When what we’re looking for is a cozy room, size isn’t a deciding factor. What matters is choosing the right furniture and decor so you can make the most of it and create a sense of well-being and comfort. So, if you have a small living room at home, we have good news for you: you can achieve stunning results without much effort.
How? All you have to do is follow some or all of the tips we’re sharing with you today. So keep reading and find out for yourself!
Tips for Decorating a Small Living Room
What will you usually do in the living room?
Let’s start at the beginning: decide how we’re going to use the small room. Under normal circumstances, this space is used for watching TV, reading, studying or working, entertaining guests, listening to music, or eating. And the decor can vary depending on how we want to use it.
So, if we want to have a TV, we’ll need to choose a specific spot to set it up and watch it comfortably. On the other hand, if we decide to use the room as a study or an office, the most important thing will be to have a desk and a comfortable chair.
Prioritize functionality and comfort, so that your furniture provides exactly what you need. As the name suggests, this room is meant for “spending time” in, so the most important thing is to create a pleasant environment that adapts to your needs.
The sofa, an essential piece of furniture in any living room
Regardless of how we plan to use our small living room, a sofa is an essential piece of furniture. This is mainly because its mere presence makes it the focal point of the room, and it has the ability to convey—all on its own—the sense of well-being and comfort that everyone associates with these spaces.
Since our goal here is to decorate a small living room, we need to pay close attention to the sofa’s dimensions so that it doesn’t end up being a nuisance rather than a solution to our needs. To do this, consider how many seats it should have (2 or 3 at most, depending on the number of people in the household) and avoid bulky models.
In other words, rule out models with large armrests, high backs, or modular designs. Instead, consider buying a low-profile sofa with tall legs and a shallow depth, so you can save space and its presence won’t be visually overwhelming. Or, if the numbers just don’t add up when you’re measuring, you can opt for an alternative: buy two armchairs instead, which will ensure you have a place to rest whenever you need it.
A small coffee table or side table
For the sake of comfort, every sofa (or armchair) should be paired with a table. In addition to providing a place to set down whatever you need at the moment—such as a cup of coffee or a book— it will also serve an important aesthetic purpose thanks to its design and any decorative elements you choose to add, such as a vase of flowers or a centerpiece.
As you can imagine, in this case we also recommend that you choose a small table so that it takes up as little space as possible. In fact, we have to be realistic and accept that we won’t be able to put many things on it, because in this case the size of the living room is a clear limiting factor.
And if, despite these limitations, you’re looking for a functional table, consider buying an extendable table. That way, you can keep it folded up most of the time and open it up when you really need more space (such as when you have guests over).
The brighter the living room looks, the bigger it will seem
Light is a wonderful ally for rooms because it eliminates the shadows that make them seem small. Therefore, when decorating a small living room, it’s very important to make the most of natural light during the day and also to ensure proper artificial lighting during the evening hours.
Make the room’s window or windows the focal point, and during the day, let in as much light as possible. Keep the blinds up and use sheer, translucent curtains to achieve this. In the evening and at night, use wall sconces or recessed spotlights to save space; or, if you prefer them for their decorative appeal, install pendant or wall lamps.
Also, when it comes to artificial lighting, make sure it meets your needs at all times. Keep in mind that if the main use of your living room is watching TV, you’ll probably only need general lighting; however, if you’re going to study or read there, you’ll also need a specific light source directed at where you’re sitting.
Light and neutral colors to create a sense of spaciousness
Even if you can’t add more space to your small living room, you can still play with the atmosphere it creates. And one of the easiest ways to do this is by experimenting with colors and the feelings they evoke, because neutral and light shades are perceived as brighter and create a sense of spaciousness.
White is a classic choice, but you can take a risk with alternatives like green and light blue, shades of gray, or even earth tones. And if you want to try something more cheerful or vibrant, you can do so by incorporating a bolder color into decorative elements (like throw pillows or a rug) or on the feature wall. In fact, a little trick to create a sense of depth in a small living room is to paint one of the walls a darker color than the rest.
Add depth with mirrors
Just as with colors—if you choose them wisely—the decor of a small living room can be enhanced if you take care to strategically place a few mirrors. As we’ve mentioned on several occasions, mirrors are a perfect way to create a sense of depth and, therefore, to make rooms appear larger than they actually are.
As a recommendation, don’t limit yourself to mirrors alone, because other items can offer a similar effect thanks to their reflective properties. For example, you could place a small glass-fronted cabinet next to one of the walls. This will also amplify the visual effect and enhance the brightness in the room.
Take advantage of the possibilities your walls offer
If you’re short on space widthwise and lengthwise, make up for it vertically. It’s as simple as that. A very useful practical example is leaving one of the walls clear enough to hang the TV. These days, TVs have a flat design, so there’s no need to place them on a specific piece of furniture.
Also, instead of bookcases, you can use open shelves or wall-mounted shelves. These will provide storage space without taking up valuable room in your small living room.
Decorate your small living room with the help of CULMIA
That wraps up our 7 ideas for decorating a small living room. As you’ve seen, these are practical and easy-to-implement options, so we’re sure they’ll help you make the most of your space and turn it into one of your favorite places in the house.
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