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Simple apartment living room decorating ideas


16 small apartment living room ideas – simple ways to make the most of your space

There's no denying that decorating small spaces can feel like a daunting task, but there are so many stylish small apartment living room ideas out there that it shouldn't feel like a mammoth task. Sure, you might have to get clever with layouts and pick furniture more carefully than if you had acres of square footage to play with, but really designing a small living room can be just as an enjoyable experience.

So whether you live in a studio apartment and looking for ways to make your living area feel separate and cozy, or want the living room in your small apartment to appear bigger and brighter, we have you covered with plenty of stylish small living room ideas. The best layouts, space-expanding color schemes, and strategically placed decor will all help you create a gorgeous living space that doesn't feel limited by its smaller proportions. 

Journalist

Hebe is an experienced homes writer and editor. She has written hundreds of articles helping readers make the best home design choices, and spends her days interviewing interiors industry experts to bring the latest ideas to her readers. For this piece she spoke to the world's best designers who have created the most inspiring apartments, ideal for compiling this article. 

Small apartment living room ideas

Not sure where to start with a small apartment living room? What furniture would suit the space? How much furniture should you buy? What colors will make a small living room feel bigger? What layouts are going to work? We could go on, but we answer all those questions, as well as provide lots of lovely living rooms that prove small can still be stylish.

1. Stick to the essentials 

(Image credit: Sebastian ERRAS, @sebastianerras)

If you are starting total from scratch in a space, choosing the perfect small living room furniture is a good place to start. As with most small spaces, the rule less is more usually applies. You don't want your room to be crammed with furniture so go back to basics and focus on the key pieces of furniture your room needs to function as a practical living space. Seating and storage. These are essentially all you want to have in your living room. Keeping it simple with as few pieces of furniture as possible will stop the space feeling cluttered. 

2. Be clever with layouts

(Image credit: Kristy Noble)

In small apartment living rooms, a clever layout can make all the difference. The right arrangement will keep the space feeling open and airy rather than boxy and cramped.

When it comes to small living room layouts, we have a tendency to want to push everything against the walls, leaving this empty sea of floor space in the center. In fact, all that layout does is make the room feel empty and uninteresting. Pull your furniture away from the walls, and give those bigger pieces room to breathe. Instead of using the walls as the room's dimensions, throw down a large area rug and place, or partially place, your furniture on top of that.  

3. Create connections within an open plan space

(Image credit: Tollgard)

An easy way to make a small apartment living room feel larger is to 'borrow' space from your other rooms. And by that we mean keep your layout as open-plan as possible – larger open doorways or glazing instead of solids doors can work so well in small apartments to keep the flow between rooms effortless, plus it means light can easily flow around the space.

Interior designers Tollgard , who designed this apartment living room say, 'We made the apartment (two adjoining apartments originally) as open-plan and connected as possible with sightlines through to shared spaces, using large sliding panels for doorways. The broken-plan apartment feels bigger because of the views into shared spaces and the minimal treatment of architectural features.'

4. Keep it minimal 

(Image credit: Future)

Minimalism is known for working wonders in small spaces. You want your living room to be as clutter-free as you can make it as clutter is only going to make the space feel smaller. So along with sticking with just key pieces of furniture, you want to be organized, and have plenty of closed storage options that you can hide away unsightly essentials like TV remotes, tech, toys, etc. 

See how in this lovely white living room, there's not tons of decor or knick-knacks on show. Just a few curated pieces that add interest and personality but not unnecessary clutter.

5. Go build in with your storage

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Effective living room storage is key in a small space. Bookcases, cupboards, console tables, all these individual storage pieces will quickly fill up a small room, so opting for built-in storage that can do the job of all these individual pieces is a simple way to gain back some space.

'When designing our clients living space we focus on storage requirements before deciding on the decorative finishes, never more important than in an apartment with confined space. Adding built in bespoke cabinetry will allow you to craft the space to suit your needs. It also means unsightly wires from tv’s and soundbars can be hidden, everything will have its place and it effectively becomes a new wall.' explains Rob Lessmann, interior designer and founder of Design'd Living .

'If you don’t like the idea of open shelving ideas or built-in cabinetry and crave that flush line, then pocket handle-less doors can allow for the storage to be neatly tucked away. They can also act as the perfect background for a projector hidden out of site on the opposite wall, freeing up space that a TV would take up.'

6. Layer lighting in an apartment living room

(Image credit: Mary Wadsworth)

Having a good lighting scheme is particularly important in a small apartment living room as a well-lit space feels much bigger than a dark room with just a single light source. 

The best approach is to layer your living room lighting, you want to create an all-over glow. Incorporate lighting at different levels, so as well as an overhead source, have floor lamps in the corners, table lamps situated on console tables, or a side table. This way you'll get multiple pools of light around the room.

