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Small living and dining room design


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Having a studio apartment or an open floor plan that blends together living and dining areas can feel like an interior challenge. You want to create separation while preserving the open flow of the space. To help, we've compiled over 50 examples of living and dining combinations, including some studios, that show how positioning furniture, using color, or playing with layout can make a space feel completely beautiful and functional. Even the tiniest of floorplans can benefit from these sources of inspiration.

This compact 1 bedroom apartment feels light, airy, and open with its use of white walls and light furnishings. The table is positioned along the window with a pendant light above to offer plenty of light into the space.

In this visualization of a combination living and dining room, division is created in the space not by using walls or dividers, but by drawing the eye toward the large floor to ceiling bookshelves that run alongside the “living area” of the open floor plan. It’s a clever use of space and adds storage.

In this chic, modern living room with an open view to a dining area, we see the use of a black and white accents to create visual interest without making the space feel cluttered. Wall decor for the living room comes in the form of a clock and framed art. Decorative bowls and vases add to the cool look.

This small apartment living room dining room combo shows that modern and minimalist isn’t the only way to style such a space. Using Scandinavian style chairs, lighting with an antique flair, and a rich hardwood in a herringbone pattern, this space feels luxurious in spite of its size. Many of the features take inspiration from vintage icons, like the mid century modern clock and the Ejvind Johansson chairs.

Decorating a living room dining room combo can be tricky, but this space is a great example of choosing a palette and sticking with it to create a seamless feeling between the living, dining, and kitchen areas of the apartment. The dining room pendant lights and table legs add pops of yellow while the doorways and countertops showcase a rich green.

Green also takes the center stage in this palette-perfect dining and living room design. To tie both rooms together in the open space, light green and gray fabrics are incorporated into the dining chairs, sofa, and even window textiles. Using consistent fabrics is a great way to make the room look put together, even when the footprint is small.

Some designers are afraid to use dark monochromatic furnishings but for this apartment, black can be used beautifully without making the space feel cramped. This sleek and modern take on the dining living room combo offers a sort of yin and yang with the use of black accents, the white sofa, and light natural woods.

In this combination living room and dining room, light pours in through the large windows, giving the space an airy and open feel. The dining table is positioned at the window, giving a feeling of al fresco dining even when indoors. Plush, cozy seating is only steps away, making this a great example of a space for entertaining large parties.

In this contemporary white and gray living and dining area, light fixtures provide both functional illumination and division. In the kitchen area, a bar of lights focus toward the cabinetry, which also showcases under cabinet lighting. Over the dining table, the modern chandelier you see here is the Heracleum II LED Suspension. Pendant lighting can be an excellent way to mark the dining area of a compact but open space.

In a small dining room and living area, it’s important to make the most of your space. In this instance, we see the dining table in the form of a long bar, positioned along the back of the sofa. Both the living and dining spaces have access to the surface, which is lightened up by the suspended Ikea SINNERLIG pendant lamps above. In the far corner, the television and motivational art rest on a floating tv stand.

Speaking of size, this kitchen dining living room combo uses tall palms and decorative globe lights to draw the eye upward, creating an illusion of more space. Sleek stone work in the flooring and walls adds a modern flair.

This masculine bachelor pad offers inspiration for what a studio apartment can be when you play with pattern. Textured walls, ceilings, and even the plush rug underfoot give dimension and interest to the living kitchen dining combo. Mid-century modern influence shows through certain details, like the TV stand and sofa.

In this airy apartment with a living kitchen and dining combo, you see a unique floor lamp in the foreground that ties in with the white walls, chairs, and cabinetry. Using white to make the space feel more open was a smart design choice. The chevron rug is a bold statement piece that adds interest.

This stylish open floor plan uses a long kitchen island, a pair of graphic prints, and hanging pendants to divide the room in thirds. Furniture, lighting, and artwork can all be used in this way to separate a kitchen, living, and dining combo.

While many open floor plans may use the same wall color throughout, this example shows that accent walls can create separation. This light blue accent wall pairs perfectly with the nesting coffee table and chairs featured in the space.

This Scandinavian apartment has almost a spa-like quality with its use of soft lighting, neutral textiles, and natural light woods, making the footprint feel less compact.

Natural woods appear in this kitchen living and dining space, both in the cabinetry and in the accent wall. Here division is created using a modern fireplace. Modern chairssurround the circular dining table.

Glass and metal wall dividers can also create separation in small spaces. Here we also see the use of mixed furniture styles in both the sofa (bright) and the dining table chair combination (traditional meets modern).

Ample wall storage is a wonderful way to make the most of a small space like this, which we see here in the use of tuxedo cabinetry that runs from floor to the near top of the tall windows.

