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Decorating for small homes


32 Small House Interior Design Ideas

1

Incorpoate Reflective Materials

Rustic White Photography

Opt for white lacquered walls and glossy tiles, as designer Brian Patrick Flynn did here. The high-shine materials are reflective and will generate the same maximizing effect that a mirror will, bouncing light and making for a generally airer space.

SHOP TILES Zellige Tiles, $2

2

Opt for Pocket Doors

House Beautiful

Pocket doors with glass windows allow for shared light to flow throughout the space while also creating separation. And even better, they slide right into the wall when not being used, taking up much less space than swinging doors.

SHOP DOORS IKEA Sliding Doors, $180

3

Add a Gallery Wall

TREVOR PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Though it may sound counterintuitive, covering a wall floor-to-ceiling can make a small space feel larger. In Rudy Saunders's apartment, an assortment of framed works (plus an overscaled watch clock!) draw the eye up, making the 375-square-foot studio feel more expansive.

SHOP GALLERY WALL KIT Frame Sets, from $166

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4

Be Resourceful

Trevor Tondro

When space is limited and you don't want to shop for new, bulky furniture, use a chair as a side table and install wall sconces to save surface space. A cheerful color, like this pale turquoise hue, is also a good idea to set a happy mood in a tiny room.

SHOP SCONCES Arc Mid-Century Sconce, $79

5

Think Vertically

Nick Glemenakis

By hanging subway tile vertically—rather than the more common horizontal hang—designer Eneia White makes this modestly sized bathroom feel both taller and more streamlined. A tight palette of black, white, and blush prevent it from feeling cluttered.

SHOP TILE Subway Tile, $2.79

6

Hide the Utilities

Frank Tribble

For the restaurant at The Cornell Inn, Toledo Geller used drapery to cleverly conceal pipes and HVAC, creating an elegant canopy while avoiding visual chaos.

SHOP DRAPERY Navy Blackout Curtains, $31

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7

Hang a Swing!

Nicholas Sargent

Since it doesn't take up any literal floor space, a swinging seat gives the appearance of a much more open room. For proof, look at the daybed Tiffany Brooks hung in this room at the Kips Bay Palm Beach showhouse.

SHOP SWINGS Hanging Daybed, $953

8

Shrink Your Dining Table

Tessa Neustadt

Small round tables aren't just for breakfast nooks. Ditch the giant dining table and give yourself some extra space by opting for a small, round dining table instead, like Emily Henderson did here.

SHOP TABLES Marble Dining Table, $999

9

Use a Day Bed

Toledo Geller

Add a day bed and watch your bedroom double in size. If you don't have a designated guest room, this could also come in handy in your living room.

SHOP BEDS Monarch Hill Daybed, $672

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10

Maximize Shelving

Lesley Unruh

In this Manhattan apartment, Cece Barfield Thompson corralled the owner's books and accessories into one room, where built-in shelves—complete with gallery lights—make the items look deliberate. The best part? This library doubles as a dining room in the small apartment.

SHOP GALLERY LIGHTS Picture Light, $399

11

Express Yourself Everywhere

Anthony Dunning

Yes, even on the fridge—no, especially—your fridge and other bulky appliances. Since there's limited space for extras and less room to pile in all your favorite items, you'll need to beautify everything. Here, Anthony Dunning turned a regular old refrigerator into a design opportunity by dressing it up in removable wallpaper.

SHOP REMOVEABLE WALLPAPER Peel and Stick Paper, $150

12

Mount Your TV

Hecker Guthrie

A media console is the biggest space waster in a small living room. Mount your TV on the wall or above a fireplace and you'll regain necessary floor space.

SHOP WALL MOUNTS TV Wall Mount, $30

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13

Hide Your TV

KARYN R. MILLET

Or, even better, hide it! Whether inside of a credenza or disguised as artwork, this design trick is perfect for anyone whose living room is always their family room, dining room, and/or more.

SHOP MEDIA CABINETS TV Stand, $300

14

Do Double Duty

TREVOR TONDRO

Pieces that can serve multiple purposes are key: Find a table that can function as a desk and dining table, get a deep sofa that can double as a guest bed, or buy cubes that serve as a coffee table and bonus seats when guests are over.

SHOP SEATING Storage Ottoman, $315

15

Take Advantage of Architectural Quirks

Shade Degges

Every single inch counts in a small house, so be sure to take full advantage of architectural quirks—this way, they'll actually become your favorite thing about the space. That radiator by your window? Invest in a pretty radiator cover and customize a cushion so you can use it as a window nook to read and relax in. (And you'll be able to forgo the bulky couch that'll take up half the studio!) Pile on the pillows and add a pendant light for tasks, as Jae Joo did here.