'Lighting is key and needs to work across the whole space. Many apartments have an open flow between the kitchen, dining and living areas which means that lighting needs to work in different ways.' says Rob Lessmann. 'Living areas or rooms need mood lighting for the evenings that can be dimmed if needed. Take lighting for reading, and if space allows, beautiful pendant or ceiling lighting.'

'If light is at a premium, then LED lighting can help to illuminate the ceiling and any unique details within the space. LED lighting used under cabinetry or furniture can also help add to the ambiance.'

7. Use clever flooring to expand your space

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

Flooring types might not be top of your list when it comes to your living room design decisions, but it can make all the difference helping 'expand' your, add texture and create a seamless flow if you are dealing with an open or broken plan space.  

'Keep flooring consistent throughout the space and add warmth and depth with rugs. Wooden flooring in larger planks allows you to make the space look bigger.' advises Rob. 'And if you can, go for underfloor heating which keeps walls free from radiators and frees up much needed space. Using smart tech allows you to control everything from the heating to lighting and again, frees up space.'

8. Ground an open plan layout with large rugs

(Image credit: K&H Designs)

 A small square of rug floating in the center of your room is only going to make the space feel smaller and fussy. Instead, pick a larger area rug that will run underneath your furniture. Keep the colors light and the pattern simple so it doesn't draw too much focus. 

Rugs are also ideal for zoning apartment living rooms that are in an open-plan space as can be seen in this apartment designed by K&H Design . The living space feels separated from the dining room as the rug running underneath all the living room furniture almost acts like walls, making it feel more like it's own room.  

Katie Glaister, Co-Founder of K&H Design explains, 'When styling an open plan living room, it’s important to create zones and to have a central point where all the seating faces in to. Sourcing the right size rug for a living room is a simple way of achieving this and creates a subtle divide between the living and dining areas.'

9. Clear visual bulk with armless furniture 

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Ditch the arms on your sofas and chairs. You'd be surprised how much visual bulk it removes from the room and makes a space feel so much more open. See how in this small apartment living room, choosing a huge corner sofa but with an armless design doesn't break up the space. The fact that it's quite low-slung too means plenty of light can still flow around the room. 

And in the same vein as keeping furniture visually light, keep any accent pieces like console tables and side tables from cluttering the space by choosing delicate, slimline frames. The small living area in an open-plan apartment manages to squeeze in some extra surface space in the form of two thin-framed nesting tables, and yet they don't block the light or appear to take up any floor space. 

10. Loose the legs too

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Where you can, wall mount your furniture. Floating pieces like sideboards and shelving free up the floor space underneath and tricks the eye, creating the allusion of a larger room. 

Here, a sideboard that originally sat on legs has been secured to the wall, adding plenty of storage and extra surface space for a very impressive home bar. But do you see what we mean about the floor being uninterrupted and how much of a difference that makes?

11. Don't always go small in a small living room

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki)

It's tempting to fill a small apartment living room with small furniture for fear of overwhelming the room with large pieces. But sometimes you are best going big, one modular sofa is going to look less busy than a love seat and two armchairs. Plus, a sectional sofa is the ideal choice if your living area is part of an open plan space and they can be used as 'walls' to separate the space, making it feel cozier. Browse our shopping guide to the best sofas to find some versatile options.

Or, if your apartment is short on bedrooms, consider making your living space multifunctional by swapping your sofa for a sofa bed, that way you can still host overnight guests even if you don't have a dedicated guest bedroom. Finding an option that's comfortable enough for everyday sitting and guest bedding can be tricky, but we've narrowed down the options for you in our guide to the best sofa beds.

11. Decorate with a simple color scheme

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Generally speaking, the best colors for small living rooms are lighter hues – whites, pale greys, creams, beiges – all these shades are known for their space-expanding effects. So stick with those lighter colors on the walls, you want a foundation of lighter neutrals that you can then bring pops of color into. We'd stick to two or three accents colors as you can see in this fabulous living room, it's enough to make the space feel bold and exciting but the oranges and blues don't feel too busy. 

Also note how in this living room, the walls, ceilings, and woodwork are all painted in the same soft grey. A great tip for making rooms feel larger and loftier. 

12. Make use of awkward spaces

(Image credit: Future)

In small living rooms you need to make the most of every square inch, so don't waste awkward nooks and alcoves, put them to work, and build something into these spaces. 

For shallow alcoves the obvious choice is shelving or cabinetry, but if you have a larger space, why not create something like this design? In this open-plan apartment, a day bed has been added to a narrow corner of the room add a lovely place to perch, plus some extra storage underneath. 

13. Trick the eye with transparent pieces

(Image credit: Sigmar)

It's the oldest interior design trick in the book, by adding glass, acrylic or lucite furniture to a small space visually takes up zero room but can add extra seating or storage. As light can travel straight through these translucent pieces they keep the space feeling open and airy but are functional too. 

See how in this apartment living room, your eye just travels straight over the glass coffee table. Ghost furniture means you have the potential to bring in more pieces too – the amount of furniture in this space would feel way too cluttered if it wasn't for the transparent coffee table, but as that adds zero visual bulk, more seating can be added.