Wallpaper isn’t something to shy away from in compact floor plans either. In this apartment, a subtle wallpaper print adds visual interest without crowding the walls with art, letting the bright furniture take center stage.

In this modern open concept living and dining room, wall shelving in the same black matte metal in the chairs and pendant lighting provides a dividing visual line between the dining table and seating area.

Richer tones can work well in open floor plans too, as evidenced by the cushioned sectional, dark woods, modern dining chairs, and marble accent wall of this interior. The location of the fireplace is also unique here, allowing for the seating to be focused on either a roaring fire or a favorite TV program easily. The wood storage also provides a unique decorative touch.

Smart design for compact spaces can also incorporate moving walls that slide on tracks mounted to the ceiling, expanding furniture, or other items that can be tucked away neatly. You can also see this concept executed well in the unique transformer layout of this home.

Touches of greenery in the form of houseplants make this space feel lively and welcoming. They too can be used to make an open floor plan feel more finished.

In the minimalist design of this home, the console table with Rabbit lamps provides a makeshift room divider that separates out the dining from the living while still leaving room for entertainment. The large projector screen offers a full view from any vantage point.

Window and door frames can also be a great place to tie in color accents in an open floor plan, as seen here. Pops of blue in the frames work beautifully with the plush sectional, modern accent chair, and boldly patterned rug.

In this contemporary apartment, a grey living room shows that you’re not limited to whites or neutrals for paint colors. Paired with the light hardwoods and overhead lighting, it feels very sleek and polished.

A long armed living room lamp can also be a unique way to divide a lounge area and dining room in a studio like this one.

Seating position also works to define an open space. The light gray modular sofa draws the eye toward the living area and large window while globe pendant lights make the dining area feel more apparent.

Drawing the eye upward toward the ceiling with a unique finish can also make a living and dining room combination feel roomier, as seen here.

In this light and bright Scandinavian living room, a graphic rug and throw pillows add pops of color to the otherwise neutral palette being used throughout the small space. To add to its feeling of lightness, walls, furnishings, and even light fixtures share a color palette.

In tight spaces, vertical storage can reign supreme and here we see an example of cabinetry becoming a statement accent wall with open shelving and three layers of cabinetry. Window drapery acts as a room separator.

In this compact apartment layout, we see built-ins in the kitchen to stash appliances – a clever way to maximize space. Pops of green through throw pillows and indoor plants add freshness.

In this overhead view of a combination living and dining area, separation is achieved through wall accents and natural greenery positioned alongside the sofa.

In this visualization however, we see a sliding wall panel that may be drawn to provide privacy to the seating area. Additionally, the dining area sits on the unique tile flooring seen in the kitchen.

This earthy studio apartment creates a sense of calm by using a layout that flows in terms of relaxation and positioning. The dining area sits at the forefront, the living area in the middle, and then the slightly raised sleeping area at the back.

We see a similar approach taken in this one room apartment design that blends together living and dining seating into one long bench positioned opposite the raised bed area.

In this compact space, a center wall positioned in the kitchen provides division while letting light stream through the floor to ceiling balcony windows.

While natural light is a way to make a small space feel lighter, monochromatic palettes with soft lighting can be a great way to create small space luxury.

Clean lines in cabinetry, floor, ceiling, and even window treatments give this minimalist dining and living area a sleek sophistication.

But achieving an attractive living room and dining room doesn’t have to be high style. Here, we see cozy touches in the form of throw blankets, a bag chair, and cute tea set in a much more casual and accessible setting.

Geometry can also be a powerful ally in creating a living and dining room combination that feels fresh. The geometric coffee table and narrow vertical built-ins are unexpected additions to anchor the room.

In this sleek and stylish open floor plan apartment, mid century modern touches give the overall design a contemporary feel. The mossy green sectional is particularly striking addition to the space.

Rugs are also practical solutions for creating an area that feels designated. Here we see a charcoal palette broken up by warm woods, white, and pops of teal, which can be also found in the living room rug.

Entertainment can also be used to create a feeling of “rooms” in a compact apartment layout, as seen here with computers, an electric piano along the window, and a large media console.

In this creative living room and dining room design, we see a well coordinated palette of green, yellow, and gray to tie both rooms together. To create a feeling of division, wood accents run along the wall and ceiling without taking away from the strong visual of the painted white accent wall.

One room living shouldn’t feel crowded or cramped as long as space is used smartly. Here, we see clutter eliminated by offering storage space in the form of under bench cubbies and large vertical cabinets.

Small spaces are also good for taking risks with bold design choices, as seen here with the use of red in the art and furnishings.

Using a dining table as a console table can be a clever way to also make use of a combination living and dining room.

Modern one room studio apartments with little space for separation can be given structure by using see through enclosures or textiles where you’d like to add a bit of privacy.

