When you are redecorating, one of the easiest ways to make a small living room feel more
spacious is to inject soft, pastel shades into your design scheme to keep the room warm
and inviting.
Take a look at these small living room ideas to get you started.
1.
Utilise awkward architectural spaces Use the space to your advantage.
If you have a small-scale sofa it should fit neatly into the position, without taking up
valuable floor space.
use the awkward area to house larger, bulkier furniture pieces such as sideboards and TV
units.
This prevents the pieces overpowering the rest of the petite room, because the space
would be otherwise unused anyway.
2.
Draw attention away from the door it can be tricky to create a relaxing bolt
hole when your front door opens straight into your living room.
Take the emphasis away from the entrance by creating a focal point with thoughtfully arranged
seating.
Here, a neat two-seater and comfy armchair have been placed at a 90-degree angle to a
slim side table and lamp.
3.
Pare it back with wood Think about alternatives to traditional living
room furniture, such as the three-piece suite.
It’s still possible to have a cosy area for relaxing and reading with less space-greedy
furnishings.
Swap an upholstered armchair for a wooden rocker with cushions; and bookcases for slimline
ladder-style shelving.
4.
Pop an L-shaped sofa into a tight space Before decorating or furnishing an awkwardly
shaped living room consider how best to optimise the space available.
Think about an L-shaped sofa in a tight eaves space teamed with trunks that can function
as coffee tables as well as handy storage.
Keep a dark room white to make the most of what little light there is.
5.
Display objects of interest Just because your living room is verging on
the small side, it doesn’t mean that you should hide away all your favourite belongings
in storage.
If you have objects that are worthy of showing off then display them along an open shelf,
above the sofa.
This idea is great for when floor space is at a premium.
6.
Make the most of the space under the stairs Make the most of the unused space under the
stairs by incorporating everything from storage to quirky accessories.
If you have space issues in your small abode and need to make the most of every nook and
cranny then turn to that nimble spot under the stairs into a warm and cosy living space.
7.
Make your own media centre Free up floor space, from storage units, by
creating your own media centre that takes up minimal space.
A wall-mounted TV is always going to be the better option for small living rooms.
Fix an MDF panel to the wall and mount your TV screen and floating shelves on it, one
above and one below if needed.
The space saving shelves will allow for storage without taking up too much needed space.
8.
Hang baskets to provide extra wall storage If you are faced with small space living the
only way really is up!
Make the most of any floor space by keeping it as clutter-free as possible.
That includes any small bits and bobs you might otherwise have laying around.
We have used attractive willow baskets to solve the storage problem.
Ideal because one they look great and two they are sturdy enough to hold all manner
of clutter.
9.
Avoid a corridor effect with a corner sofa This reception room is quite long and thin,
and previously the owners had a long dark sofa, which only added to the corridor effect.
By swapping it for a pale L-shaped design, they’ve created a cosy corner and opened
up the space.
There’s now also room for more seating by way of large floor cushions.
10.
Choose light colours for the walls Our current favourites are blush pinks (as
shown), pale blue or greys and dusky lilacs.
Those shades will make any small living room feel fresh and inviting – cosy, and yet
not closed in.
Steer clear of brilliant whites and instead pick those with a subtle green, grey or taupe
tone