14. Hang mirrors to 'expand' a small apartment living room 

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Another old hack, mirrors. Mirrors are a really simple way to make a small apartment living room feel bigger and brighter. They reflect more light around the room but they can also play the visual trick of alluding to more space, broadening the room and blurring the edges. We would recommend going as big as your room can handle and positioning it in a space it will easily bounce any natural light back into the room.

(Image credit: James Merrell)

Avoid gallery walls in small apartment living rooms as they can feel cluttered in a small space and instead pick one large piece of statement art that will be the focal point, as well as a distraction from the room's modest proportions. 

As Rob Lessmann advises, 'Don’t forget the walls. Adding a feature wall with a unique polished plaster finish, wallpaper or great artwork will create a point of interest. The key is to make the space your own. Framed vintage magazine covers offer a great alternative to artwork and mixed with a monochrome palette create depth to the space.'

See how in this open plan living space the large dimensions of the artwork makes the space feel larger too. It also softens the wall dividing the two spaces so it feels less solid and imposing.

16. Add plenty of texture for a cozy feel

(Image credit: Rei Moon)

Sometimes with small rooms, the best approach is to embrace the small proportions and create a cozy den-like space filled with texture and eclectic pieces. Be inspired by this grey living room and pile up the cushions, throws and rugs to create a cocooning space. 

And this room also proves that darker colors can really work in small spaces, in fact, because this deep grey is taken over floors, walls, and ceiling the room appears bigger because the edges of the room aren't clear. 

How do you decorate a small apartment living room?

Small apartment living rooms may lack square footage but that doesn't mean you have to compromise on style. As well as the design tricks and ideas above, there are plenty of simple ways to decorate your space so it feels like a reflection of your personal style, despite the size. 

Choose furniture carefully. More often than not, what works best is picking pieces that are in proportion to your room. However, sometimes choosing one large piece like a sectional sofa or coffee table can make the room feel less cluttered and fussy. We'd recommend drawing up a floor plan to help you plan out furniture and layouts.  

When it comes to colors, you can play it safe with lighter shades as these are tried and tested small apartment living room colors. Or you could go the opposite way and create a moody, cocooning space with darker colors, these deep shades can have just as much of a space expanded effect as lighter ones. And think about finishes too – a semi-gloss finish will reflect more light around the room.

And with decor, keep it simple. Less is more here, so pick a few pieces that aren't going to add too much visual clutter but will add some personal style and interest to the room. 

50+ Small Apartment Living Room Design & Decoration Ideas

Space – there is plenty of it around in the universe and science will tell you that almost 99 percent of it is empty. Yet, we are constantly in search for ways in which we can maximize space within the four walls of our own home! It is a perplexing aspect of life and every week we come across various designs and ideas that aim to give your small apartment a more spacious and cheerful vibe even while being aesthetic. But today we take this a step further by looking at the best small apartment living room ideas from across the world and understanding what we can borrow from these innovative and exciting spaces.

Ultra-small student apartment living room with loft bed above and steps with storage

These are not mere ideas or concepts that still need to be translated into the real world. These are living rooms crafted by some of the best architects and designers on the planet which have managed to turn even the tiniest amount of space into a welcoming living room that their owners are comfortable with. Some force you to think vertical while others work their magic with a visual illusion of space and light. No matter which approach you prefer, this is a journey that you would not want to miss!

Making Use of Vertical Space

Since the focus today is on apartments with very little square footage, the idea of the living rooms in these homes is to make the most of what is on offer without giving the impression of a cluttered or overly ornate living room. Small is of course a relative term and an apartment just 25 or 40 square meters in area might seem far too tiny for some and quite adequate for others. But the living rooms under the spotlight today belong largely to apartments no larger than 50 or 60 square meters in area and the first option in here is to maximize the wall space available.

Small Apartment Living Room Ideas

Kid-friendly living room of the tiny apartment in PoznanMezzanine level above the kitchen in this living room serves as a smart study!Small living room of Taipei makes most of the vertical space with a loft level and built-in storageUtilize the space above the entrance as well for a more efficient small apartment design

Loft bedrooms, reading nooks and even small mezzanine levels with additional areas are often the preferred choice. This allows you to create additional square footage that was previously non-existent and for those who are just getting their first apartment (alone or as a couple), this is more than sufficient. Steps leading to this area can also be used for storage and if you do not have enough room for a loft level, there are still ways to maximize the wall space with smart shelving and wall-mounted storage units.

Antônio Bicudo Apartment in Sao Paulo with loft bedroom space above the bathroomSmall retirement apartment in Sao Paulo with a colorful and vivacious living spaceRustic-modern attic apartment with living room in whiteA small living room apartment of 38 square meters feels much larger than it really is!Pastel filled living room of micro apartment comes with a Murphy bed niche as well

Scandinavian Style and Inspiration

If there is one style that is absolutely ideal for the tiny living room then it is Scandinavian! Modern Scandinavian decorating styles is perfect for small spaces and is anchored in principles of clutter-free living, loads of natural light and a backdrop consisting of neutral colors. Those who fancy a more eclectic look can combine Scandinavian simplicity with shabby chic beauty or even rustic charm by introducing a few accessories from the chosen style. Make sure though that bright color is still kept down to a minimum in here.

