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Small Living Room Ideas to Make the Most of Your Space

Read it if you have a small living room!

By Mia AckersonPublished 6 years ago 3 min read

When you have a small living room, the key lies in knowing how to style it to make it seem larger. In order to maximize light and space, you need to pay attention to color, scale, weight and arrangement of all the features necessary for a cozy living room. Continue reading to learn about a few styling tricks that make a small living room seem larger.

1. Mind the Colours

When talking about some functional ways to decorate a small living room and create space, the colors play an important role. One of the ways you can make your living room feel more spacious is by using neutral colors for walls, ceiling and furniture upholstery. Colors such as off-whites and beige expands the space. It seems as if these colors push back the walls. Soft hues are also appealing for a small room as they reflect light. Neutral colors also add to the overall elegance and serenity of the room.

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2. Opt for Small-Scale Furniture

A small living room works better with small-scale furniture. If you use some bulky and massive furniture pieces, they’ll overpower the room. So, it is much better to use a sofa with thin arms and a tightly upholstered back than one with huge arms and massive back. Some other options include a loveseat, which is perfect for small living rooms or armless chairs around the coffee table. You can also opt for furniture with exposed legs. These can include a sofa, chairs and a coffee table. They make the space feel open and they provide you with storage options. A lifesaver for a small living room is a swing chair – it’s a comfy, modern, stylish and space-saving seating option.

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3. Reconsider Flooring Options

Another important factor you need to consider carefully when it comes to decorating small living rooms are flooring options. When it comes to color, a combination of a darker-toned flooring with cool tones on walls and ceiling expands the room visually. To create an optical illusion of a larger room, lay the carpet pattern or other types of flooring diagonally. Another tip to keep in mind is that you should opt for the biggest tiles or the widest planks for your small living room. When the flooring looks larger, the room itself looks larger. For example, if you choose vinyl flooring, make sure you choose 16, 18, or 24-inch tile size, rather than the standard square foot tile. Don’t forget to keep everything you can off the floor, it will provide more actual space and it will give an impression of a larger room.

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4. Choose Glass or Mirrored Furniture

In cases of small living rooms, reflective surfaces are your advantage. You can add a few mirrors in the room and use a glass coffee table to create a brighter and more spacious living room. A pro tip for hanging a mirror in your small living room says to place it opposite your window so it will reflect the view and give an impression of another window. You can also put a light source behind it to create an ambiance.

5. Place Furniture Strategically

Interior designers suggest that when it comes to decorating small living rooms, you should avoid pushing your furniture to the walls as it will make it seem even smaller. You can also add some multi-functional furniture pieces such as ottomans, which can function as a coffee table, extra seating option and a footstool. Built-in shelves are also a good option as they provide plenty of space for books and other decorative items without occupying too much space in the room. Remember to angle and layer your furniture in accordance with your style and needs.

Even a small living room can look spacious, cozy and stylish with the right interior design ideas. Don’t be afraid to be creative and use your imagination, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

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About the Creator

Mia Ackerson

Mia Ackerson is a Melbourne-based writer. Loves writing about home decorations, home improvements and her personal experiences. She’s also interested in reading books, movies, music, baking, and gardening. You can follow her on twitter .

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