SHOP RADIATOR COVERS Radiator Cover, $255

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16

Use Mirrors

Sara Tramp

It's the oldest design trick in the book: Mirrors will make your space feel larger, lighter, and airier. And a fun convex one like this adds a lot of personality without taking up a ton of space.

SHOP MIRRORS Mirror Plates, $16

17

Make Every Piece Count

Bjorn Wallander

Choose furnishings that offer maximum functionality in minimal square footage. For example, instead of an end bench, opt for a desk with a small side chair. You can use it for work, getting ready, and more.

SHOP DESKS Writing Desk, $68

18

Think About Scale

Corinne Mathern Design

If your kitchen doesn't have an island and you don't have a living room that's separate from the kitchen, don't give up on making it functional. Opt for a tall wooden table that can provide some extra counter space for cooking and as a two-top dining table. Use this one in a kitchen by Corinne Mathern Studio as your blueprint.

BUY SMALL ISLANDS Counter Table, $125

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19

Keep It Neutral

deVol Kitchens

Calm, even-toned rooms fool the eye into thinking they're more spacious than they are. Make sure to add a variety of textures to keep the space from falling flat.

SHOP PILLOWS Velvet Pillow, $6

20

Convert a Closet

David Kaihoi

Designer David Kaihoi used some seriously smart storage solutions to make his New York City apartment work harder—including creating this compact laundry "room" in his closet. That way, when he's not doing laundry, he can close the door on these eyesore appliances.

SHOP LAUNDRY MACHINES Washer and Dryer Unit, $1259

Hadley Mendelsohn

Senior Editor

Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.  

44 Best Small Living Room Ideas

1

Work In Twos

Read McKendree

Sometimes smaller spaces actually allow for bolder color and pattern experiments. Here, Katie Rosenfeld worked in pairs. She used the same floral pattern for the sofa and drapes, corresponding (and wilder!) cheetah prints on the carpet and throw pillow, and then coupled the springy green paint with the striped ottoman. If you love this look but prefer something a touch more modern, try this formula but then swap in the traditional prints for edgy, modern photography or an abstract painting.

2

Separate Zones With Lighting

Gieves Anderson

David Frazier carved out both a formal sitting and dining room within the same small space. A statement pendant over the pedestal table helps separate the dining zone, and stackable dining chairs can also double as extra sitting in the living room. Pops of dark yellow speak to the warm antique wood pieces and break up the monochromatic color scheme, and a ceiling-high curtain rod adds depth.

3

Orient for Visits

Avery Cox

Ditch the sofa altogether if you'd rather use the living room as a place to catch up and chat with others as opposed to lounging horizontally. Four blue-painted rattan chairs are oriented towards each other for visits, but they're comfy enough to recline and stretch out on during life's quieter moments in this fun small living room designed by Avery Cox.

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4

Play Up Period Details

Heidi Jean Feldman

In a Parisian apartment designed by Lichelle Silvestry, luxe, warm, and texture-rich velvet seating further enhances the elaborate period elements. “I adore using materials that add character and authenticity to my interiors,” Silvestry says. “It’s a sensory feast.”

5

Use refreshing Colors

Stephen Paul

In this small bungalow living room designed by Another Human, the contemporary linen-covered loveseat gets a bohemian treatment surrounded by a mix of granny-chic accents and '70s details. A surprising and rejuvenating shade of purple keeps things fresh and exciting.

6

Hang Plants

Fatma El Amin

Amber El-Amin worked around an odd overhang above the sofa area by hanging a plant from it. It enlivens the nook and brings a touch of unexpected whimsy without forgoing light—the two vintage lamps are strategically placed to brighten the tonal and laid-back yet upscale living room.

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7

Use Fewer But Brighter Pieces

Frank Frances

Located by the entry and kitchen in the Novogratz family home, this bonus sitting room is a crash pad for any loitering kids or guests. It's also a great design formula for anyone looking for a formal setup in a smaller space: Colorful artwork, minimal decorative objects, and streamlined furniture... Just the basics! But in bright colors.

8

Display Heirlooms In Open Shelves

Oliver Thornton

Old books and heirlooms will instantly make a room feel more personal, and exposed shelving and/or glass-enclosed cabinets will really let them shine. In this living room designed by Oliver Thornton, they add character and speak to the layered warmth of the furnishings, even though the space isn't huge.

9

Let a Room-Spanning Rug Do the Work

Tamsin Johnson Interiors

If you're feeling stuck and uninspired, a room-spanning rug or piece of artwork can be a great jumping-off point for the rest of the color scheme. Everything in this small living room is inspired by the gorgeous Art Deco rug, from the plaster color-blocked paint to the masculine leather sofas. A lucite table keeps a lower visual profile while speaking to the mirrored ceiling.