Bright living room of 26-square meter tiny Scandinavian style apartmentCasual Scandinavian style decorating for the tiny living roomCeiling beams in wood for the white living room [From: Josefin Widell Hultgren / Anna Inreder& Bettina Carlsson]Decorating the small living room in contemporary styleGorgeous gray living space of the light-filled Stockholm apartmentMonochromatic living room in white [From: In-Bolig Styling ApS]Rug adds pattern to the lovely little apartment living room in Tel AvivScandinavian style is perfect for the small apartment living roomSophisticated living room in gray and white for the small Russian apartmentAttic apartment in Stockholm with a living space that exudes Scandinavian style

Walls with Textural Charm

Many of us tend to falsely believe that introducing elements that add textural contrast to a small living area will give it a cluttered look. Brick walls have bounced back up the trends chart in the last few years and they are a great way to bring in that ‘something different’ into the tiny living room without altering the visually drastically. Wood and white is another look that looks great in the small living space and allows it to blend in with the kitchen and dining area next to it with ease. Make sure that you introduce elements that give character to you home and do not stick to a decorating theme that is just too sterile.

Fun New York apartment living room with brick wallIndustrial chic 47-square-meter apartment in Moscow with concrete wallsLovely urban apartment in Warsaw with brick wall for the living spaceMinimal renovated Barcelona loft with a living space that is uncluttered and brightPolished interior makeover for the small Barcelona apartmentTiny industrial loft style living room with brick wall section and ergonomic decorUltra-tiny apartment Kiev with a bold blue couch in the living and smart room divider20-square meter small apartment in Russia draped in whiteColorful modular sofa for the tiny living roomErgonomic and appealing small apartment living room with ample shelf space

Décor and Spatial Choices

Modern, Scandinavian and minimal are not the only choices in the small living room. Styles like eclectic, traditional, coastal and rustic are also easy to pull off if you get things right. Make sure that all the décor in the room has a common element which links it; be it metallic accents, color, style or just overall visual appeal and finish. It is in these already limited spaces that multi-functional décor comes in handy. Half-shelves that delineate space between the living room and dining area, wooden partitions that add sculptural charm and drapes that give you a flexible alternative – make sure your décor does not hinder the flow of light.

Custom decor for the small living roomCustom plywood partition delineates living room from the dining area in this small apartmentDashing contemporary living room of Humaita Apartment in Porto AlegreExquisite and eclectic living room of Paris apartment with gold accentsGold adds brightness to the tiny New York apartment living roomGray living room of uber-small 34-square-meter apartmentPops of pink and blue for the living room with modern industrial homeTiny apartment living room with budget friendly IKEA finds and smart storageBeach style living room with decor that is filled with natural elegance [From: BMC Windows & Doors]Beautiful black and white living room with yellow accents

White, Light and Plenty Bright!

We did talk about how Scandinavian style was a great choice for those looking to give the tiny living room a revamp and the two main reasons for this are undoubtedly color and light choices it forces upon you. The easiest way to create a visually more spacious living room is by bringing in natural light. Yes, you can add recessed lighting and accent lights as well. But absolutely nothing works as well as natural light in here Even if you have just one tiny window in the living room, make sure it floods the room with ample light. A light backdrop in white or light gray along with a few smartly places floor mirrors will make this task a lot easier for you.

Modest living room of revamped Barcelona apartment filled with classic decor piecesMulti-tasking living room of historic Tel Aviv apartment with stone wall sectionsOpen plan living space give the small apartments a bigger visual appealShabby chic living space of tiny apartment with pops of pinkUber-small living space in white for the small Scandinavian apartmentVancouver contemporary apartment with an open plan livingAll white living room of apartment is both elegant and simpleBalcony brings light into small apartment in Les Corts, BarcelonaBookshelf and gallery wall for the small Scandinavian style living room [From: Stage It Up]Bright blue couch for the small modern eclectic living room Sherry is a blogger who loves to live her life to the fullest. She enjoys everything associated with design, décor and stylish modern trends. Born in California, Sherry has grown up on open ranches and in a wild setting, which has defined her taste for design and developed her interest in examining how structures and homes interact with the beauti[...]

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tips for choosing style, decoration and furniture - INMYROOM

The living room in the house is the place where, as the name suggests, guests are received. However, the owners themselves relax here, spending time in front of the TV or a book, with drinks, pleasant conversation and other activities. Therefore, the living room should be the most comfortable place in your home.

If your family consists of several people, it is important to consider the interests of everyone. It is quite possible that for one of the family members, when designing the interior of a living room in an apartment, they will have to give space for working at a computer, doing creative work, even sports. All these points must be planned at the stage of designing the premises.

