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Interior decorating small rooms


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.  

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.  

Interior in a small room: colors, furniture and textiles 0 Comments

A small room is not a problem, as many people think. However, design mistakes are easy to make. Experts advise to think through every step. In a small space, there should be only one accent wall and one main color. As for textiles, it is worth choosing calm tones that will not attract much attention to themselves. Heaps will only worsen the situation, it will turn out not a cozy room, but a warehouse.

When working on the interior, it is worth remembering two principles:

  1. Every centimeter should be used rationally.

  2. The interior should be harmonious and beautiful.

For many, these tasks are considered impossible. On different sites you can find a lot of interesting ideas and photos of rooms that have already been made. But do not copy other people's ideas. You need to experiment and bring something of your own.


Choose a style

Before you decide on the style, you should pay attention to the main theses:

It starts with style. Having an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe future room, it is much easier to work on. Based on the general principles of interior design, finishing materials, textiles, furniture and accessories are selected.

The interior of a small room should not be cluttered with unnecessary items. Also, don't buy too many accessories. Remember: the more free space left in the room, the better. That is why not all styles are suitable for small rooms. It is worth paying attention to:


Designers believe that classics that will never go out of fashion will look great in small rooms. Modern style is a winning option, but only if all the details are combined with each other.

Very often, the owners prefer the modern style, believing that by doing so they will be in trend. However, this is an erroneous assertion. With the right layout, you can achieve an excellent result, and it does not matter at all which style was preferred.

Decorating large apartments is never a problem, because any style will look great there. You can't say that about small rooms.

Modern design styles are chosen for various reasons. Some prefer them because of their relevance, while others believe that such design is less expensive.

It doesn't matter what style the room will be decorated in. It is important to create smooth walls, achieve clear lines and get rid of unnecessary details. This approach will create a cozy room where every detail will be in its place.

Which color should you choose?

It's no secret that light colors can visually enlarge a small room. Of course, it is not necessary to opt for white (although it is a classic and with the help of white it is possible to achieve an excellent result). Designers very often deviate from the rules and use shades of white.

The result is an effect of lightness and weightlessness. Especially if everything in the room is bright.

Young people often speak out against white and want to see a bright room. Colored walls are unusual and attractive. But if preference is given to other colors, then it is worth remembering the “rule of three”. Experts believe that in a small room there should be no more than three colors and they should all be in harmony with each other.

The main color is the base. It must be present everywhere. Complementary colors should be kept to a minimum.

In a small room, the walls are painted in the base color, and they should be light. It is advisable to purchase furniture also in the base color or in shades that are close to it. You can choose one item from the optional. Textiles and decorations should be in complementary colors.

Of course, no one can forbid the use of bright colors. Saturated colors will not spoil the situation, but you can get a feeling of heaviness. A professional designer who knows all the subtleties and nuances should work with flowers.

How to choose the right three colors? If the repair is done independently, then you should use the color matching table. Designers use the same table to get the right combination.

Of course, tables and tips are correct, but do not forget about your own taste. You can use ready-made design solutions and transfer them to your own room.

What will the ceiling look like?

Often in small rooms the ceiling is made white. It is not necessary to make it snow-white, you can pay attention to the shades and tones of this color. A bright and black ceiling will only spoil the whole design. This can be used in rooms with high ceilings and thoughtful lighting.

Dark tones reduce the space, and it seems that the ceiling is pressing on others. It's not worth experimenting. However, designers advise to make good lighting, and you can forget about dark shades.

In small rooms where the ceilings are low, you can play with colors a little. First, you need to paint the walls in light colors. The boundary between wall and ceiling will be erased. As a result, it turns out that the room has become wider and higher.

Secondly, a glossy ceiling (although there is a lot of controversy about this). Some designers favor mirrored or glossy ceilings. In their opinion, they look quite presentable. Shine and reflection of objects visually expand the space.

Other experts oppose it, because reflection narrows the scope. The ceiling will reflect not only the furniture, but also things that are hidden in the cabinets. If you choose such a ceiling, then you should be prepared that you will constantly have to maintain perfect order in the room.

Thirdly, you need to correctly place the backlight. It should go from the walls to the center. However, this is only possible on multi-level ceilings.

Designers are not advised to give preference to multi-level ceilings. But if you make the right lighting and work out the backlight in detail, you get a great effect. Such ceilings are ideal for large rooms, but in small rooms it is better to leave a flat ceiling.

You can combine different methods or try to do something of your own.

Floor

Dark or light floor? It all depends on the chosen style. Often, designers are advised to opt for two options and thereby divide the room into zones.

When choosing flooring, you should give preference to your own needs. If you want to create an effect of stability, then a dark floor is ideal. The effect of lightness will achieve a light flooring.

The right design of the floor increases the space. To achieve this result will allow natural flooring. For example, oak boards, laminate or parquet.

Well, there are some nuances here. The boards must be laid in the direction of the sun, moving towards the door.