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10

Forgo Armchairs

Robert McKinley Studio

This simple living room designed by Robert McKinley Studio incorporates tons of texture, from the rug to the shades and the sofa. These casual materials make it feel casual while still being fresh and stylish.

11

Use an Upholstered Ottoman

Paul Raeside

A reupholstered ottoman will play the role of a coffee table, footrest, and even extra seating depending on what you need it for. It's also a great option for anyone with small children or pets since the edges are soft, and it allows for extra pattern plays if you choose something fun like this triangle print in a sitting room by Les Ensembliers.

12

Use Acrylic Furniture

Thomas Loof

Call on lucite and acrylic furniture in small spaces that start to feel visually chaotic. Thanks to their transparent nature, you can count on them to disappear into the background. A waterfall coffee table in this small living room by Ashley Whittaker is a prime example.

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13

Strategize With Mirrors

Lisa Romerein

Mirroring all your walls to bounce light may seem like a tall task, but what about just hanging a few separate wall-spanning mirrors and then customizing the frames with one paint color to make them cohesive? The green monochrome situation in this small living room designed by Benjamin Dhong is also inspiring use to layer various shades of one color.

14

Upholster the Walls

Francesco Lagnese

Bring on the cozy vibes with plenty of soft fabrics, and even apply them to your walls! A fabric-covered ottoman, lush blue velvet sectional, room-spanning rug, fun armchair, and upholstered walls. This polished space by Nick Olsen is all the convincing we need.

15

Be Flexible With Seating

AMY NEUNSINGER

In a bohemian living room, pretty much anything goes—but if you need some guidance, try applying this formula: daybed plus side chair, armchair, floor pillows, and a couple of stools. In this case, Commune Design also incorporated a statement rug and task lighting.

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16

Take Advantage of High Ceilings

Eliza Carter

Eliza Crater Harris, the great great-granddaughter of Sister Parish, doesn't let limited square footage stop her from incorporating plenty of personality-packed patterns. Ceiling-high curtains elongate the room to make it feel larger and clean-lined furniture prevents the room from feeling too full.

17

Keep It Cozy

Tamsin Johnson Interiors

Leaning into the smallness of a space can actually be what makes it feel genuinely cozy and inviting. Keep seating close together and intimate, pile one textile and rugs in neutral tones, as Tamsin Johnson did here. Then utilize your walls for everything else, from task lighting to colorful artwork.

18

Skip the Sectional

ERIC PIASECKI

If you're short on space, you might have the urge to fill all usable floor space with furniture. But sometimes less is more, especially in small rooms that can quickly start to look over-crowded. Instead of a large sectional, which can sometimes look bulky, float two smaller sofas across from each other with a two-tier coffee table in between, as David Mann did here.

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19

Think Outside the Box

Leanne Ford Interiors

Eclectic and organic spaces like this one designed by Leanne Ford Interiors call for quirky seating arrangements and out-of-the-box furniture. Two small stools are painted white for a softer, cohesive, and personalized look in lieu of coffee tables, cushions are piled on top of a ledge as a makeshift softa, and a swing is hung from the low ceiling.

20

Separate Zones With Area Rugs

WILLIAM ABRANOWICZ

Area rugs separate the different zones in this studio apartment designed by Peter Frank. There's also plenty of accent seating on deck but out of the pathways when not in use, a small space strategy that always delivers.

Hadley Mendelsohn

Senior Editor

Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.  

15 cool ideas — INMYROOM

Interior decor

Do you want to update and decorate the interior, but are afraid to lose money? Leave all doubts, because you can make a house beautiful and cozy almost for free. We talk about everything in order in this post

When it comes to decor interior, many of us mistakenly believe that home comfort is an expensive pleasure. It's time to dispel this myth, because you can decorate the interior and give it the missing zest almost for free. Bright candlesticks, festive garlands and colorful lamps - we tell you how to make decor items from improvised and seemingly unnecessary things.

Idea #1: Colors of autumn

Go for a walk in the park next weekend and collect a herbarium from autumn leaves. Dry the leaves and, armed with a brush, decorate them with rainbow patterns. Now you can safely hang them on the doors and windows of the house!

Idea #2: from childhood

Collected leaves can also be used to make funny figurines of animals and birds. To do this, simply glue the leaves to colored paper with painted eyes and ears. Children will be delighted!

Idea #3: fruity mood

A little paint and the old bag will be like new! Moreover, drawing a symmetrical pattern is easier than you think: you only need half a fruit. Dip it in paint and get creative.

