The living room of the house is a Multifunctional space for permanent use. Much of the life of the family is spent in it, so it needs to be equipped to be able to have at least all the members of the house seated and comfortable.
It can seem like a bit of a chore in tight spaces, so we’ll give you some tips for decorating small living rooms.
Choose light colours for the walls
The first step is the choice of colour to paint walls and ceiling. Cool colours like greys, greens, and blues are great for small spaces because they have the effect of enlarging the space.
A very effective little trick is to paint the ceiling in another colour lighter than the walls, in order to give a feeling of depth and space. In the image below we see that all the decoration is based on gray, with a touch of beige on the floor and coffee table. The green chair achieves an effect of depth.
It is advised not to use bright whites, instead choose those with a subtle shade of green, gray or brown.
You don’t have to opt for white. You can use pastel shades of pink or pale blue, there are even many shades of gray that look pretty and elegant. These shades will make any small living room feel fresh and inviting, but not closed.
Use few colours
A small space doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with colour. But if you want to incorporate pretty pastels or bright colours, but want to make sure your living room doesn’t look chaotic, the trick is to stick to a tight colour palette.
Swap the large sofa for a smaller one
A bulky sofa can take up too much space in the living room, so if you have a small room, you could get by with an equally comfortable but much less invasive loveseat. It can easily accommodate a parent and child, or a couple.
Expand the space using mirrors
It’s the oldest trick, but it really works. You can instantly create the illusion of more space simply by using mirrors. You can opt for a large mirror to cover an entire wall. The mirror will create the illusion of space by reflecting the room, doubling the interior space. Keep the colour palette clear and it will help enhance the effect.
Mirrors are already more than knowing when it comes to wanting to expand a room. The optical illusion is very good because when reflecting, the limits of the room are lost and apart it helps to take advantage of natural light, in case of having windows.
Multimedia centre
Free up floor space by creating your own multimedia centre that takes up minimal space. A wall-mounted television will always be the best option for small rooms. You can fix an MDF panel to the wall and mount the TV and the floating shelves on it, one above and one below if necessary. Shelves will allow for storage without taking up too much space.
The area under the bottom shelf allows additional storage for items such as drawers or stools for storage.
Floating shelves on the wall for more storage space
This type of shelves allows you to decorate by releasing the floor, which will give more comfort and a feeling of spaciousness.
Shelves high up to the ceiling
Taking advantage of an entire wall as storage, in addition to giving you more storage capacity, will give a feeling of spaciousness.
Distract with eye-catching pieces
Pick an eye-catching item or two, like an oversized table lamp, an eye-catching piece of art, or an armchair upholstered in fabulous fabric, and keep the rest of the room clutter-free.
It is advisable to choose a salon focal point. In other words, an element around which the rest of the furniture is focused. This can be a painting, a fireplace, or whatever you like.
Small elongated rooms
This living room is quite long and slim, and previously the owners had a long dark sofa, which only added to the hallway effect. By swapping it for a pale L-shaped design, they have created a cosy corner and opened up space.
Long curtains
Long ceiling-to-floor curtains are a good option, as they will create the illusion of space, even if the square footage of your living room is a bit slim.
The curtains also play their part in the decoration. If you dare to place curtains that go from the ceiling to the floor, as we see in the image below, the room will look higher and will generate the illusion of a large window.
Multifunctional furniture
When it comes to small living rooms, multifunctional furniture is your allies. A coffee table can double as storage, allowing you to clear out any clutter at any time. You can also invest in stools with a lid or even a sofa with storage space under the seat.
You should not have an excess of furniture, but few, and that provide a lot of practicality. By this, we mean that there is specific furniture for small spaces, which can be used in various ways. This helps that depending on the occasion, it is in the most useful way. For example, the armchairs of a square, which can be opened and end up being a bed.
It should be noted that this table is padded, so it can also be used as a seat.
Let the light in
If your living room has access to a lot of natural light, don’t block it with dark curtains. Let the light in to make space feel more airy and open. Even if you don’t have large windows and lots of sunlight, choose lighter shades to maximize the light. Semi-sheer shades in curtains will also help.
Choose a large rug
Choosing a large rug, even with a bold pattern, is a trick that makes a room appear larger. Unlike small rugs, the large size does not visually break the floor. This can also help anchor the space and have a basic piece to design the rest of the room. Corner seats can also help make the most of the space.
Low seats
A lower sofa creates the visual effect of higher ceilings. It’s about playing with proportion and scale.
Two coffee tables
Use two small tables to replace a large coffee table. They are better for the flow of traffic and can be easily moved anywhere else where they are needed.
Smart lighting
Choose lighting that can be attached to the walls or hung from the ceiling to save floor space. Swing-arm lamps also free up space on end tables.
Hanging chair
Swing chairs are super fun and seem to be having a boom time right now. They can be a great decorative and useful resource in a small room. It offers the advantage of adding seating without taking up a lot of floor space, as you would with a traditional armchair.
Transparent coffee tables
Another trick is to use tables made of transparent material since visually, they do not take up space and allow you to see through them.
