Furnishing small rooms

Alexandra Ribar; DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors

Resist the urge to push all of your furniture up against the walls. If you create space behind the furniture, it makes the room look wider than it is. An antique stool vibes well the Chesterfield sofa in this room designed by Leanne Ford.

32

Hang a Chair

Hecker Guthrie

Swing chairs are super fun and seem to be having a design moment right now. More importantly, they can be a life saver in a small living room or family room. You can add seating without taking up a ton of floor space, like you would with a traditional armchair. This mod style in a Hecker Guthrie-designed space is all the convincing we need.

33

Shrink Your Sofa

Douglas Friedman

In designer Ann Pyne's New York City apartment, a small red settee fills the entire living room with personality. A leopard print stool and matching pale yellow armchairs ensure plenty of seating, too.

34

Make It Multi-Purpose

Josh Franer; DESIGN: Leanne Ford Interiors

When space is lacking, the only option is to get creative and make things multi-purpose. For example, if you don't have room for a separate living room, family room, and home office, combine each concept into one space. This living room and office by Leanne Ford proves that the right layout and pieces can look great, no matter what shape or size the room.

35

Build Shelving

Trevor Tondro

Use ottomans in place of a traditional coffee table to make better use of your space (because a tiny house means your living room often does double or triple duty when people come over). You can top them with a tray to hold flowers and books, or use as extra seating. Then when it's family time, they become footrests. These red leather ottomans in a small family room designed by Redmond Aldrich strike that perfect balance between formal and casual.

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.

45 Small Living Room Ideas for Maximum Space and Style

By

Kaitlyn McInnis

Kaitlyn McInnis

Kaitlyn McInnis is a lifestyle expert and writer specializing in global interior design trends and styles which she is able to experience first-hand through her extensive travels. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Homes & Gardens, and Real Homes. Kaitlyn also worked for AskMen.com, where she managed an international team of writers and experts.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/21/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

There's no reason that a small living room can't be as functional and stylish as a big one. Check out these small-space decor tips and tricks—everything from furniture selection and layout to wall color and lighting—that will help you to maximize every last square inch of your compact living room while elevating its design.

• 01 of 45

  Limit the Color Palette

  @thevisionairyhusbands / Instagram

  “The primary thing to remember when designing a small room is to ensure all tones stick to the same color palette—thus creating flow throughout the room,” says Gian Moore, former interior designer and partner at Mellowpine. “Make sure to shift your focus around monochromatic and tonal hues that will accentuate the scheme further.”

• 02 of 45

  Layer Your Lighting

  @thelasthouseonbedfordlane / Instagram

  “Layering the heights of your lighting is key—so ensure you have a pendant light overhead with a dimmable control, lots of lamplight and wall lights,” says Moore. “Choose shades that can both direct light for tasks like reading, and create pools of light for the atmosphere. Having wall lights that direct soft shafts of light up and down will also make the space look taller.”

• 03 of 45

  Open Up Walls

  @reflektiondesign / Instagram

  Homeowners can add a contemporary feel to a small living room by opening up walls. “A bright and fresh feeling is created when you open up the space, allowing natural light to enter,” says interior designer Kate Diaz of Swanky Den. “You can install floor-to-ceiling windows or doors, or side panels. You can also paint your walls in light colors with white trim, which will make it seem large.”

• 04 of 45

  Consider Mirrors

  @love_in_1000_square_feet / Instagram

  According to Diaz, adding a mirror leading into your living room will help give the space a more light and airy feel. You can also try hanging mirrors facing one another on opposite walls to increase sightlines and create the impression of a bigger space.

• 05 of 45

  Install Open Shelving

  @darbywallisdesign / Instagram

  Open concept shelving might not seem like the best idea if you’re trying to minimize clutter—but this type of airy shelving unit will do much better than closed off or boxy shelving if you’re hoping to create a more light-flooded living space. Just be sure to keep it tidy and well styled.