But regardless of the space, having a combination living and dining room – or even a one room studio – can be made beautiful by playing with light, color, texture, and unique touches that make the space your own.


Recommended Reading:  31 Stylish Room Dividers & Partitions
51 Living Room Design Ideas That Are Set To Impress

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17 Small Living Room Ideas to Maximize Your Space

If you live in a small, city apartment, you've probably had your fair share of decorating woes. No room seems big enough for the furniture you want, and finding the space to execute all the ideas you have for your living room is nearly impossible.  

Don’t let your small living room put a damper on your dreams of decorating your home. We're not going to let all those Pinterest boards go to waste. Just because your space is small doesn't mean you can’t make it look modern and chic. There are many ways to transform your living room. Let's dive right in! 

1. Choose White Walls

When it comes to small living room decorating ideas, this one takes the cake! It's an all-too-easy hack to make your room seem airy, spacious, and soothing. What's more, white walls are like a blank canvas. 

Whatever decor theme you choose will work seamlessly with these walls. But our expert designers recommend going with a white-on-white decor theme to maximize that spacious look and feel. Pair your walls with equally pale furniture, and you'll have a brighter, lighter living room that's hard not to fall in love with.

If you think an all-white living room isn't to your taste, you can always incorporate bright pops of color in the form of lively plants, accent pillows, or even wicker furniture.  

Read more: 6 Game-Changing All White Living Room Ideas

2. Fit In a Nook

Small living rooms often come with slanted ceilings or oddly angled walls, making it even harder to style. While you may feel like you've hit a wall (literally), we're here to show you how to utilize that oddly-shaped corner and create a little nook for yourself. A nook adds a homely charm to small living room decor. You can use lower furniture to give the illusion of a higher ceiling. 

Get yourself a comfy chair with a chic side table, and voila, you've got a cute little reading nook. We also love the idea of using a shorter ottoman as additional seating — it gives the tight space a cozier feel. You could even use this space to hang up your favorite artworks or pictures. Sectioning your living room makes it seem more spacious as you've made it look like it's big enough to accommodate multiple areas. 

Read more: 6 Steps to Make a Farmhouse Style cozy Nook Corner in Any Room

3.

Play With Scale

One way to make even the tiniest living room seem a bit bigger is to find furniture that can fill up space. A wall-to-wall sofa can make your small living room seem more expansive than it is. Proportionally, place a significantly smaller coffee in front of it, making the couch appear even larger. It's also worth noting that playing with scales in small living rooms is very important. 

If everything — sofa, pillows, coffee table — is small, it makes the room feel even tinier. 

However, if there are one or two slightly larger statement pieces, it makes the room feel and appear larger. You can also play with scale by choosing bulkier window treatments and larger pillows to contrast the small rug and coffee table.

4. Free Your Floor 

Clearing out your floors is one of the best small living room decorating ideas you can execute. It's not as hard as it sounds, especially with the variety of furniture available out there. If you're a plant mom, switch to hanging planters. Not only will they pretty up your living room, but they also don't take up any floor space.

Another great living room decor idea for small spaces is to mount your furniture. You can attach tables, shelves, bookcases, etc., to the wall giving you a clean and clutter-free floor. Floating shelves are naturally minimal in design and fit in well with the vibe you're going for. You can't mount things like your sofas, chairs, coffee tables, and such. 

Choose ones with exposed legs for the furniture. Chairs and tables with exposed legs automatically open up the living room and make it feel more spacious. 

5. Keep Things Simple

We love the minimalism in this living room. The use of a monochromatic palette in this area is purposeful and masterful. There are slight variations in texture, giving the room a seamless flow. Our expert designers have strategically placed only a few carefully chosen pieces around the room. 

The furniture and decor heavily rely on the room’s architecture so that all of the little details are enhanced, and the monochromaticity helps the small space appear larger. With a limited color palette, styling your living room is much, much easier! 

Read more: 10 Tips On How To Decorate A Small Apartment Living Room

6. Use Patterns and Texture Instead of Color

We love a whimsical moment. That's why we encourage you to play with different patterns and textures to give your small living room decor multiple focal points, which in turn makes the room seem bigger. Don't be afraid to use patterned throw pillows and pair them with other accessories like patterned planters, or a patterned rug, for instance. 

Another great small living room decorating idea is to use a singular color palette and use textures and prints to bring in character while keeping the room’s flow seamless. Ensure to balance the room by leaving negative space on the walls and within the design to give the illusion of a vast, open space. 

7. Try Vertical Decor

One thing to keep in mind while thinking of home decor ideas for small living rooms is that no matter what you go with, always keep things vertical, especially while decorating your walls. Whether you decide to put up frames, pictures, paintings, etc., vertically arrange them to elongate the room. 