Idea #4: Welcome!

Making an autumn wreath is not difficult at all: just wrap branches around a wire frame in the shape of a circle and decorate it with acorns, ribbons, maple leaves and mountain ash. Now it remains to hang a wreath on the front door.

Idea #5: a holiday is coming to us

Started a home party? Decorate your home with a colorful garland made from autumn leaves. To do this, simply paint them in rich colors and hang them on windows, doors or stairs.

Idea No. 6: Oscar for the idea

Let an elegant pumpkin vase become a festive table decoration. It is not so difficult to make it: the main thing is to carefully cut the pulp and the core of the pumpkin. Put flowers in the resulting hole - and an unusual vase is ready!

Idea #7: the best surprise

What holiday is it without gifts? Make them truly special with the original packaging. To do this, simply wrap gifts in wrapping paper or pieces of cloth and decorate them with rowan branches.

Idea No. 8: from the heart

In addition, you can always make a gift with your own hands - for example, a stylish candlestick. You will need branches, a regular glass and some glue. Gently glue the branches to the glass, put a candle inside - and give the candlestick to your family and friends.

Idea No. 9: all the colors of the rainbow

And by gluing multi-colored felt balls to the coasters, you will not only make them more functional, but also complement the kitchen interior with bright juicy accents. Now home evenings will become even more comfortable!

Idea #10: cat house

A little inspiration and you can make a funny flower pot with cat ears out of an ordinary bottle. To do this, cut off the bottom of the bottle (do not forget about the ears) and paint it in the color you like. The case is small: it remains to draw a cat's muzzle.

Idea #11: under control

It's no secret that a beautiful interior starts with order. It is not difficult to direct it: just cut cardboard boxes and paste over them with multi-colored paper. Now all the important little things will always be at your fingertips!

Idea #12: beautiful doesn't mean expensive

Don't know what to fill an empty wall with? We suggest to be creative and decorate it with corrugated paper. To do this, cut the paper into small squares, and then use the bottle to glue the panels directly to the wall. The interior will become more voluminous, and therefore interesting.

Idea No.

13: eternal beauty

Corrugated paper can also be used to make a delicate bouquet of roses. Even a child can handle this: wind the paper around a thin wire and glue paper petals to it. Spread the buds and enjoy the beauty of a bouquet that will never wither.

Idea #14: take the height!

Surprise your child with an airplane made from clothespins and popsicle sticks. This will take just a couple of minutes: just glue the sticks to the clothespin and color the resulting plane.

Idea No. 15: Gatsby style

A little glue and multi-colored glitter - and an ordinary glass will be exclusive. The main thing is to let the glue dry properly, otherwise fingerprints will appear on the shiny surface.

26 photo: New Year's illumination of a country house - how to decorate the outside of the house and the plot for the New Year

It is important to organize the lighting decoration of the house for the New Year to stable sub-zero temperatures. The fact is that in the cold some types of cable windings tan, it will be difficult to mount them. Street garlands are taken to decorate the house outside - do not use “home” (interior) lights for these purposes. If you buy or rent a set of holiday garlands to decorate a garden or a country house, be sure to check the moisture protection index (ip-44) and frost resistance (up to -40C).

ABOUT THIS…
It's about time: How to choose the right garland for the facade

Servicepoint

and above the entrance. 3

Hidden Creek Landscaping, Inc.

2. Garland - fringe
The decorative effect depends on the type of garland chosen. In this photo - the New Year's illumination of a country house according to the "fringe" principle. There are also curtains (item 6), threads and balls (next photo).

Need a repair technician?
Let's find a performer according to your criteria

Nite Scapes

3. Theater lights
The larger and brighter the lamps, the more theatrical effect they create. Google "retro garlands"). Pay attention to the distance between the lamps in the garland: with the same length, you can get, say, 20 or 25 lamps - more or less lights, respectively.

To decorate the house outside for the New Year, you will need at least 10 garlands of 10 meters each.

Light Up Nashville

4. Front only
Did you know that most users do not decorate the whole tree, but only one side (the other side is pushed against the wall anyway)? The same with real estate - decorating the outside of the house for the New Year is enough only from the side of the facade.

Landscape Illuminations

5. Add sockets
Lots of lights are not always good: modesty and saving electricity are in fashion. Look how effectively this garden plot is decorated - just a dozen large snowflakes on a tree, and a shining wreath as a facade decoration for the New Year. Of course, it could not have done without a garland along the contour of the roof.

Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes

Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes

6. Cascading Christmas lights at home
This solution came from the world of municipal Christmas decor. But if you live in a townhouse and decorate three floors for you, a similar option for decorating for the New Year is a godsend.