• 06 of 45

  Opt for Neutral Walls

  @love_in_1000_square_feet / Instagram

  Paint walls in a single neutral shade, says Diaz. If you do want to add more personality, you can always add pops of color in select furniture pieces and accessories.

• 07 of 45

  Contrast Walls and Floors

  @love_in_1000_square_feet / Instagram

  Light colors are great for your walls—but you can opt for a darker floor color if you’re looking to create a sense of warmth. “Using light colors on the walls with dark floors will create a clean look,” explains Diaz.

• 08 of 45

  Be Strategic with Artwork

  @darbywellisdesign / Instagram

  The right wall art can add visual interest to a small space. Diaz suggests hanging artwork directly above your sofa rather than all around the room to add visual interest while keeping visual clutter to a minimum.

• 09 of 45

  Opt for Multi-Purpose Furniture

  @reflektiondesign / Instagram

  Multi-purpose furniture is a great way to save space while still ensuring your living room is as cozy and functional as possible. According to Diaz, this could look like placing bookshelves near windows so they can double as window seats or using an upholstered ottoman as a coffee table that can also be used as seating.

• 10 of 45

  Use a Variety of Heights and Depths

  @thecollectivedallas / Instagram

  Choose furniture with varying heights and depths to give your small living room a sense of dimension, helping it to feel more visually interesting.

• 11 of 45

  Hang Small Artwork

  @oursouthwestnest / Instagram

  “You’ll want to keep any pictures or wall art small and only hang them if they are meaningful,” says Diaz. This will allow your walls to breathe and actually make the room look much more expansive than it is.

• 12 of 45

  Decorate With Vases

  @oursouthwestnest / Instagram

  You don’t need to forego decorations in order to make your space feel neat and tidy. “Adding vases to your space can offer visual interest without looking cluttered,” says Diaz. “I suggest using a glass or porcelain vase for a tall, clean look.”

  The 10 Best Vases of 2022 to Decorate Your Space

• 13 of 45

  Consider Wall Sconces

  @weepingwillow.farmhouse / Instagram

  Wall sconces are a great way to add mood lighting without taking up floor space. Diaz suggests grouping sconces together for a bold wall statement or positioning them over picture windows for a gallery-like effect.

• 14 of 45

  Double Space with a Floor Mirror

  Design by Alvin Wayne

  Leaning a large decorative floor mirror against the wall of a small living room will reflect the rest of the room, visually doubling its size. In this apartment living room from NYC-based interior designer Alvin Wayne, dark wall paint adds coziness and the floor mirror bounces light around.

• 15 of 45

  Take Advantage of Alcoves

  @darbywallisdesign / Instagram

  “If you have the space, put your sofa in an alcove to make it feel cozy,” says Diaz. If you have a smaller alcove you can hang shelves or create a smaller seating nook to maximize space.

• 16 of 45

  Go for Neutral Rugs and Carpets

  @little_weavers_cottage / Instagram

  Neutral colorways will make a tiny space appear larger—but that’s especially true for your carpets or rugs. You’ll want to opt for light-colored textiles, which will make a room look light and spacious, regardless of the size.

• 17 of 45

  Use an Anchor Piece

  Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Christy Q. Photo

  You might be tempted to opt for smaller furniture in order to make your space look bigger—but sometimes an abundance of small pieces can actually make your space feel more cluttered. Instead, opt for a large anchor piece like a sectional sofa and keep extra seating to a minimum, like this San Francisco condo living room from Cathie Hong Interiors.
  

• 18 of 45

  Reorganize

  @reflektiondesign / Instagram

  Decluttering your living room is a great way to clear out extra space—but you don’t have to get rid of anything you don’t want to. In fact, Diaz suggests decluttering by putting items in different places around the room to keep the space interesting.