Experts recommend using sconces, a few tall plants, and a narrow floor-to-ceiling bookcase to give your space some height. You can even keep this in mind while choosing new wallpaper. Use vertical stripes to give your living room a unique personality while also making your low ceiling look higher than it is. 

8. Add the Illusion of Space With Glass or Mirrored Elements

Glass is, by definition, see-through, which makes it minimal by design. Even large glass furniture doesn't seem like it takes up too much space as it doesn't break the flow of your design. Pro tip: gold accents pair beautifully with glass. Your living room will have a minimal elegance to it that you will love. 

Another great hack is to incorporate mirrors or reflective surfaces in your small living room design. Mirrors have a natural ability to brighten up the room while also making it seem larger. We recommend placing it opposite a window to maximize its effect. 

9. Add a Gallery Wall

Set up a beautiful gallery wall to give your guests something to ooh and ahh about! Bring in lots of vibrant colors, prints, and patterns while arranging your frames. Every living room, small or large, needs a focal point, and we LOVE a good gallery wall. It's personal, pretty, and speaks to the owner's tastes and passions. Let your guests get to know you a little better with this gorgeous piece of art. 

One of the main reasons a gallery wall is an excellent small living room decorating the idea is that it takes attention away from the size of the place. Your guests won't wonder how small your living room is when all their attention will be on your beautiful gallery wall. 

Read more: 12 Gallery Walls Ideas to Dress Up Your Walls

10. Play With Using Light-Weight Curtains

Curtains can completely transform your living room. They can bring color, pattern, and texture, plus a feeling of comfort and calmness. For a small living room, think more about function than style. 

Avoid bulky and darker shades and swap them for lightweight fabric curtains instead. This will let more light come into the space. Opt for white or pale colors to allow natural light to come in and reflect on the curtains, increasing the brightness of the living room and giving the appearance of it more spacious. 

11. Use the Space Under Your Windows

One excellent way to maximize the potential of your small living room is to turn every inch available into a functional space. For example, the area under your windows can become a cute little niche if you add a window seat. 

Look for slender and sleek furniture that takes less visual space but maximizes the area. This furniture trick the eye into thinking space is less cluttered, but you’re adding more details to the room in reality. Keep this space clean and simple with a couple of pillows on the site. Remember, you still want the eyes to go towards the windows.  

12. Pick a Statement Piece

Distract the eyes by choosing one or two statement pieces. It can be eye-catching artwork, a bold light fixture, or a dramatic statement chair. When you add an attention-grabbing accent piece to your small living room, you create a fresh perspective that adds contrast and intrigue without making the space look cluttered. 

Keep the rest of the room clutter-free to balance scale and draw attention away from the room’s actual size. 

13. Choose a Large Area Rug

It might seem counterintuitive, but a larger-sized area rug can make a small living room appear bigger. When you choose a rug that’s large enough to set apart the seating area from the room’s other functions, you give the illusion of having a more spacious living room area. 

Unlike small rugs, a larger one gives a small space a sense of structure and provides a visual illusion that creates extra length and width. To make sure you get the right size, make sure it’s big enough to accommodate all legs of furniture. Otherwise, it might give the opposite illusion, shrinking the space. 

Read more: Design Mistakes With Rugs

14. Opt for Leggy Furniture

When you’re working with a small space, the furniture you choose can make or break the space. Light-color furniture pieces with a lightweight appearance will always make the space look visually spacious. 

When shopping for furniture, pick out pale color tones with leggy pieces that let the eyes scan the floor. The same goes for glass tops and see-through furnishings. These make the room seem less constrict and tricks the eye into thinking there’s more space. 

At the same time, you can scale down on the furniture. Think about pieces that consume less visual space. As we said before, playing with scales using a lower couch with thin arms helps create a feeling of volume in the room. Low-profile furniture won’t appear to dominate or take too much space. 

Opt for smart furniture pieces that work with small spaces. For example, choose a loveseat and ottomans over a traditional sofa and coffee table. Using this lightweight design layout will work for tiny apartments and small living spaces. 

15. Choose Multi-functional Furniture

When you lack the luxury of space, the more your furniture pieces can do for you, the better. Thankfully, you can find astonishing furniture pieces to fit your style. 

A large and sturdy pouf can turn into a coffee table. It will be extra seating space if guests come over, and you’ll always have a spot to leave the remote and decor. You can also invest in furniture with storage solutions, like a sofa with storage under the seat or a storage ottoman. 

16. Bring the Outdoors Indoors

Nothing makes a small space prettier and feel more alive than decorating with greenery. Whether you’re a garden expert and take care of your precious plants, or you’re a beginner, so you choose faux plants to start, they can make your tiny room look enormous.  

