Sometimes it is challenging to design a living room ‘right,’ both in terms of appearance as well as functionality, especially if the size of the room is small, but it is possible. If design is done well, even a small square footage of the living area can be as comfortable as any other. In this blog, I will share some practical advice and small living room design ideas that you can apply immediately to your home.
The Power of Making Plans
First of all, let me talk about planning, and then that will lead me to design. Most of the time individuals have approached me questioning how they can organize their limited space. I always tell them to know the kind of things they need. Are you the person who loves to entertain guests at home or the person who just wants a house to run away to? The applications you will make of the profiles will define your style options in terms of what you have to learn.
Start with a Clear Vision
This plan can be spread out if you wish, or the internet can give you an idea of the location. Intended to find the focal points, such as a window, fireplace, or other big thing that has an individuality. These will keep your design anchored for its desired perspective.
Furnishing Tips: A Basic Guide
Even the smallest of the living rooms means that every piece of furniture is crucial in that room. I believe that you should better choose those that can serve for more than one purpose.
1. Opt for Multifunctional Furniture
To save space, buy a couch bed or an ottoman with a storage area or a wardrobe with drawers. But you can have the space that does not look like there is anything in it and yet gets more done.
2. Make it smaller
Furniture that can occupy a large space is always likely to make the room seem cramped for space. For this reason, when decorating the building, I recommend low-height seats and chairs in the interior design. If you need to expand the look of a room, there is nothing worse than furniture that has all its legs touching the ground.
3. Use furniture with storage
Oh, it’s adorable when corner bookshelves or ordered niches fit the wall so that there is no spare space on the floor, and you have free space for your belongings.
Play with Colors and Patterns
The size of a little living room can either make it look great or awful depending on the colors that have been adopted. Light colors should be used because they tend to add to the space that you got and feel open.
1. Pick a neutral color scheme
Soft tones such as white, cream, and pastels seem to make every corner of a room look wider. I do believe, though, that to brighten the place up a little, one can put up pillows of a different color or hang some pieces of art.
2. Patterning that has rises and falls
Vertical patterns on walls or curtains can make it look like the ceiling is lower or higher depending on what is preferred.
3. Put up mirrors
One of the tricks that I love most is the use of mirrors in a certain space because with mirrors, the small space will look and feel larger. To the same end, one of the walls can be fitted with a large mirror or furniture of mirrored surfaces.
Hacks for Smart Layouts
Organizing space in a small living room: Of course, planning a small living room means using all of the space available wisely.
1. Set up clear zones.
It is possible to arrange the areas for rest, for writing, or for meals in a room even if it is rather small. It is suggested that such zones are to be properly delineated using the help of rugs or different kinds of furniture.
2. Put your furniture on air
That’s why sometimes I advise people to take our chairs away from the walls. This trick gives an illusion that the room is larger and things slide well in it.
3. Tables that can be arranged one on top of the other
Nesting tables prove to be rather compact but immensely helpful; an example of a nesting table. They don’t take up much space when not in use and can be used at any given time that you might require them.
Lighting: What Makes the Difference
Lighting forms the central difference in the perception of a small-sized living room and how people feel about it. I just believe that you need to coordinate the two purposes of lighting and the moods that come with both together.
1. Natural light from outdoors is essential.
Blinds that are too heavy should not be put over the clothes. Let light in with the options of sheer or light-filtering ones.
2. Installed task and general lighting
It’s always beneficial to add floor lamps, table lamps, and wall lights to your lighting to make it look even better. You will add dimension to the room and make the room feel cozy.
3. Point out important parts
Uniform lighting floods the entire room, but the use of accent lights focuses light on the art wall or on a desk or on anything for that matter in the living room.
Home Decor That Counts
As with any small space, you can enhance the look of a small living room through the use of decorations. But I always stick by the maxim that the less you put in a small room, the better it looks.
1. Choose pieces that can create impact.
Avoid placing a lot of small objects in the room. However, they are better off buying one or two special items, such as a fancy vase or a wall painting.
2. Add Textures on Top
Laying one soft rug over another, putting a few throws here and there, and soft seating placed one upon the other can make even a small room very warm.
3. Storage up high
Find the space above you and install hooks or shelves to the walls at a higher level. This will keep things off the floor and put something intriguing on the walls.
Transcending from problematics to opportunities
I am fully aware that designing a small living room is sometimes difficult, but I also think it can be creatively liberating.
1. Put away the mess
Cleanliness makes a room look larger than it actually is. It’s possible to cover something with something else by storing it in the boxes, bins, or in some other secret places.
2. Make things simple
Use simplicity as your interior design guideline and don’t put anything in the room that is not absolutely essential, such as a coffee table, lamps, ashtrays, etc. Who knew that in small rooms, quantity really is smaller than quality?
3. Add natural elements
There is always a way to breathe life into your living room no matter the size of the room. For example, I suggest putting in small plants such as cacti or some hanging plants.
How it works
Many of those who have utilized these small living room design ideas ask me, saying the room is much more comfortable and functional now. In this article, you will learn how to make your living room appear much larger than it truly is by selecting the correct furniture, placing it strategically, and designing it with intent.
Last Thoughts
You don’t have to sacrifice fashion or comfort when decorating a small living room. In this article, we will show you an inspiring example of a small exploitable room and give you some guidelines to create an individual and cozy space for rest. By implementing some of these small living room design ideas, you will be able to maximize the functionality of the room and add personality to the design.
Simply choose a couple of these ideas to help you transform the décor of your living room. I guarantee that you will like the outcomes!