• 19 of 45

  Hang It Up

  @sanctuaryhomedecor / Instagram

  “As much as possible, you’ll want to focus on hanging cabinets or open air coffee table storage,” says Jeneva Aaron of The House Wire. “The floor space can still be used for something else, so choosing hanging cabinets or coffee table storage that isn’t too bulky is key.”

• 20 of 45

  Keep It Minimalist

  @sorenshome / Instagram

  Using a minimalist design approach works well in a small living room. “Choose multifunctional furniture,” says Aaron. “Be creative and try to mix and match.”

• 21 of 45

  Use Mirrored Furniture

  Home Made By Carmona

  Another way to use mirrors to decorate a small living room is by incorporating mirrored furniture pieces that reflect views, expand sightlines, and bounce light around. In this cottage-style living room from blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona, a pair of round mirrors illuminate a dark corner and a vintage-inspired mirrored buffet with criss-cross painted wood detailing and hidden storage does the trick.

• 22 of 45

  Work Those Weird Angles

  @lasthouseonbedfordlane / Instagram

  A living room with an awkward layout might seem like a challenge to decorate and furnish—but it’s actually a great opportunity to take the emphasis off the small size. Opt for a salon-style gallery wall or jewel box-inspired decor to help make your quirky space shine.

• 23 of 45

  Minimize the TV

  Design by Brexton Cole Interiors

  Decorating around the TV is a constant challenge for interior designers. In this small open plan living room from Brexton Cole Interiors, the black-and-white palette and rounded modern furnishings create a streamlined feel and preserve flow. A floor-to-ceiling accent wall clad in vertical shiplap painted in a dark shade of navy helps to obscure the large flat-screen above the contemporary gas fireplace insert.

• 24 of 45

  Optimize Natural Light

  @darbywallisdesign / Instagram

  Smaller living rooms can seem a whole lot bigger when flooded with natural light. Optimize natural light using mirrors, sheer curtains, regularly cleaning windows, and clearing window sills of clutter.

• 25 of 45

  Reflect Natural Light

  @weepingwillow. farmhouse / Instagram

  “Colors such as white have a higher reflectance, and this can make your room seem a lot bigger than it is,” explains Roman Ramona, Founder of Living Beyond Design. “This trick works well when we're dealing with small spaces as it lets the light bounce around the room.”

• 26 of 45

  Embrace Beige

  @oursouthwestnest / Instagram

  If you're not a fan of white, light beige or a pale shade of taupe paint will also will reflect rather than absorb light, helping to make the room feel larger.

• 27 of 45

  Avoid Statement Rugs

  @trevorfulmerdesign / Instagram

  According to Ramona, you’ll want to avoid using bold or statement rugs when possible. The logic behind this is that if you, let's say, have light flooring, like oak, and add a black or dark brown rug on top it will create a focal point and make the room seem smaller. “Try to make everything as uniform as possible," Ramona says, "because that contrast can draw attention to that rug and your room will seem even smaller,”

• 28 of 45

  Add Color With Statement Art

  Design by Alvin Wayne

  In this tight but high-ceilinged city living room from interior designer Alvin Wayne, a neutral and earth-toned palette keeps the seating area feeling pulled together and sleek, while an oversized wall hanging adds an energizing dose of vibrant color.

• 29 of 45

  Hang Mirrors Opposite Windows

  @lasthouseonbedfordlane / Instagram

  “Placing a mirror on a wall doubles the space visually," says Ramona, but if it's hung opposite a window, it will reflect and bounce around natural light, making the room feel more expansive.

• 30 of 45

  Allow the Room to Breathe

  @revealmydiy / Instagram

  “The effective use of space is the most important element in designing a small living environment,” says interior designer Heather Higgins of Higgins Design Studio. “Although it is tempting to try and use every square inch, maintaining a balance with open, empty space is key to creating a personal, high-functioning design that provides comfort and visual appeal.”