Blooming florals and leafy plants are perfect for blurring the lines between out and indoors. Plants can add color, texture, and depth to your small room. Get creative and hang lush greenery, so you don’t have to take precious space on your floor. It will also trick the eye into thinking there’s more room than there really is. 

Read more: Indoor Plant Ideas for Home

17. Layer Your Lighting

Here’s a tip you probably never heard before. Lighting can help set the atmosphere in a room. But, when you start layering lighting for a small living room, you can precisely set the mood and interest, thus choosing how you want the eye to read the room. 

Combine different types of lighting and set them at different levels – floor, chandeliers, and task lights are very different – when you start playing with their location, you can make a tiny living room appear bigger. 

Read more: Lighting Ideas for Your Home

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you decorate a small living room?

When you’re decorating a small living room, you want to make sure every single item in the room has a purpose. Use mirrors and wallpaper to trick the eye into thinking the space is bigger. Add hidden storage to get the most out of your room. Choose lightweight and small-scale furniture to create a clutterless look. Add plants to liven up the space and add brightness. 

How do you make a small living room cozy?

It can be challenging to make a small living room look cozy. But when you start noticing the architectural details and highlighting these, it can make a huge difference. Use a conversational layout to keep everyone close together and give the illusion of a cozier space. Choose meaningful and personal decor like family photos or heirlooms to make it more private. 

How do you make a small living room look bigger?

To make a small living room look bigger, you really want to scale down your furniture by choosing low-profile furniture pieces with leggy bottoms. This will free up a lot of visual space and make the room feel less cluttered. Use mirrors and glass elements to reflect light and make the area look more spacious. Emphasize vertical decor and keep your walls white or in pastel colors to give the illusion of a bigger space. 

Need More Ideas?

If you like these ideas and want to bring them to life in your home, or design your own perfect living space, start a project on Spacejoy. You will receive unlimited access to an expert online interior design team who can translate your vision and guide you to your perfect room design. 

Our unique technology allows you to view your room in 3D and interact with your design. Move and swap the products with a touch of a finger to see the unlimited possibilities. Our team will also curate a shopping list for you with handpicked products to suit your budget and your style that you can shop right away on our platform. 

Your dream living room is now one click away. Click here for pricing plans.

 

Small living-dining rooms - 135 best photos of the interior design of the dining room

Kitchen-living room with greenery

Valeria Veselova

A fresh design idea: a small living-dining room in a modern style with beige walls, porcelain stoneware floor, plaster fireplace facade, beige floor, horizontal fireplace and wooden walls - excellent interior photo

Apartment for a couple of respectable age

Ksenia Erlakova

Home comfort source of inspiration: a small neoclassical (modern classic) living-dining room with gray walls, medium-sized parquet floors tones and brown floor

"BONIFAS"

Evgeniy Apolonov

On the photo: a small living-dining room in a modern style with multi-colored walls, medium-toned parquet floors and multi-colored floors without a fireplace from

LCD "Presnya City" 2

artELLE-design

Stylish Design Small Contemporary Living Dining Room with Beige Floors, Beige Walls and Medium Parquet Floors - Latest Trend

Lake Calhoun Organic Modern

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Photography: Landmark Photography
Design ideas for a small modernist living-dining room with beige walls, concrete floors and a stone fireplace front

Whitley

Jessica Dauray Interiors/Elements Of Style

This cozy nook exudes modern sophistication and warmth. The lucite chairs add an airy feel to the dark woods of the floor and table. The built in, floating banquette provides seating to gather for a light breakfast or coffee. The curves in the unique light fixture tie in with the oval shape of the table and help balance the angles in the bench and framed artwork. Bert Vanderveen

Transformation d'un trois pièce en quatre

Agence Anne Lapointe

Transformation du sejour en deux zone. creation d'une chambre à coucher supplementaire.
Design ideas for a small fusion living-dining room with blue walls, light parquet floors and brown floors without a fireplace

Vance's Display Case Bar Open

Matter Design & Make Pty Ltd

After approaching Matter to renovate his kitchen in 2020 , Vance decided it was time to tackle another area of ​​his home in desperate need of attention; the dining room, or more specifically the back wall of his dining room which had become a makeshift bar. Vance had two mismatched wine fridges and an old glass door display case that housed wine and spirit glasses and bottles. He didn't like that everything was on show but wanted some shelving to display some of the more precious artefacts he had collected over the years. He also liked the idea of ​​using the same material pallet as his new kitchen to tie the two spaces together. Our solution was to design a full wall unit with display shelving up top and a base of enclosed cabinetry which houses the wine fridges and additional storage. A defining feature of the unit is the angled left-hand side and floating shelves which allows better access into the dining room and lightens the presence of the bulky unit. A small cabinet with a sliding door at bench height acts as a spirits bar and is designed to be an open display when Vance hosts friends and family for dinner. This bar and the bench on either side have a mirrored backing, reflecting light from the generous north-facing windows opposite. The backing of the unit above features the gray FORESCOLOUR MDF used in the kitchen which contrasts beautifully with the Blackbutt timber shelves. All shelves and the bench top have solid Blackbutt lipping with a chamfered edge profile. The handles of the base cabinets are concealed within this solid lipping to maintain the sleek minimal look of the unit. Each shelf is illuminated by LED strip lighting above, controlled by a concealed touch switch in the bench top below. The result is a display case that unifies the kitchen and dining room while completely transforming the look and function of the space.