This is how the New Year's illumination of a country house looks from afar from the previous photo.

The Perfect Light

7. For the economical: spruce branches + garlands
Spruce branches allow you to save on lighting - it adds the missing volume to decorations. Please note: two types of garlands are used here at once, as a street decoration for the house for the new year.

8. Sculptural: outlining the roof
An option for minimalists how to decorate a house for the New Year is to decorate only the roof, literally outline it.

ilumus, llc.

9. Not a facade, but not a house either
Garlands on the terrace are perhaps the most common decoration of houses for the New Year. Easy to hang by yourself, no problem with power connection. The main trick is not to save on the number of garlands: there should be several cascades.

The Cousins ​​

10. Budget: Chinese lanterns
If you are looking for a budget decor option for your summer cottage, you most likely do not consider a full-fledged facade decoration for the New Year. But you can definitely stretch a couple of garlands on the terrace. Add IKEA paper lanterns to them: large balls will add the missing volume of light to a modest backlight.

todd hamilton

11. Lamp with shadows
You will need a perforated lampshade - the sharper the contrast between the outer darkness and the bright light from the inside, the more distinct will be the lacy shadows on the walls and ceiling.

Garden beds and flowerbeds can be decorated with similar lamps.

ABOUT THIS…
Tip of the week (22/52): Replace landscape light

RénoDéco etc.

12. Containers and balls
Another way to decorate your terrace for the new year is to use battery-operated garlands. Wrap balls of rods, place fireballs among containers with spruce branches.

The Perfect Light

13. Fire Bowl
Garlands in pots without plants will perfectly complement the decoration of a country house. You can use both plant-free garden pots and options with New Year's street compositions.

RELATED…
Outdoor Planters Winter Decor: New Year Rehearsal

Neave Group Outdoor Solutions

14. Wreaths with garlands
the outer side of the windows are wreaths wrapped in garlands.

Pay attention, in addition to the stroke along the roof contour, here - the curb in front of the house is glowing.

PollyPapier

Advice: If there is no wreath, but you want to decorate the house outside for the New Year, we wrap the hoop with a garland. Add spruce branches to complete the composition. We recommend installing the composition under the window or near the porch.

Grandin Road

15. Curtains
At first glance, this is an easy way to decorate the front of the house for the new year. It will take 30 short garlands. But think in advance where to connect so many outlets. Therefore, immediately look for such garlands that are connected through a splitter.

Christmas Lights, Etc

16. Spiral
A simple country house decoration is to wrap a garland around the stair railing.

Grandin Road

16. Poplar scene
You can get by with a small number of light paths that effectively descend from a tree into a snowdrift. The secret of success is luminous stars. And of course the “correct” corner of the garden, which is perfectly visible from the house, but does not interfere with the passage.

Sarah Greenman

17. Н garden buildings lighting for the New Year
Not only the house and trees decorate the outside for the New Year - a children's complex, a playground, a bathhouse, a greenhouse will suit ... Dream up!

ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH PHOTO…
Houzz USA: Magic treehouse with Christmas lights

Brite Creations

basket-manipulator has already entered the site). It is not necessary to use traditional garlands - luminous stars are enough.

Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes

19. Garland cascade
Good old Christmas decorations for the garden are the best. Hang in a cascade

Smalls Landscaping

20. No Christmas tree - decorate the trees
Illuminated fruit trees look quite impressive. Check if there are adapters and splitters connecting several garlands. Otherwise, it will be difficult for you to achieve a “burning trunk” and a uniform distribution of luminous beams over independent Christmas tree legs.

Traditions Specialty Lighting Professionals

21. Shaping the lower part of the trunk
Why not? Make sure that the backlight ends at least half a meter above your height. Such decoration of the site for the New Year harmoniously works together with the existing landscape lighting - only shining trunks in the middle of the darkness will look strange.

Designs by Sundown

21. Whirlwind Garland
The solution is a little easier than decorating each luminous branch - wrap the garland in a circle around the crown.

Brite Nits Inc

22 Combine garlands
Along with traditional New Year's garlands based on small LED lamps, you can decorate a street garland with large lamps (

Smalls Landscaping

. Two tones at the same time photo shows work in a pair of blue and green street lights

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Wilmington

24. Icicles
do not adopt the technique - feel free to decorate the winter tree with them.0003

James Martin Associates

25. Garland Grotto
Try to decorate only the lower branches. And let the lights from one tree smoothly move to the neighboring ones.

McKay Landscape Lighting

26. Doing Nothing
If you have a landscape light on your property, it will work as well as a Christmas garland.

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