Determine the center of the living room

Living room design is inseparable from a competent layout. After looking at examples of photos of the living room in the apartment, you can see various space planning options. Of course, the choice depends on your preferences, as well as on the size and functionality of the room.

Place sofas and armchairs around the perimeter of the room in no case is worth it. Firstly, this is the last century, and the modern design of the living room categorically does not accept such a layout. In addition, you will clutter up the space with only recreational items, leaving no free space for other functional areas.

The best option for the interior of the living room is to highlight the central group, around which the rest of the furniture will be grouped. As a rule, a recreation area with a TV and a sofa is chosen as the center of the composition.

A fireplace can also be a central element, next to which chairs, rocking chairs or even luxurious skins for relaxation will comfortably fit.

Standard set of furniture for designing a living room in an apartment:

If the room is large, or it has to take on a diverse functional load, of course, you should not limit yourself to this. The living room may well have a desktop for a computer, chests of drawers and cabinets, a bar counter.

In order not to clutter up a cramped room too much, give preference to the transformer models that are popular today. Such furniture is very functional and allows you to perfectly save scarce space.

Choice of colors

If your living room is located on the sunny side, then you are practically unlimited in the choice of colors for finishing and furnishing it. The contrasting interior design of the living room will look very interesting. For example, walls and floors can be decorated in cold colors, while furniture, in contrast, in warm colors.

Many modern interior styles welcome the clean slate living room design. This technique involves decorating the walls and ceiling with plain white plaster or paint. And furniture and decor elements can be selected in a variety of colors: bright or rich dark - to create a spectacular and stylish interior, delicate and pastel - for a light, cozy and elegant design.

For north-facing living rooms with little to no daylight, choose warm-coloured finishes. Such an interior design of the living room compensates for the lack of sun, makes the room cozy and conducive to relaxation no matter what.

And, of course, if the room is a bit dark, you should take care of good artificial lighting. Well-placed spotlights are best suited to illuminate every corner of your living room.

Of course, the choice of colors for decorating a room should also depend on what visual and emotional effect you want to achieve.

If the living room is intended for stormy parties and active pastime, then it makes sense to decorate it in bright, saturated colors.

If the owners want to indulge in a calm and relaxing holiday, then the interior of the living room should be to match. In this case, you should give preference to soft light tones or, conversely, deep and calm, but in no case flashy.

Finishing materials

The choice of finishing materials should largely depend on the style in which you would like to maintain the design of the living room in the apartment. So, paper wallpapers with romantic flowers are definitely not suitable for laconic hi-tech or minimalism. And Provence or country-style interiors will not be combined with bright carpets with psychedelic prints and ultra-modern wall coverings with fur or leather texture.

In addition, the shape and size of the room is of great importance. Properly selected finishes will perfectly smooth out the flaws of the room and focus on its merits. While a thoughtlessly chosen design can spoil even a spacious and bright room.

Walls

The classic rule is that for small rooms it is better to choose light shades. It always works flawlessly. However, if this solution seems too boring for you, you can try all sorts of interesting wall designs. Spectacular examples of wall design in the living room, photos of which are presented in our article, will help you navigate and choose the most attractive options for yourself.

For example, even smooth, light-colored walls can be made a spectacular interior detail by adding bright or simply contrasting color accents to them. See such unusual living room interior ideas in the photo below.

All kinds of plasterboard niches look very stylish. They not only diversify the interior, but also become its very functional detail. After all, they can accommodate both decorative elements and items needed in the household. And if such a niche is beautifully illuminated from the inside, this will create an interesting effect of depth.

The traditional option for decorating the living room walls is wallpaper. Fortunately, today there is a great variety of them: both classic paper, and modern non-woven, and washable, and glass, and even innovative liquid wallpaper. If you are a lover of change, then you can pay attention to the wallpaper for painting. With such a finish, you can easily change the look of the room, at least several times a year. However, please note that, as a rule, such wallpapers are designed for a limited number of repaints.

Smoothly plastered or painted walls look great in modern interiors. At the same time, if you are a fan of the original design, you can pick up plaster with all sorts of beautiful and unusual textures. With its help, you can add a twist to your design and create a truly beautiful living room interior.

One of the fashion trends in modern design is the combination of materials. It is very important to use combinations of several finishes in one room: different types and shades of plaster, paint plus wallpaper, or even a combination of two types of wallpaper with different patterns and textures. See examples of such a living room design in the photo below.

Using this technique, you will not only be able to make your interior bright, stylish and original, but will also successfully cope with the zoning of the room. As you know, for proper zoning, it is not enough to collect several diverse groups of furniture in one room. So that all this does not look like a "hodgepodge", it is necessary to highlight each of the functional areas with its own design elements. And here, the design of wall sections in different colors and even different textures is the best fit.

