The living room is where homeowners spend most of their time at home, and it should be a space that feels welcoming. With the proper furniture placement and some clever decorating ideas, you can make your small living room feel much larger. Here are ten styling tricks to try out today!
1. Use Mirrors
Hanging a mirror is a classic trick for making small spaces seem larger. If you have an entrance in one wall of your living room, hang the mirror opposite this to give yourself the impression that there's more space than there is!
2. Paint One of Your Walls in a Light Color
Painting one of your walls in a light color will help to make the room feel bigger. This technique also works well if you have rectangular-shaped living rooms that appear very narrow when viewed from one end.
A bright wall helps create a feeling of spaciousness, which is enhanced if you have tall ceilings.
3. Add Plants Around the House for Greenery and Fresh Air
Plants are a great way to add natural greenery and different textures to make your living room feel more spacious. Not only are plants suitable for the environment, but they also provide fresh air into your home when there's no need to open windows or doors!
4. Use Furniture With Slim, Low Lines
Furniture with slim, low lines and a clean finish will give the impression that your room is larger than it is. There are many different furniture styles out there for living rooms, so do some research to find what suits you best!
Use a modular sofa in a friendly fabric to accommodate your guests. These sofas are versatile and can be configured in multiple ways to suit the needs of your living room.
5. Keep Furniture Pieces Minimalistic
Minimalistic furniture pieces will help to make your room appear larger. Too many pieces of furniture can make a small space feel cluttered and cramped.
Similarly, try not to stack things too high in your living room; if you have stacks or piles, place them against the wall so that they're not blocking any windows. This will help give an impression of more light and air coming into the room!
6. Buy Furnishings That Are White or Clear-colored
White or clear-colored furnishings will help create the illusion that your living room is bigger than it is. Clear-colored pieces don't take up as much visual space, and this allows the eye to travel around more easily, making the room feel less cluttered.
A white sofa against a light-colored wall, for example, can work well if you have other clear furniture in your home, such as desks or tables, which also reflects natural light from windows.
For smaller spaces (such as studio apartments), try not to decorate with dark colors on every single surface - these might make your place appear even tighter because of all the shadows they cast! If possible, instead opt for lighter tones throughout.
7. Hang Artwork on the Walls at Eye Level
Artwork on the walls at eye level will help to draw attention upwards from the floor. This is a great way to create the illusion that your home has taller ceilings than it does, and there are plenty of ways you can display artwork to achieve this!
One idea is to put up small pieces on shelves or hang them using nails or string at eye level instead.
8. Choose Suitable Lamps and Lighting Fixtures
Make sure that your fixtures are sleek and streamlined with minimal detail or embellishments. This will help to create the illusion that your room is bigger because they won't be blocking as much light from windows or making it difficult for you to see around!
A lamp can make space feel more intimate, so experiment with different types to find what suits you best.
If possible, try not to have lamps on either side of your sofa at eye level - these are usually quite large pieces of furniture that might prevent the rest of the room from being visible when sitting down. Instead, opt for lamps above head-height or floor lamps if there's no space on tables close by.
9. Don't Move All Your Furniture Against the Walls
Furniture that is pushed up against the walls might make a room feel more confined. Leaving a little space between the furniture and the wall will help the room feel airier while still keeping things looking tidy.
This rule is beneficial if you have a lot of furniture in your living area - it'll make sure that everything has some space to move and be visible!
10. Use Your Ceiling Height
You can take advantages if you have high ceilings! This will help you feel the room more spacious. Use light colors on ceilings for an even greater effect, as this brings attention upwards and creates a feeling of height.
Alternatively, if you have low ceilings or are unable to paint, try using shelving units with taller sides to create some elevation - it'll help draw focus up towards the ceiling where there is space.
Conclusion
Small spaces can be tricky to live in, but if you know the trade tricks, they don't have to feel claustrophobic. Make sure you invest in the best furniture for your space to help increase the feel and size of your living room! We hope these ideas have given you some inspiration in making the most of what you have to turn your small space into an inviting and comfortable haven. For more home styling tricks and tips, check out our blog section. Have any more suggestions not listed above? Comment below to let us know!
