-style one like country decorating tends to be associated with. A throw blanket can easily be moved around if needed without having to take everything out of its place just because you want to change up the look of your living room!
How to style a rug in a small living room
A rug is an essential element of any room’s design. It can be used to break up the room and add texture, color, or pattern. Rugs can also help define your space and create a nice ambiance.
In a small living room, you want to make sure that you choose pieces that won’t take up too much space or clutter the room. You want to keep it simple and clean so that it doesn’t become overwhelming. Here are some tips on how to style a rug in a small living room:
1. Choose the right material for your space
2. Think about scale and shape
3. Match colors with your decor
Small living room ideas
A small living room doesn’t have to be boring. With the right decorating ideas, you can make your space feel bright and inviting. Here are some tips on how to style a small living room:
1. Use accent pieces
2. Create multiple seating areas
3. Use large furniture pieces
4. Lighten up dark spaces
Conclusion
So there you have it, a simple guide to making your small living room seem bigger. The key is to use decor that has multiple functions and a layout that makes sense for the space. Remember: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” as Leonardo da Vinci once said. If you can go minimal on your small living room, do so!