• 31 of 45

  Use Modular Storage

  @masha_kindjer / Instagram

  Providing enough and the right type of storage is crucial, says Higgins. “Modular-style storage with cabinets and drawers will conceal clutter and streamline a space,” says Higgins. “I often create a ‘storage wall’ that runs the length of a space. Because the units are usually just 15-18” deep, they require very little floor space, but provide copious storage.”

• 32 of 45

  Create a Focal Point

  Design by Brexton Cole Interiors

  Creating a focal point in a small living room can make it feel grander than it is, and give you a roadmap for laying out furniture. In this 1920s Tudor home living room from Brexton Cole Interiors, the classic fireplace is a natural focal point, embellished with a black-and-white patterned tile surround. Some kitschy contemporary art and a decorative bust add personality.

• 33 of 45

  Consider a Low Sofa

  @homesweetlakehouse / Instagram

  The visual impact of a low-slung sofa and other furniture will help make your ceilings look much higher, creating more open feel.

• 34 of 45

  Add Texture

  @itshomeyall / Instagram

  In a small space with a neutral color palette and minimal furnishings and decor, focus on adding texture by using a mix of textiles or finishes in order to keep the space visually interesting and inviting.

• 35 of 45

  Use Cool Shades

  @thecollectivedallas / Instagram

  Opting for warm colorways might seem like a cozy idea—but it can also make a room feel more congested. Instead, stick to cool shades and classic colors that will establish a flow throughout the whole room.

• 36 of 45

  Go Monochromatic

  @our_little_brodick_ / Instagram

  Consider using monochromatic and tonal hues. “Using different colors makes the room look divided, which ultimately makes it look smaller,” says Richard Fung, Owner of Forever Homes. “Even if you use more than one color, limit that to two.”
  

• 37 of 45

  Commit to Black and White

  @darbywallisdesign / Instagram

  A black-and-white palette works in any size space, but it can give a small living room a polished, pulled together feel that takes the focus off of size.

• 38 of 45

  Float the Furniture

  Design by Alvin Wayne

  Many people are tempted to push all the furniture up against the walls of a small living room. But that move can actually make a small space feel even smaller. In this New York City apartment living room from interior designer Alvin Wayne, the plush velvet sofa floats in the center of the room, anchoring the open plan space and leaving the floor-to-ceiling windows free and clear to show off the view.

• 39 of 45

  Maximize Vertical Space

  @thenewsmallhouse / Instagram

  Maximizing vertical space by installing tall shelves or floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, or drawing the eye upward by hanging a decorative chandelier or pendant light will give the room a sense of space by making the ceilings appear higher and adding visual interest without taking up much floor space.

• 40 of 45

  Consider An All-White Design

  @thecollectivedallas / Instagram

  All white might seem a little bland—but it’s the easiest way to add light and the appearance of more space to a room. White reflects light which can help make the space feel much more light and airy. An all-white room also offers a clean and modern effect.

• 41 of 45

  Lose the Drapes

  @darbywallisdesign / Instagram

  Drapes and curtains are a great way to add visual interest to a space while controlling light. But thick drapes can easily obstruct the view from outside, hence making the space feel much more closed off. Floor-to-ceiling drapes can also take up valuable floor space whereas blinds take up no space at all.

• 42 of 45

  Pick a Sofa with Legs

  @flynnhaus / Instagram

  Ramona suggests using furniture that is raised off the ground—such as a sofa with legs—to help create more visual space, tricking the eye into thinking the living room is larger than it is.

• 43 of 45

  Choose a Coffee Table With an Airy Base

  Design by Brexton Cole Interiors

  Choosing a coffee table with slender legs or an otherwise an airy base will allow light to flow through and help create a sense of airiness. In this snug historic row house living room from Brexton Cole Interiors, a modern coffee table with a solid wood top and a delicate base helps to make the space feel functional and current. You can also opt for a transparent lucite or acrylic table that will virtually disappear when not in use.