Soho Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | CA

Flooret

A classic select grade natural oak. Timeless and versatile. With the Modin Collection, we have raised the bar on luxury vinyl plank. The result is a new standard in resilient flooring. Modin offers true embossed in register texture, a low sheen level, a rigid SPC core, an industry-leading wear layer, and so much more.

Peace in Point

Evenflow Interiors

An example of the original design of a small living-dining room in a nautical style with white walls, laminate flooring, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace front, gray floors and exposed beams in the ceiling

Henry House

WALA

A floating daybed doubles as seating for the dining table. Overhead is a Yanzi suspension pendant by Artemide. Photo by Derek Swalwell.
Photo of a small modern living-dining room with white walls, porcelain stoneware floors and gray floors

Jourdain

NEVA Architecture Interior Design

La table rétro a été chinée ainsi que les chaises qui ont été repeintes dans en vert, l'ensemble est auréolé de suspensions en porcelaine et laiton.

Dining Banquette with Sconces

Laura Lee Home

An upholstered bench in the entry serves double duty as extra seating for the adjacent dining room. Outdoor fabric in bold stripes makes for easy clean up

MILK CARTON HOUSE

PROJECT TYPE // CONSTRUCTION LOCATION // HATSUDAI, SHIBUYA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN FACILITY // RESIDENCE ​ GROSS CONSTRUCTION AREA // 71sqm ​ CONSTRUCTION AREA // 25sqm RANK // 2 STORY ​ STRUCTURE // TIMBER FRAME STRUCTURE PROJECT TEAM // TOMOKO SASAKI ​ STRUCTURAL ENGINEER // Tetsuya Tanaka Structural Engineers CONSTRUCTOR // FUJI SOLAR HOUSE YEAR // 2019​ PHOTOGRAPHS // akihideMISHIMA

Tupelo

Crowell + Co. Interiors

The Hen House - Open plan dining room

HEM Architects

Open plan kitchen diner with plywood floor- to-ceiling feature storage wall. Pendant lighting over dining table.
Original design example of a modern small living-dining room with medium hardwood floors, brown floors, white walls, vaulted ceilings and wood walls

Log Cabin Dining Room

Pia Design

Open plan kitchen living area in a log cabin on the outskirts of London. This is the designer's own home. All of the furniture has been sourced from high street retailers, car boot sales, ebay, handed down and upcycled. The dining table was free from a pub clearance (lovingly and sweatily sanded down through 10 layers of thick, black paint, and waxed). The benches are IKEA. The painting is by Pia. Design by Pia Pelkonen Photography by Richard Chivers

Notting Hill

GRANT WHITE DESIGN LTD

Photo of a small retro living-dining room with medium parquet floors, brown floors and beige walls with

How to design a small living room + photo ideas

the more intense the working and everyday life, the calmer we want to spend the evening and weekend. The room where we are happy to spend our free time is the living room. Even in the smallest and tiniest.

The small living room is the heart of the house

Many people love the bedroom and the kitchen, but how long do they stay there? And in the living room you can relax for the rest of the day and even spend whole days. And the more spectacular and cozier the small living room is decorated, the more joyfully and willingly we strive to spend time in it.

Hearth center

The living room has always been the central place in the house. Even in a small apartment, people sought to allocate a room where there would be no sleeping and working places, but a dining table with chairs and a sofa with armchairs. Rest should be soft. Who argues? Today, the living room even has a sofa area with several sofas. Often, in large houses, several living rooms with different functions are equipped:

• Entrance hall with representative functions for guests;

• Small cozy living room for a family;

Note:
The small living room is the central place of the hearth, serving for evening pastime with family and friends. The essence of this room comes down to relaxation, communication and entertainment.

Small living-kitchen design

In the living room, even if it is tiny in size, receptions for guests are usually held. Therefore, it is often connected directly to the kitchen or dining room. As a rule, this is an enfilade system in planning - the dining room is visible from the living room, no less front than the living room.

So, by combining the living room and kitchen, you can get an open space living room-kitchen. In apartments where the kitchens are small and the living rooms are small, these two rooms are also combined for a large open guest space. Some people have a question: “Why combine two separate premises?”.

