BY HADLEY MENDELSOHN
If your living room, family room, or sitting room is cramped and cluttered, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend time in there. That is, unless you trick your eye into thinking the space is bigger than it appears. It’s not magic; it’s just smart styling and layout strategy. Get ready to bookmark all these tips and transform your small living room into a comfortable, stylish oasis for you and your household to hang out in. With these designer examples to guide the way, you’ll love the space so much that you’ll never want to leave it.
Install Smart Lighting
Choose lighting that can be attached to the walls or hung from above to save room on floor space like in this room designed by Tamsin Johnson Interiors. Swing-arm sconces also free up space on the floor and bring dimension to the walls, an ideal situation for small living rooms.
Bonus tip: Paint Walls a Light Color
Knowing how to choose paint colors for your home is always tough. But when it comes to designing small spaces, you’ll want to stick with light, airy colors to open things up. This is because neutral colors reflect more light and make a room feel larger. Avoid dark paint or overly bold wallpaper so that you don’t make your studio or tiny home feel cramped and cluttered.
Maximize Vertical Space
Want to find a way to expand your small space? You can make a room seem larger by utilizing vertical storage and choosing furniture that’s lower to the ground. Try hanging plants, decor, artwork, and shelves up high to take advantage of your entire space!
Double Up with Bunk Beds
Living in small spaces with kids means you have to take quite a bit more into consideration. Fortunately, there are lots of small kids room ideas for you to try! If there aren’t enough bedrooms for everyone, bunk beds are a simple and versatile furniture solution to include in a shared kids room.
Get Creative with Kitchen Storage
The first step to making a tiny kitchen functional is to declutter and organize. But you’ll need to get creative with storage spaces in your kitchen, too. With clever solutions like an island on wheels or pullout cabinets, you can maximize even the most cramped kitchens!
Make the Most of Corners
Another small space idea is to maximize the corners of every room! Rather than placing tables, desks, and other furniture in the center of the room, try utilizing the corners in cramped areas to help make your space feel more open. Corner shelving is an especially clever storage hack for small apartment living!
DIY a Barn Door
City apartment dwellings give “small” a whole new meaning. But designer Shari Francis has plenty of tricks up her sleeve to outsmart limiting floorplans. Tip number one: Separate an alcoved bedroom from an adjoining living room with a sliding barn door to enhance privacy and give yourself dedicated spaces for different activities (it’s a relatively DIY project and there are plenty of cool, affordable options on Etsy, like this one). Tip number two: A smaller sofa is better than a bulky one that takes up the entire room, and one armchair is better than two if it means keeping a pathway clear—plus, asymmetry is chic.
Swap a Sofa for Club Chairs
If you don’t have room for both a sofa and club chairs, forgo the sofa and opt for two cozy armchairs like designer Jae Joo did in this sitting room. If there’s a fireplace, angle them towards it to encourage cozy hangs and conversation while also drawing the eye to it.
Choose A Large Rug
Choosing a larger rug—even in a bold pattern—is a trick that makes a room feel bigger. Unlike smaller rugs, the large size doesn’t visually break up the floor. This can also help anchor the space and give you a good staple piece to design the rest of the room around.
Layer Coffee Tables
So a set of nesting tables are too small for your room but a super large and bulky coffee table is also out of the question. Layer two streamlined coffee tables for a sleek