Living rooms are commonly envisioned as some of the largest spaces within a home, but what to do if yours isn’t?
Perhaps you have a small lounge to work with or you must fit a kitchen, dining room, and a living room in one?
Worry not! There are some great tips & tricks out there to help you make the most of even the tiniest living room.
1. Say “No” to Clutter
Unless you’re purposely going for a maximalist living room, make sure to minimize decor and clutter in your small lounge.
This could be best achieved by getting multipurpose furniture you may also use as storage, as well as going easy on decor.
2. Bright Walls Create an Illusion of Spaciousness
It’s more or less common knowledge that bright walls with equally as bright ceilings make for a seemingly larger space.
It doesn’t necessarily have to mean you must limit yourself to white walls only. There are plenty of pastel and neutral colors that would work just as well.
3. Slim-Line Furniture to the Rescue
Slim-line furniture in regards to living rooms mainly entails armchairs and coffee tables. This means the furniture with long, thin legs that elevate it off the ground.
This type of furniture creates an illusion of empty floor space and spaciousness.
4. Try to Preserve Symmetry
It’s recommended to decide on a single part of the room to serve as your starting point, and then arrange the other furniture around it.
This way, keeping it all symmetrical will be much easier.
The starting point can be a TV, a fireplace, or a coffee table.
5. Consider Smaller Seating Areas
A smaller sofa may serve you much better than a bigger one if you’re working with a small space.
It doesn’t take up as much space, making it easier to move around your living room. And you could always add a taboret or an armchair later on.
6. Get Yourself a Large Rug
Though one would think that a tiny rug would make the overall room appear giant in comparison, apparently that’s not the case.
On the contrary, large rugs are the way to go if you want your living room to look bigger.
A general rule is to make sure your rug is slightly bigger than the largest piece of furniture in your lounge – like in the picture above, you may see that it’s indeed larger than the sofa.
7. Go Monochrome…
8. …Or Add an Accent Wall
Either can serve as the perfect distraction from how tiny your living room is.
A monochrome look, as above mentioned, achieves spaciousness, while an accent wall forces the attention to stay on it.
9. Soften It Up With Round Edges
Not only is round furniture super-stylish, but it also makes it much easier to navigate a small space.
It allows you to go around without hitting edges every step of the way.
10. Search for Multifunctional Furniture
Be it a hovering shelf you could also use as a mini-desk or storage seating, multifunctional furniture is sure to save you plenty of space.
11. Introduce Mirrors
Mirrors are an absolute must-have if you’re working with a small room.
There are two ways in which mirrors add spaciousness to a space. One is the apparition of additional space, and the other is the reflection of natural light.
12. Open Up the Hallway
Another amazing trick to make your living room appear more spacious is getting rid of the door that separates your hallway/entryway from your living room.
Some designers even go as far as removing the doorway, to make it all appear as one room.
13. Avoid Low-Hanging Lighting
If you’re a fan of chandeliers, then make sure to choose one proportional to the size of your living room.
Low-hanging, large chandeliers weigh down on the room, dominate the space, and make it appear smaller than it is.
14. Built-In Furniture
Though built-in furniture, especially storage, can be quite expensive, it’s by far the best choice for smaller spaces.
This way, you’re sure to absolutely make use of every nook and cranny in your living room.
15. Use Your Corners Wisely
Though corner sofas or, as they’re otherwise called, sectional sofas, are commonly tied to a large space, they may fit quite nicely in smaller living rooms.
Odds are you don’t have the room for a large sectional, but you can still find one that fits just right into a corner of your tiny living room.
16. Embrace Large Windows
Make sure that your small living room gets plenty of natural light, because like bright colors, sunlight makes a space appear bigger.
Forgo curtains altogether or find ones that are super unimposing and breezy.
In Conclusion
All in all, being clever about your storage is the primary way to keep your small living room bright and open.
Of course, you’re free to add wall decor, books, or a sculpture or two, but place them mindfully and look out for the symmetry of the space.