Ceiling

When choosing the design of the ceiling in the living room, first of all, start from the size of the room. No matter how much you like spectacular multi-tiered structures, in a small room, packed full of necessary furniture, they will look simply ridiculous. In no case do not overload the design of the room.

If the room is small, then the best option is a simple ceiling in light colors with built-in ceiling lights. A good design move would be a small cornice around the perimeter, it will add a sense of depth.

Another interesting solution for visually increasing the space is the so-called "floating" suspended ceilings. This is a two-tier structure with a small height difference and built-in lights mounted inside the "upper" tier in such a way that they themselves are not visible. This technique creates soft diffused light and an interesting depth effect. As a result, the room seems visually higher and more spacious.

However, remember that the design tricks you have listed are inappropriate for small rooms with high ceilings. If in such a room you try to “distance” the ceiling even more due to visual techniques, then you will feel in it like at the bottom of a bottomless well.

In narrow rooms with high ceilings, it makes sense, on the contrary, to reduce the height - through visual means or with the help of suspended structures. Then the living room will immediately seem more comfortable and suitable for a comfortable stay.

If you are lucky and your living room is spacious and has high enough ceilings, then feel free to experiment with their design.

Here, multi-level suspended structures, both laconic and intricate forms, stucco, columns, scallops, and complex lighting systems can be used.

The main thing is not to overdo it and stick to the intended design of the room. If the room is decorated in a ceremonial classical style, in the spirit of Baroque or Empire, then without a doubt, both bas-reliefs and columns will be appropriate. But for more concise modern styles, you should choose a simpler and more rigorous ceiling design.

If your living room will have several functional areas, then the zoning can be "supported" with an appropriately designed ceiling.

For example, a central seating area with a sofa group and a TV set can be highlighted with a second tier of false ceiling. Depending on the general style of the room, both strict rectangular shapes and soft rounded lines may be appropriate.

The ceiling does not have to be white. Delicate, warm pastel shades will look perfect in almost any room.

Fans of more extravagant options can experiment with bright shades. It is not necessary to decorate the entire ceiling in saturated colors. However, if you highlight only part of it or one of the tiers with a spectacular shade, you will get a chic look.

As far as materials are concerned, it is best to avoid whitewashing and painting. After all, this will take a long time and carefully level the surface. An excellent modern solution is plasterboard suspended ceilings or stylish stretch models. They are quick to install, provide perfectly flat surfaces, and in addition, allow you to create a wide variety of design options.

Lighting

Just a few years ago, when choosing lighting, the issue was always decided in favor of a large ceiling chandelier. Of course, today there are many lovers of such lighting fixtures, including those decorated with numerous "crystal" pendants. However, you should not get hung up on this option, because modern manufacturers offer many interesting, stylish and comfortable options.

If you - due to adherence to traditions or in order to create a certain style of interior - have opted for a massive chandelier, you do not need to limit yourself to this. In any living room, additional sources of lighting will be appropriate: wall sconces, floor lamps and portable standing lamps.

Additional light sources perform several functions at once:

If you are a supporter of laconic design, then recessed ceiling lights are the best fit. They also allow you to create separate lighting in different functional areas of the living room. And besides, with their help you can always adjust the brightness and level of illumination of the room. And with all this, they remain almost invisible, do not overload the design and fit almost all interior styles.

It's safe to say that recessed ceiling lights are the best choice for a small room with low ceilings. But, at the same time, they will also be appropriate in a spacious hall.

Style Selection

Choose a style based on the tastes of the whole family. Look at photo examples of living room designs in a magazine, on the Internet, explore the various styles that are in abundance today.

Of course, the dimensions of the room must also be taken into account. In a small room in Khrushchev, a lush baroque or any other “palace” interior will look out of place. For small living rooms, it is best to choose a laconic design in the Scandinavian style, elegant classics or strict hi-tech or minimalism. Country and Provence are perfect, as these styles suggest comfort and emphatically home furnishings.

If your living room is large, then there is room to roam. In principle, a spacious room can be decorated in almost any style that you and your family like.

When choosing the style of the living room, be sure to take into account the features of the interior of the other rooms. Maintain style and harmony.

Classic

The classic style of the interior involves the use of the most natural materials. The whole environment should breathe quality and good taste. As part of this style, traditional furniture made of solid wood or at least high-quality MDF will be appropriate.

Classic interior colors are soft, calm, usually light. But in principle, within the framework of this style, almost any shades (except bright and flashy) will be appropriate if they are correctly beaten.

Elegant wallpaper, paintings, vases, traditional chandeliers, beautiful curtains - all this will be an excellent frame for an interior in a classic style.

Despite certain design rules, there are different directions for decorating a living room in the spirit of the classics. Within the framework of the classical style, several variations can exist at once:

Minimalism and high-tech

High-tech and constructivism can also be combined under this general direction. All these styles imply laconic finishes, emphatically simple and modern furniture models, built-in lighting, and an abundance of technology.

Minimalism is characterized by soft colors, calm combinations, stylish and simple shapes.