As a rule, this is a seating area or a sofa in the living room itself, a dining area and a kitchen. You can separate the zones, but they all form a single whole of one kitchen-living room. For zoning, wide arches-entrances are used, opening up the space of both rooms. Or completely open the kitchen-dining room into the living room. And sometimes they arrange a glass sliding partition. What anyone likes.

Reasons for combining a small kitchen-living room:
• A small kitchen in need of expansion or, similarly, a small living room;
• The kitchen, open to the living room space, becomes more attractive for cooking and receiving guests;
• A kitchen with a lot of household appliances needs an increase in footage to decorate the room;

• Combining the kitchen and living room, you can arrange a fireplace between the two rooms, a kind of "fireplace zone";
• The desire to make a bar counter between two rooms instead of a partition that could not be installed in the kitchen;

• At the junction of two rooms, you can create a dining area and install a large dining table;

• Desire to make a large space for receiving guests;
• Loft free space love;

Design of a small living room in Khrushchev
"Khrushchev" and "brezhnevka" are so small for a modern person that they are often re-planned. The neighborhood of the dining room did not pass without a trace for the design of the living room and the placement of furniture in it: zones appeared in the room.

Zoning of the living room

Starting the arrangement of the living room, you should think about the purpose of this room. Either this is a room for relaxing with the family, or here you receive guests. The functions of the two types of living rooms are different. The family living room involves more free zoning, up to placing a work area with a computer in the room. But the living room for friends has clear zones.

The storage area is located near the central wall, and the sofa with chairs is often placed in the center of the living room. If there is a bar counter, then it is combined with an open-plan kitchen with a living room. Often the kitchen in a small space of the apartment serves as a dining room.

The living room can be divided into zones:
• soft zone;
• musical corner;
• work area;
• fireplace with armchairs and coffee table;
• a corner for storing dishes in showcases;
• television and video equipment;
• bar counter;

Living room for socializing with friends

As a rule, the living room intended for guests is devoid of furniture. There is a sofa group and a dining table. It is appropriate to place a shelf with souvenirs or photographs next to the soft zone and the floor lamp. There is often a piano near the TV.

Separation of zones can be carried out using internal structures - lighting fixtures (spotlights or modern hanging lamps) on the ceiling or partitions 1 m high, and along the floor level. If the floor is single-level, then the division of zones is fixed by different floor coverings. This is how the dining room or kitchen is separated if it is integrated into the living room. The screen is a chic zone separator, especially in the corner for card games.

There are usually several zones in the living room:
• sofa;
• fireplace. Often a fireplace located in the center of a room can be a zone separator;
• game room (card tables) or music room;
• bar area;
• TV area and video equipment corner, sound system and CD storage shelves;
• Smoking room, located near the window and exit to the balcony.

Note:
The zoning of the living room is carried out using structural design elements: complex lighting systems, partitions and different levels of the floor, as well as decorative means - colors, partitioning walls with paintings, carpets and photographs.

Central light and backlights serve as a good zoning tool. For example, the dining table is illuminated by a separate lamp, the bar counter has its own lighting on the ceiling, and the work area is illuminated with designer lights. As for the soft zone, here the traditional option is a cozy floor lamp.

Family living room or bedroom?

In a living room designed for socializing with the family, considerable attention is paid to small areas that are combined with each other and are not striking at first glance. This is often a computer in the corner of the room or near the window, as well as on the loggia, which is sometimes combined with the living room.

Sometimes a small living room is also a bedroom in a house. The main place in the living room-bedroom in this situation is occupied by a sofa group for rest and sleep. Large sofas (corner, square, round) are able to effectively divide the zones.

Usually they are placed in the middle of the space and serve as the central composition of the living room. And at the same time, it perfectly separates the guest area and the kitchen part of the open space. If the back of the sofa looks unsightly, you can attach a cabinet to the sofa from the side of the kitchen - both convenient and functional.

Note:
In a family living room-bedroom, several zones should be harmoniously combined. An option can be an open or flowing space. Zoning tools are furniture, screens, multi-level floors and decorative design tools, for example, different colors and lighting.

Architectural forms of the living room

The living room is a significant room in the house, moreover, its face. Therefore, in the design of this room, which is larger than all the others, unique architectural elements are possible - vertical borders.

Arches

Illuminated shaped arches are the most suitable architectural solution. Arches are created in doorways and replace doors. The arched portal is often used when zones transition, for example, from the living room to the kitchen or dining room. A step is arranged along the floor - a horizontal articulation of the boundaries between the rooms.

Columns

Columns are an element of the Greek order system. With their splendor they are able to give the living room a solemn look. Columns in the classical style are especially appropriate. Sometimes they complete the entrance portal from a corridor or a dining room combined with a living room or a terrace and thus decorate the interior and exterior of the house. The living room in this version usually has a classic look. The columns are complemented by stucco molding on the ceiling and a chic chandelier. In a small room, this is quite appropriate.

