James Wood
As we spend so much time in our living rooms relaxing or welcoming both family and friends, it is no surprise that we want to create the coziest space we can. There are several ways to design a small living room for a functional yet cozy space ready for nights in or entertaining guests. Living room ideas can be universal no matter what size or shape space you are working with, in fact, ‘there are many factors that make a small living room nice, size and style of furniture, color choices, creating visual interest, among others,’ says American designer Seyie Putsure of Seyie Design (opens in new tab).
Window treatment ideas are both functional and stylish, often adding character to a room and tying a scheme together beautifully. ‘Well-tailored draperies make a big difference in creating a nice foundation for a room,’ says Seyie. ‘I hang the curtain high in order to accentuate the height of the ceiling and make the space feel taller when in the room.’
The arrangement of the furniture is also of great importance to make the small living room feel more spacious and inviting.’ A glass-topped coffee table that is circular is the perfect piece for a small living space because it doesn’t visually block your view of the other items of furniture.’ Round and organic shape coffee and side tables also help in making the space more inviting.
I also choose coffee tables that are visually light such as a polished marble top with a slender brass base here. ‘When the walls, carpet, and furniture are different shades of the same color, you create visual consistency in the room and the space looks more open. A sofa in a favorite color (vs. in neutral) is a great way to inject personality into a small room,’ says Seyie.
Color, pattern, and texture can also be injected through soft furnishings such as pillows, throws, and rugs to add visual interest. ‘When in doubt, different shades of the same color work well in creating a nice visual depth in a room. Small living room lighting ideas are important to make sure your space is not dull and uninviting.
Making a small living room look nice can come down to layering lighting correctly to ensure the space is functional as well as warm and welcoming. ‘In addition, place smaller lamps around the room to spread the light around and draw attention to the entire space.’ The most important thing in making a small space feel bigger is to have a cohesive color scheme.
Consider using a tonal palette such as cooler blues and greens together or warmer beiges and rusts to add color while keeping the room clean. You may also want to paint trims such as door frames and skirting boards a crisp white to brighten the space up further.