• 44 of 45

  Add a Wall of Shelving

  Home Made By Carmona

  In this cottage living room from blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona, a large shelving fills most of the wall, creating a concentrated spot to store books and display decorative objects that adds warmth without encumbering the rest of the space.

• 45 of 45

  Add a Bar Cart

  Design by Forbes + Masters

  In this highrise living room from Forbes + Masters, every corner is exploited to its fullest potential, increasing functionality and creating a sense of luxury in the small space. A well styled vintage bar cart and an inviting curvy armchair by the window creates a sweet spot for after work cocktails.

How to Decorate a Small Living Room

Watch Now: 5 Clever Tips for Decorating a Narrow Living Room

design ideas, furniture, photos of interiors

If you do not have a spacious apartment, then you are probably thinking about how to equip a small room so that everything is compact, functional and in its place. Today we will show photos of interesting ideas for small rooms. Of course, all of them cannot be applied in one interior, but you can borrow some of them when drawing up a design for future repairs.

Contents

• Wardrobes and storage
• Small bedroom furniture
• Lighting
• Zoning
• Podium

Wardrobes and storage

If you are wondering what furniture should be for a small room, the answer will be one: compact and functional. Colors should be combined with the style of the entire interior. It is recommended to use light colors that will visually enlarge the space.
Article in the topic: the choice of a spacious wall-slide for the living room.

Use full-height wardrobes with mirrored doors: they are roomy and take up relatively little space. The sliding wardrobe will allow you to put all the necessary and unnecessary things. The main thing is to competently approach its filling: all shelves and hangers should be well thought out so that you place things as compactly as possible. Recommendations for filling the wardrobe (see other photos in the article about built-in wardrobes):

Layout of shelves in the closet

More mirrors - another way to visually increase the area of ​​the room. But do not overdo it with glossy surfaces, they must be used very carefully in a small space.

Use the free space under the bed, sofa, above the door and on the walls. There can fit a lot of things that just roll around the room. You can use wall shelves without visible fasteners to place some of the things from the floor cabinets in them. Do not overload the space, this is the main rule: as few unnecessary things as possible in plain sight.

Furniture for small bedrooms

Often a large bed takes up all the free space in the room. This problem is solved by French hanging beds under the ceiling and beds in the closet, which are completely removed during the day and free up space. Examples of such bedrooms are in the photo below:

Many refuse beds altogether and use sofas for a small room as a sleeping place.

If you have a small room - how to equip it for several people? You can use bunk beds and loft beds, they allow you to correctly distribute free space.

Lighting

Perhaps one of the most important elements of any interior is harmonious lighting. Forget about old shades and chandeliers - create multi-level lighting for different areas. It will allow you to adjust the light in the room as you wish: when you need it bright, and when you decide to watch a movie in the evening, a soft glow against the wall will be enough.

Most commonly used for embedding directional fixtures are single- and multi-level plasterboard ceilings and stretch ceilings. In addition, think about the option of LED strip, it can be glued to any place without any problems and allows your designs to “float in the air”.

The photo shows examples of well-chosen lighting in small rooms:

Zoning

The design of a small room using space zoning allows you to place accents, and also visually increases the area (see the article about the design of a room of 18 squares).

Zoning can be done with lighting, wall, floor or ceiling finishes. The role of the "border" can be a plasterboard partition, a closet or a transparent curtain that separates the workplace from the recreation area.

Usually a bedroom, a study, a living room, and sometimes a kitchen are placed in one room.

We recommend watching a video with the designer's comments about zoning a room using wallpaper:

Podium

An excellent solution for saving space and zoning a room is a multifunctional podium. Upstairs can be a sleeping place, a seating area or a work area, and below there are spacious shelves or a pull-out bed.
Look at the photo of the finished frame podiums - all the necessary things are collected in one corner, isn't it functional?

In this article, we have touched on many tricks to increase the space and functionality of the room. When you start a renovation in a small room, remember our recommendations. Adapt ready-made solutions to your needs, refine ideas to get an unusual and practical design for a small room.