Panoramic windows

Usually these are sliding windows in mansions to the height of the room. Such glass walls are possible only in front rooms with high ceilings. Often in the apartments of monolithic houses they make such windows overlooking the loggia with a winter garden. They are more modest and smaller than in mansions, but the goal is achieved in any case - splendor and solemnity, characteristic of public halls and halls.

Rock slide or waterfall

A slide with a waterfall or a waterfall in a glass bowl is a decorative element. It is arranged in the corners of the play area, music room or next to the TV, so as not to distract attention. But she is so spectacular that it is simply impossible not to notice her, so they admire her while sitting on the sofas. Most often, the slide is made out next to the exit to the terrace or loggia. It is possible to place the water flow in the flask in the center of the room. The slide becomes the final chord in the entertainment of guests. As a rule, all the guests gather near the hill at the end of the evening.

In a small living room with a fireplace

Fireplace today emphasizes the strength of the position in society and the well-being of its owner, as well as the status of the house. Often the architect, having thought through every detail, to top it all off, places a fireplace in the center of the room, not necessarily geometric. But in whatever part of the room the fireplace is located, the room becomes more comfortable, and the environment for life is more favorable.

Everyone gathers by the fireplace, near which there are chairs and a coffee table, to talk, to drink tea and coffee, and just to be silent, smoking a hookah. It's so nice to see a live fire.

Fireplace - a unifying design element in the living room is made of marble, stone, brick - depending on the style of the living room. It is played with casting, carving, mosaics and illuminated onyx inserts. The fireplace is so good that it can do without decor. And what? Severe knight of the living room!

Color and light

An active life at work and away from home requires a quiet living room environment. The color scheme in this case is calm and monochrome. A rich palette of classic style is appropriate.

Classics of any direction is good, as it provides an opportunity to relax your body and soul, recharge with the history of style. A quiet family island is best decorated in soothing blue and gray-green colors.

A living room where you want to cheer up after the routine of everyday life should be with elements of red, orange and yellow, that is, absorb the warm range of the color spectrum.

Lighting in a small living room accepts complex light - top and side. The central chandelier is adjacent to various lights that accentuate small functional areas. Side light sources will create an intimate friendly atmosphere, and top lighting - solemnity. All together accentuates the splendor of the room.

Furniture

The small living room has a minimum of furniture. But if it is present, then we must pay tribute to the ingenuity of designers - a minimum of volume, compact dimensions and ultimate functionality - these are the basic requirements that constructive furniture fully complies with.

Such furniture will appeal to those who decide to zone the living room space. Using different types of cabinet furniture (low or higher), you can organize horizontal and vertical zoning.

Racks and shelves built into niches will not at all reduce the spatial volume, but on the contrary, creating the illusion of spaciousness, they will simultaneously solve the problem of placing numerous items: books, toys, souvenirs and beautiful dishes.

In addition, what is very important, the visual image of constructive furniture will favorably emphasize the architectural originality of the interior, while modern design and materials will be appropriate in any style setting.

Low furniture

Low furniture is an attribute of a different "level" of life: when you sit on a miniature pouffe, the "horizon" of the interior noticeably lowers. With its help, the space of the room can be conditionally divided into horizontal zones, which are best viewed from above, for example, from the height of the stairs. Low furniture will be preferred by aesthetes - adherents of oriental culture.

Furniture that models vertical space
Shelves
One of the main trends in the modern furniture industry is versatility and the ability to create various furniture compositions. The easily combinable blocks represent a synthesis of functionalism and original design.

An arbitrary configuration of modules allows furnishing rooms of any size and shape with this furniture. By placing several shelves in a row, you can easily get a roomy rack that fits easily into the interior of any living room. Not taking up much space, they can be used as a coffee table, bookshelf or flowerpot shelf.

Racks
The main charm of such models is that, corresponding to their main purpose, they can successfully cope with the function of vertical division of space into zones. And their democratic forms are harmoniously combined with any situation.

This piece of furniture offers plenty of storage space and its unique versatility frees up space. Elements of furniture systems are attached to the wall panel and, leaning on thin chrome-plated legs, seem to float in the air.

Designer's tips for furnishing a small living room
The criterion for a living room today is style, good taste and solid furniture. The living room, like any room, has its central place. It can be a fireplace with a mirror located above the mantelpiece, or a home theater. All other places in the living room are occupied by various furniture.

• When choosing living room furniture, remember that a standard furniture wall has a depth of 40-50 cm. Therefore, if you want a new element to blend seamlessly into an already finished interior, its depth must match the parameters of the rest of the furniture.

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