Categories: Apartments

How To Style A Small Living Room

Just because you’re living with a small living room doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. There are plenty of ways you can utilize that space to make that small living room seem bigger and more spacious than it is! There are many different ways to style your small living room that will both bring it to life and make it seem more spacious. You can utilize themes or colors to make the room warm and inviting as well as choose the perfect furniture and storage to make it seem more open and bigger! Here are some suggestions on how to style a small living room!

1. Hanging Planters

House plants are great for styling your small living room with the color and life they bring! Utilizing hanging planters helps to save floor space in your small living room as well. You can get a variety of plants depending on your preferences or decorative theme of the room. It’s also easy to make your own hanging planters if you don’t want to spend the money!

2. Create Space Using Mirrors

One of the best ways to make “more space” in your small living room is by using mirrors! Big mirrors can help create the optical illusion of space in a room. It tricks your mind into thinking there’s more in the room than there actually is. This helps (mentally) broaden your small living room to feel more spacious. It’s similar to how they’re used in small gyms so people don’t feel so close together and suffocated by the people next to them. Mirrors are also great for brightening up rooms if placed strategically across from big windows! 

3. Multi-Use Furniture!

Choosing the right furniture can make a difference in your small living room. You want to make your small living room feel less small and crowded so that means having less furniture and more open space. One way to do that is to have multi-use furniture such as a coffee table that opens up for some storage! You can put in blankets, pillows, remotes, and pretty much anything you need to in order to help clear clutter and open up more space. There are lots of different kinds of multi-use furniture like storage ottomans or coffee tables with extending desks inside. It’s definitely worth looking into when styling your small living room!

4. Storage is Key

When styling a small living room the way you manage storage is key. You want to have enough storage for the things you need but you also want to do it in an attractive manner that doesn’t take up too much of your already limited space. You can use an awkward corner behind the couches for keeping extra blankets and pillows and such so they’re accessible but out of sight. Living in a place with a small living room can also help you realize if you have too much stuff and maybe it’s time for a spring cleaning of some useless junk that you keep for no real reason.

5. Hanging Shelves

When space for decorative items like books, pictures, etc. is limited you should take advantage of the convenience of hanging shelves! The presence of hanging shelves with nice photos, houseplants, or personal items really spruce up your small living room making it feel homier. You can get hanging shelves that physically hang by ropes or some wall shelves that you just need to drill into the wall.

6. A Gallery Wall

A fun idea for styling your small living room can be by utilizing a big, empty wall and decorating it with a gallery of things. For example, you can hang a bunch of photos/paintings in a cool arrangement to really give some color to the room. Also, if you’re looking to distract yourself and guests from the small space then having bright colors in frames and prints on the wall will surely help.

7. Natural Light

Having access to some windows in your small living room can really make a big difference. You don’t want to block that light out you want to let it open up that living room and give it some light and life. It can help make that small room not feel so claustrophobic when you can look out and see the outside. Utilize natural light in your small living room!

See Also

8. Minimal Design

One option for styling your small living room is to strive for a minimal look. Not every living room needs a big couch and coffee table across from a TV setup. If all you need to have a comfortable living room is a desk and maybe a table to eat at in addition to your bookshelf and such then you do that. Design your small living room to fit your needs and preferences to make it feel comfortable to you.

9. L-Shaped Couch

An L-Shaped couch can be really nice in a small living room for both saving space and providing plenty of seating. If you measure it right you can place an L-shaped couch right into the corner of that small living room with a perfect fit. This way you’ll have plenty of seating for guests so you won’t need to worry about one couch and some additional love seats. You’ll save space and get an aesthetically-pleasing couch into your living room.

10. A Big Rug

Decorating your small living room with a big rug can be good for both design and in helping it appear more spacious. If the rug is really big then it can have a trick (similar to mirrors) that makes the room seem bigger and more spacious than it actually is. Rugs also help accent designs of a room! Although you have to worry more about spills than hardwood floors, having an additional rug on top of carpet could save your security deposit when you don’t end up staining the actual carpet but just your rug.

What are your favorite ways to style a small living room? Share in the comments the furniture, layout, and anything else!

Featured Image Source: Photo by Devon Janse van Rensburg on Unsplash
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Tags: home decor
Samuel Anderson

I have a passion for helping others and see journalism as a great way to reach and impact many people. Born in Texas but raised in the San Francisco Bay Area! Then with a short detour in Boulder, Colorado to get my bachelor's in Journalism with a minor in political science. I'm a determined, motivated individual striving to make a difference in this world. I have hopes to play a role in the continued development of journalism and in maximizing efforts to inform and inspire the public. Check out my articles on Society19!

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