Are you in need of a living room makeover, but worried about preserving the space and character of your small living room? Don't fret! There are plenty of clever design strategies that can make your living room feel functional, airy, and stylish without sacrificing your creativity. Here are seven expert-approved tips to spruce up your small living room:
Use Neutral Colors
Start with a classic design trick: light shades create the illusion of airy space. Interior designer Natanya-Joy Gidoomal suggests sticking to whites, light woods, and natural fabrics. These colors trick the eye into thinking of nature and the outdoors. But that doesn't mean your space has to be bland. Interior designer Ariana Lovato suggests keeping the majority of the space neutral and adding pops of color with upholstery or an accent wall.
Go Bold and Cozy with Dark Shades
Contrary to popular belief, dark colors can actually make a small living room feel more welcoming and intimate. Embrace bold shades and add layers of soft textiles, like throws and cushions, to make the space even more cozy and inviting. By distracting the eye from the proportions of the room, dark shades can make your living room feel larger and full of character. Consider painting your trim the same dark shade as the walls to blur the room edges and prevent the eye from being drawn downward. You can also paint the ceiling darker than the walls to add drama and create an illusion of greater height.
Choose Slimline, Multi-Functional Furniture
In a small living room, it's important to choose furniture that doesn't overwhelm the space. Opt for slimline pieces that aren't too imposing. Instead of a sofa with wide arms, go for one with skinny or low arms, or even consider a sofa without arms. Selecting a sofa on thin, raised legs also creates a feeling of space and airiness. Space-saving and multi-functional pieces, like ottomans with trays that double as coffee tables, round coffee tables for easy flow and access, and double-duty furnishings with storage, are great options. Remember to float your furniture away from the walls to create a more cohesive illusion of space.
Make Your Windows Look Bigger
Maximize the size of your windows, even if it's through clever tricks, to make your living room feel larger. Extend curtain rods beyond the width of the window frame, add window shades just below the rods, or hang the rods higher to create the illusion of larger windows. Hanging sheer curtains lets in more natural light, which is always a bonus in a small living room. Painting the walls surrounding your window a dramatic shade can also make a bright window pop.
Mirrors Create the Illusion of Space
Mirrors aren't just for bathrooms or bedrooms. Bouncing light around with decorative mirrors can make your small living room seem brighter and more expansive. Consider positioning a full-length mirror on the floor to reflect an open, green garden, creating the illusion of the outside coming in and making the room feel even larger.
Layer Your Lighting
In smaller spaces, a mixture of lighting is best to draw the eye to different places. Combine floor lamps, ambient table lamps, and recessed accent lights for a visually and functionally balanced space. Use dimmers to set the ambience and create a cozy atmosphere. Tall floor lamps draw the eye upward, while table lamps make the space feel more intimate. Opt for slimline, space-saving light fixtures with exposed bulbs or small shades.
Don't Forget the Flooring
Area rugs are not only practical but also stylish additions to any small living room. A large rug can open up the space, but be sure that all four legs of the major pieces of furniture stay within the rug borders to maximize the illusion of space. Additionally, consider the grain of your wooden floors. Herringbone patterns, with their diagonal lines, draw the eyes outward and make the room appear longer or wider. Install the pattern running perpendicular to the longest wall for maximum impact. Finally, light-colored tiles or carpets can lift the space and heighten the illusion of size.
By implementing these expert-approved tips, you can transform your small living room into a functional, airy, and stylish space that reflects your creativity and style. Don't let the size of your living room limit your design possibilities - get started today!