Small rooms (50 photos): design, design rules

Contents

  1. Golden rules for small rooms
  2. How to arrange a window
  3. Little tricks
  4. Designers' tricks
  5. Dividing a room into zones
  6. Video gallery
  7. Photo gallery

Decorating the interior of a small room is not so easy, because you want to make it functional at the same time.

Simple rules will help make the design of a small room perfect.

Small rooms can be found in apartments and private houses, in a metropolis and a small town. Often they are practically empty because it is difficult to imagine a demanded premises, with a minimum area of ​​​​free space.

But photos of small rooms with properly designed interior show that such rooms can be used for their intended purpose. The main thing is to properly decorate the interior and select only the really necessary furniture elements that can bring comfort and coziness to every corner.

Golden rules for small spaces

In modern apartments and houses, a small room can be used as a living room, kitchen, bedroom or any other space. It is not always possible to re-equip an apartment and demolish a couple of unnecessary walls to make it more spacious and bright. Yes, and this is not always necessary.

A competent design approach will help to turn even an apartment with small rooms into a wonderful place for a pleasant pastime. Everything must be done so that the space of a small room is filled with light, literally breathes space.

The biggest enemies of tight spaces are darkness and isolation.

Achieving this spacious room effect is easy. You need to make the room as bright as possible. Wall decoration, furniture, multi-tiered lighting and other design elements will help with this. Photos of the most successful interiors of small rooms show that light colors visually enlarge the space, deceiving the perception. It is worth decorating with a light finish all surfaces: walls, ceiling, floor.

One of the walls of a small room can be distinguished. For this, decorative plaster or photo wallpaper is suitable. This technique is best used on the wall opposite the door. The landscapes depicted on the photo wallpapers are an excellent technique that allows you to deceive the mind even more effectively. A photo of large expanses, as it were, takes you to another, more spacious place. An excellent option is stretch walls. It is better to choose glossy.

Do not wallpaper with small prints. It is better to let it be wide vertical stripes or large elements. Such an interior is a classic, which means it will ennoble the room.

A large art object will divert attention from the size of the room and paradoxically help the room appear larger.

How to decorate a window

Another economical and profitable way to make a space bigger is by placing small details in it. For example - bamboo curtains on the window. A small decorative element makes the space visually larger. Especially if it is placed symmetrically in the room. A window with a rectangular curtain in the center of the wall draws attention to the remaining area. It can be light fabric shutters or blinds.

Do not decorate a window in a small room with long, wide curtains or curtains to the floor. They will decorate the interior of a large room, but with a small one everything will be the other way around.

Heavy curtains or light curtains to the floor will visually absorb all the free space.

Small tweaks

As noted earlier, small design elements make the interior more saturated and give the false impression of a spacious space.

Decor and additions that will successfully complement the interior:

But it should be remembered that the interior of a small room does not tolerate a heap of objects. They must be used carefully and dosed. Before hanging pictures or photos on the wall, carefully consider their number and location. The same applies to other design elements.

Bright juicy spots in the interior make the room visually smaller. Light inclusions, on the contrary, increase the space.

An important point: Photos, paintings and decorative elements should be light and neutral.

Thus, black and white photos on the walls, light landscapes or futuristic motifs are ideal decor options for a small room. The room should be as bright as possible, the atmosphere should be fresh for perception. The most suitable shades are light blue, light green, cream, coffee with milk, peach.

Refrain from using bright furniture in flashy colors. Natural colors should be preferred. It can be dark brown cabinet furniture, but the textile elements should be lighter.

Good colors for furniture are sand, light brown, light gray and beige.

Another advantageous technique is the placement of mirrors. It can be a chandelier with mirror elements or furniture with reflective surfaces. The ideal option is a full-wall wardrobe with a mirrored door, or mirror inserts. Cabinet furniture will not take up much space, solving the problem of placing things and household items.

Even if there is no window in a small room, mirrors can help solve this problem. A fashionable and convenient option is a fake window made of mirrors. It makes the space brighter, being a fairly functional piece of decor, especially with backlighting.

Designer's tricks

To make a room seem bigger, all the details and objects in it must be in order. To do this, visually draw straight lines along and across the room. So the interior is divided into equal parts. Furniture should be placed along these lines, paintings should be hung on the walls, and a carpet should be laid on the floor.

It is advisable to leave the center of the room free, even if there is not enough furniture. Do not clutter up the space.

If possible, all household items should be hidden. For this, closed cabinets and niches in upholstered furniture are used. The fewer objects in the room, the larger it seems. No matter how trite it may sound, but the order significantly increases the free space.

Dividing the room into zones

The aesthetic side is of great importance in the design of the room. But we should not forget about the functionality of a small room. You need to initially imagine how exactly it will serve you. Maybe you can do without something, but some item is worth adding.

Visually divide the room into functional areas, decide what furniture you need, and then get rid of all the excess. Perhaps the best solution would be multifunctional modular furniture.

Then you should divide the room into functional areas, and, depending on their location, place furniture, appliances, lighting elements. For example, a recreation area should be separated from the work area, at least by a small space.

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