For hi-tech, for all their similarities, saturated tones, metallic luster and a lot of glass are more characteristic. High-tech furniture or decor can have very unusual, but at the same time laconic and streamlined shapes.

Minimalist interior of the living room is best suited for young and energetic people who keep up with the times, who do not attach much importance to luxurious surroundings, preferring simplicity and elegance of lines.

However, do not think that the interior in the style of hi-tech or minimalism is something from the category of "cheap and cheerful". Such a design may well turn out to be much more expensive than some magnificent Empire style.

Country and Provence

These styles are perfect for lovers of home comfort, antiquity and rustic simplicity. If you want to enjoy peace as much as possible, relax and forget about the bustle of the city, then these are excellent options for the living room.

At the same time, country is deliberately rough, emphatically rural, with simple, almost unfinished furniture and themed textiles. It is characterized by natural, natural shades: soft light and dark green tones, the whole range of brown, light yellow, ocher. Of the prints, a large cage, as well as various variations of floral patterns, will be especially harmonious.

The Provence style, as it should be for a true Frenchman, is more refined, distinguished by a special chic and charm. It is characterized by lighter shades of furniture and finishes: white, cream, pale blue, turquoise, beige. Decor and textiles can be very flirtatious: with ruffles, scallops, flounces, etc.

Today, these design trends are very popular not only in the design of country cottages, but also in the decoration of city apartments. Therefore, in stores you can easily find furniture, decor and finishing materials that perfectly match these styles.

Scandinavian

This style is incredibly popular right now. The secret of its success is in the harmonious combination of minimalism, comfort and homeliness. It involves a simple and concise finish, convenient and comfortable furniture of simple shapes, stylish, but at the same time soft and not defiant decor.

The Scandinavian style is characterized by calm shades: white, beige, light gray, gray-green, pale blue, dark blue. Often in the colors of such an interior there is a certain marine theme.

Living room interior in Scandinavian style is the perfect balance of functionality, convenience, modernity and home comfort. Stylish and modern upholstered furniture for the living room is perfect here, a photo of which you can see below.

Choosing furniture

Before you start choosing furniture for your living room, carefully consider which functional areas will be allocated in the room. Beautiful furniture for the living room, the photo of which can be seen below, is not all. It is important to correctly arrange it so that all the inhabitants and guests of the apartment feel cozy and comfortable.

If it is intended exclusively for families, then a comfortable sofa, armchairs, a TV stand and a couple of shelving will be enough. If space allows, you can add a coffee table, as well as small cabinets where you can place various decor items.

If you often arrange parties, like to receive and treat guests, then you will need a bar counter. It looks stylish, modern, spectacular, can serve as a place to store all kinds of items and will allow you to organize the serving of drinks and treats for guests in a very small area. In addition, the bar counter can be an excellent dividing element if you need to zone the living room.

Choose the dimensions of the sofa and the number of chairs depending on the number of family members and the possible number of guests. It makes no sense to choose an airfield sofa and three armchairs if you live alone and rarely receive guests. In this case, it is worth limiting yourself to more compact options and leaving more free space in the room - to create a feeling of spaciousness or to accommodate other functional elements.

If you expect your guests to occasionally stay overnight, then the choice of sofa should be approached especially carefully. Choose folding models, on which, if necessary, you can fully sleep. If there can be several overnight guests, then it makes sense to consider options for transforming chairs that can fold out and turn into a bed.

Modern design solutions, as a rule, do not involve the placement of solid cabinets in the hall. It is assumed that this tradition should remain in the Soviet past. However, if you don't have a walk-in closet and don't have enough space to place storage items in other rooms, no one can force you to give up a spacious closet in the living room.

In a classic interior, it can even be a solid wall. However, if you prefer more modern design trends, then it is better to pay attention to stylish wardrobes. For a small room, models with mirrored doors are perfect, they allow you to visually expand the space, and will not weigh down the interior as much as their counterparts with solid doors.

A small room should not be cluttered with a large number of pieces of furniture. Such an "abundant" environment will overwhelm, distract, and simply interfere with free movement around the room. If you don’t have a lot of things, then you definitely shouldn’t put a massive closet in the living room, limit yourself to a light and elegant rack. If you want to create a truly light and stylish design, pay special attention to the modern style living room furniture, the photo of which can be seen below.

If you do not plan to receive guests often, it makes no sense to purchase a grand dining table in the hall. In order to drink coffee or have a snack in front of the TV, an elegant coffee table will be quite enough. To save space, you can choose a functional transforming table, which will serve as both a stand and a storage for books and magazines, and, if necessary, can be expanded into a fairly full-fledged springboard for home meals.

Fireplace in the living room interior

If you want your living room to breathe genuine comfort and hospitality, consider purchasing a fireplace. Naturally, it is almost impossible to establish a real hearth in a city apartment. But today there are a lot of magnificent imitations on sale that will emphasize the elegance of the interior, create an atmosphere of comfort in the room and even be able to heat it.