How to furnish, equip a small room 15 photos

• 9 tips on how to equip a small room
• How to furnish a small room photo

A small room is always associated with a lack of space. Poor planning can result in a cramped and cluttered look. But it's easy to fix. Even the smallest and most uncomfortable room can be made comfortable and functional with these simple tips and photo examples. In addition, you have a great opportunity to experiment and create your own unique interior. And for the room of your favorite kids, read how to furnish a nursery, even if it is small.

9 tips for decorating a small room

Want to experiment with small room layout? Try to create virtual project in the program "Interior Design 3 D "

• save 30% of time and money when repairing
• use +120 finishing materials
• furnish your room with furniture catalog

Create a 3D interior design in your own style. Download Interior Design 3D right now!

1. Colour. The right choice of color can visually increase the space, so try to choose paint for walls and ceilings in light colors (white, beige, gray, blue, light green). This rule also applies to wallpaper. Designers recommend choosing wallpaper with small ornaments, and abandoning large patterns. The flooring should be a little darker, but not too dark, otherwise the room will look low. Try to stick to monochrome in the room: various interior items (furniture upholstery, table and chairs) made in the same color visually expand the space, multicolor creates the opposite effect. See our article which colors are best combined in the interior of the room.

2. Curtains. If there are large windows in a small room, then it is better to hang the curtains at the edges, then they are

will seem even bigger. Choose long (floor-length) curtains and tulle in the same color scheme as the walls. Give preference to light flowing fabrics that do not weigh down the space and do not focus attention on themselves. If possible, replace blackout curtains with gas tulle. This will allow maximum light into the room.

3. Make the most of the space. Each piece of furniture, especially in a small room, should have its purpose. Try to make the most of it. For example, a furniture wall is a great option for those who live in a one-room apartment. It does not take up much space and combines several types of furniture at once: a wardrobe, a bookcase, a chest of drawers, a TV cabinet, a mini-bar, shelves for souvenirs, photographs and other small things.

4. Multifunctional furniture. It is not necessary to approach the issue radically - to purchase a bed that turns into a wall, or a table that folds into a coffee table, especially since such innovative ideas of designers are not cheap. The most common and affordable way to save space is a sofa bed. At night, it is a comfortable double bed, which is assembled in the morning into a full-fledged sofa on which you can receive guests. In addition, usually, under the cover of the sofa there is a place for bed linen, blankets and pillows.

5. Reflective and transparent surfaces. Mirrors and other reflective interior items can also visually enlarge a space and brighten a room with reflected light. It is desirable that the mirror is opposite the window. A wardrobe with large mirrored doors or a wall with mirrored tiles visually double the room. Transparent interior items made of durable plastic, less often glass, (for example, tables, chairs) allow you to visually expand the space. Furniture with transparent legs creates the effect of lightness and soaring. These simple ways allow you to effectively furnish a small room in an apartment or house.

6. Zoning of the premises. To make the room more functional, divide it into zones. For example, you need to separate the work area from the bed. Use different color combinations, divide the space with screens, curtains or bookshelves. Use different light sources to create the illusion of two different rooms. Arrange furniture around the room so that it is accessible and you can move freely around the room. Remember: the more floor space is free, the more spacious the room will seem.

7. Avoid clutter. This is especially noticeable in a small space. Do not "litter" the room with unnecessary things. Determine your priorities: get rid of what you do not need, hide what will someday be useful in closets and drawers, and for those things that you use constantly, determine the most accessible places.

8. More light. Natural and artificial light tend to expand the space. Even if the window is large, try not to cover it with curtains. If the room is not on the sunny side, you can use built-in light sources around the perimeter of the room. Choose a small chandelier, a large one will look ridiculous. Ceiling transparent chandelier - the best option. See the article on how to choose lighting in the interior of rooms, this will help to achieve a visual increase in space and better equip a small room, the photo examples below clearly demonstrate this.

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