Small living rooms can be challenging to decorate, but they can also be cozy, comfortable, and stylish.
With the right tips and tricks, you can turn your tiny space into a functional and beautiful oasis.
In this article, we will show you how to make the most of your small living room with smart furniture choices, clever color schemes, creative storage solutions, and more. Whether you live in a studio apartment, a cottage, or a compact house, you can find inspiration and ideas to suit your style and needs.
Use white paint on walls and trims to make your rooms feel spacious:
White is a light color that reflects natural and artificial light, creating an illusion of a larger and brighter space. White also helps to create a clean and minimalist look, which can make your apartment feel less cluttered and more organized. You can also use other light colors, such as pastels or muted tones, to achieve a similar effect.
Use the power of the tuck to hide poufs that serve as extra seating beneath coffee tables, assuming yours doesn’t have extra shelving.
Poufs are versatile and multifunctional pieces of furniture that can be used as seats, footrests, or coffee tables. However, they can also take up valuable floor space in a small apartment. To solve this problem, you can use the power of the tuck, which means hiding the poufs under the coffee table when they are not in use. This way, you can create more room for movement and make your living area look more spacious. Make sure your coffee table doesn’t have extra shelving or drawers that would prevent the poufs from fitting underneath.
Add mirrors in strategic places to make the rooms feel larger.
Mirrors are a classic trick to make any space look bigger, as they reflect light and create a sense of depth and openness. You can place mirrors in strategic places, such as opposite windows, doors, or artworks, to maximize their effect. You can also use mirrors as wall decor, such as a gallery wall or a statement piece, to add some style and personality to your apartment.
Utilize under-bench storage for excess items like baskets to keep clutter out of the way.
Under-bench storage is a smart way to use the space under your benches, tables, or cabinets. You can store items like baskets, bins, boxes, or trays that can hold your belongings and keep them organized. This way, you can reduce the clutter on your floor and surfaces, and make your apartment look tidier and more spacious.
Use furniture with small dimensions and leggy, airy pieces that don’t have a lot of visual weight to create depth and space in an area.
Furniture with small dimensions can fit better in a small apartment and leave more room for movement and circulation. Leggy, airy pieces are furniture that have thin legs or open frames, such as chairs, tables, or shelves. These pieces don’t have a lot of visual weight, which means they don’t block the view or the light, and they create a sense of depth and space in an area.
Use dish organizers to maximize storage space in the kitchen.
Dish organizers are devices that help you store your dishes in a neat and efficient way. They can be racks, holders, trays, or caddies that can be placed on your countertop, in your sink, or in your cabinet. Dish organizers can help you save space by stacking your dishes vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, depending on the shape and size of your dishes. They can also help you dry your dishes faster by allowing air circulation and drainage.
Place key furnishings like your sofa and large bookcases against the wall to take advantage of every square inch of floor space.
Key furnishings are the main pieces of furniture that you use frequently or that serve a specific purpose in your apartment, such as a sofa, a bed, a desk, or a bookcase. Placing them against the wall can help you maximize your floor space by leaving the center of the room open and clear. This can make your apartment look more spacious and comfortable, and also give you more flexibility to arrange your other furniture and accessories.
Add floating shelves in your toilet.
Floating shelves are a great way to use the vertical space in your bathroom and create more storage for your toiletries, towels, or decorative items. You can install them in any place that has enough wall space, such as corners, above the sink, or next to the mirror1. However, you should avoid placing them above the toilet seat, as things could fall and cause accidents or damage. If you really need to use the space above the toilet, you can add guard rails to surround the shelves and prevent things from tumbling down.
Go big with a rug.
A large rug can make a small space feel bigger by creating a sense of continuity and cohesion. It can also add warmth, texture, and color to your floor and complement your furniture and decor. According to designer Kuo, a large rug can visually expand your room by drawing the eye across the space and making it seem less cramped3. You can choose a rug that matches your color scheme or adds a pop of contrast to your space. You can also opt for a rug with a pattern that creates an illusion of depth, such as stripes, curves, diamonds, or geometric shapes.
Skip the coffee table in place of an ottoman or pouf.
A coffee table can take up a lot of floor space and make your living room feel crowded. Instead, you can use an ottoman or a pouf as a coffee table alternative that offers more versatility and functionality. An ottoman or a pouf can serve as a seat, a footrest, a storage unit, or a table, depending on your needs. You can also move them around easily and create more seating options for your guests5. You can choose an ottoman or a pouf that suits your style and personality, whether it’s leather, fabric, round, square, or colorful.
Keep it simple.
When you have a small space, you don’t want to overwhelm it with too many colors, patterns, or textures. It’s best to keep it simple and stick to a neutral foundation that creates a calm and spacious atmosphere. You can then add one feature color and one metallic accent to inject some personality and interest to your space. For example, you can use white, gray, or beige as your base color, and then add a pop of blue, green, or yellow as your feature color. You can also use gold, silver, or copper as your metallic accent to add some shine and glamour to your space.
Repurpose the side of your fridge to hold notes, or your light craft materials.
The side of your fridge is often an unused space that can be turned into a functional and creative area. You can use magnets to attach notes, reminders, photos, or recipes to the side of your fridge. You can also use magnetic baskets, hooks, or racks to store your light craft materials, such as scissors, glue, tape, or yarn. This way, you can keep your fridge organized and your craft supplies handy.
Use rugs to delineate spaces in a studio apartment.
Rugs are a great way to define different areas in a studio apartment, such as the living room, the bedroom, the dining area, or the home office. Rugs can create a sense of continuity and cohesion, as well as add warmth, texture, and color to your floor. You can use rugs that match or coordinate with each other, or that contrast with each other for a more dynamic look. You can also use rugs with different shapes, sizes, or patterns to create visual interest and depth in your space.
Use wallpaper in your living room to create the illusion of a tall ceiling.
Wallpaper can be a powerful tool to transform and enhance your living room. If you want to make your ceiling look taller, you can use wallpaper that draws the eye upwards, such as vertical stripes, geometric shapes, or floral motifs. You can also use wallpaper with light colors or metallic accents to reflect light and create a sense of openness and brightness. You can wallpaper the entire wall or just a part of it, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
Avoid too many small decor pieces, and simply focus on a few collection of high quality accessories.
Too many small decor pieces can make your apartment look cluttered, chaotic and cramped. Instead of filling your space with knick-knacks, you can focus on a few collection of high quality accessories that reflect your style and personality. You can choose accessories that have a common theme, color, or material, or that contrast with your furniture and walls. You can also display your accessories in groups of odd numbers, such as three or five, to create a more balanced and harmonious look.
Use nesting tables or benches with hidden storage to maximize storage and reduce space consumption. Ideally, you want to go for furniture pieces that are multi use.
Nesting tables or benches are furniture pieces that can fit inside each other or stack on top of each other when not in use. They are ideal for small apartments, as they can save space and offer more flexibility and functionality. You can use nesting tables or benches as side tables, coffee tables, dining tables, or work desks, depending on your needs. You can also choose nesting tables or benches with hidden storage, such as drawers, shelves, or compartments, to store your belongings and keep your space tidy. You can also look for furniture pieces that are multi use, such as a sofa bed, a storage ottoman, or a bookcase divider, to make the most of your space.
Use the windowsills to work holding books, plants and other decorative objects.
Windowsills are a convenient and creative way to use the space near your windows for storage and display. You can place books, plants, and other decorative objects on your windowsills to add some personality and interest to your space. You can also use windowsills as extra surface area for working, reading, or crafting, as long as you have enough light and ventilation. Windowsills can enhance your view and make your apartment look more cozy and inviting.