An electric fireplace is perfect for an apartment. Do not think that this is a more beautiful analogue of the heater. In fact, modern manufacturers produce incredibly realistic models that amazingly imitate real flames. There are even models with sound and aroma accompaniment. That is, in front of you there will be not only the illusion of an open fire, but also real crackles, as well as the smells of burning logs.

Fireplaces are produced in a wide variety of styles: exquisite classic, ultra-modern laconic high-tech models, mysterious gothic, luxuriously decorated with gilding and marble in the rococo style, cozy stoves in the spirit of the country. In addition, fireplaces in the living room can vary in location: wall, corner, island.

Such a variety of models will allow you to choose exactly the option for your living room that fits perfectly into the layout and style of decoration.

Photo

See our gallery for 212 more amazing living room design ideas.

Living room design - TOP 200 photos of the best living room interiors In this article, we will consider different options for interior design and for clarity, various photos of living rooms will be presented.

Content

  1. Features of the interior of the living room in Khrushchevka
  2. Three options for creating the original living room
  3. Registration of the living room in the mansion
  4. fireplaces in the living room
  5. Combined kitchen interior with the living room
  6. GIFED
  7. GIFEL styles in the design of the living room
  8. Classic style
  9. High-tech style in the living room
  10. Modern style
  11. Instead of a conclusion
  12. Living room design - 200 best photo ideas in the interior

Features of the interior of the living room in Khrushchev

Using non-standard and bold ideas, you can create a chic living room in Khrushchev, and the latest materials and technologies are perfect for implementing all your plans. We bring to your attention some interesting photos of the interiors of the living room.

Three ways to create an original living room

The first option is characterized by an emphasis on the contrast between dark gray and white colors in the decoration of the room and the addition of soft green with the help of textiles. The main nuance is the absence of curtains, which visually gives more volume to the room. If the absence of curtains is too bold a decision for you, then you can use a light light tulle. Also, the use of white or beige blinds will be acceptable.

In the second version, the emphasis is on vibrant colors and lighting. Living flowerpots will be the main highlight in the interior design of the living room. They will fill the room with life and color. Lighting should be focused on the walls, thanks to this, the room will visually become larger. The final chord in the design of the room will be the choice of a large and elegant chandelier. She will bring an element of chic to the room.

Hi-tech style was chosen for the third option. All details are functional and minimalism prevails in the decor. An addition in this style will be laid out plain pillows on a sofa and light-colored curtains.

The main aspects of a successful living room design:

Decoration of a living room in a mansion

For owners of private houses, any option for decorating a room is available. The main advantage of such a living room are the windows. And even if the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room is not large, then thanks to the large windows it will look great. Below are photos of the interior of the living room.

Contrasting furniture can be used as an accent. It will mark the center of the room and the main elements, such as a fireplace. Walls should be plain and restrained in their design. The same applies to curtains. This distribution of accents will bring coziness and comfort to the room.

The main feature of another design option is a gorgeous view of the garden from the window. Windows remain as open as possible. A fireplace and a large TV became the central part of the recreation area. In such a living room, an atmosphere of unity with nature always reigns thanks to large and open windows.

Tips for decorating a room:

  1. make one, maximum two elements of the interior the main ones;
  2. furniture should be placed evenly over the entire area of ​​the room;
  3. limit yourself to two or three colors in the design of the living room.

Fireplace in the living room

The fireplace in the living room always becomes the main object in the interior. It creates comfort and brings luxury to the room. Living room photos with a fireplace will be presented below in the article.

There are several different types of fireplaces:

Classic fireplaces have recently lost their popularity due to their openness, which is especially dangerous in a house where there are children.

Cast iron and gas fireplaces remain the most popular. They are safe to use and can act as an additional source of heat in the room.

The electric fireplace is just a decorative element. And it can be installed both in private houses and in ordinary apartments.

Combined kitchen and living room interior

Modern trend in the interior is combining the kitchen with the living room. It is easy to achieve space zoning with a color, a ceiling with different levels or a combination of a stretch and a classic ceiling, different floor textures and by decorating the space. Photos of the modern interior of the living room joint with the kitchen will be presented below.

Living room - bedroom

If you have a one-room apartment, then you can separate the sleeping area and the relaxation area. The combination of two styles in creating an interior looks very harmonious.

For example, a minimalist lounge area and a classic chic sleeping area. Photos of the interior of the living room - bedroom will be presented below.

The use of different styles in the design of the living room

Photos of living room styles will be presented below in the text.

Classic style

The main feature of this style is the use of only natural materials.

Style Features:

In order to recreate the classic style, it is enough to use just a few elements from the list above.

High-tech style in the living room

Style features:

This style, as if descended from the TV screens about the future. Perhaps creative people will not feel comfortable in such a room, but everyone chooses for himself what he likes.

Modern style

Modern style is a combination of minimalism, high-tech and modern.

Style characteristics:

Instead of a conclusion

It is worth remembering that there are no strict canons in the design of the living room.

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