How to Decorate a Small Living Room

It’s easy to think of different ways to decorate a room, as there are so many possibilities to explore when it comes to home decoration. However, if the room size is small, you may feel a bit defeated when considering ways to decorate a small living room, even before you begin with the new set-up.

Will the coffee table fit? How many pieces of furniture can you use before it starts to look messy? Numerous questions of this nature can plague a person, but not to worry! We have compiled tips and tricks that will work out best for you when choosing small living room ideas. The following ten tips and guidelines will help you to make the most out of the limited space.

1. GO CONVERTIBLE

When shopping, keeping the room size in mind! Because a small living room design often lends to the room feeling even smaller once furniture is placed in it, functional pieces of furniture are ideal in tiny living rooms.

However, keep in mind that a piece of furniture that is small doesn’t necessarily mean it will help save room space — or make the space look average. Yes, the size is important when it comes to choosing small furniture, but the design of that furniture can seem otherwise.

A couch that is small, with protruding roll arms and wide cushions, which is placed in a small-sized living room, will feel bulkier than a larger sofa with clean lines and a slimmer silhouette. A bonus for saving the space would be to choose furniture that can be customized into shape.

For instance, a convertible sofa that can allow for various different configurations can be easy to choose, as you can figure out a layout that perfectly fits your small living room. When you are figuring out small living room ideas with a TV or without a TV, you should play with the concept of space and illusion.

Furniture that is too big or too small can make the room look disproportionate and seem out of whack. Instead, focus on using furniture that is the right size. After all, if the main pieces or pivotal features are perfectly sized, nothing else can make the room look more put-together.

2. PLAY DOUBLE DUTY: THINK OF MULTI-FUNCTIONAL PIECES

In addition to considering convertible furniture, another tip is to look out for multi-functional items. For example, an ottoman that can double as a storage space. Lacking enough living area room means that a durable, multi-functional piece of furniture will be the safest bet, such as a pouf or a stool that can easily convert into a coffee table. These types of furniture items can provide space to keep a book or a remote.

Further, pieces like an ottoman or stool can function as an extra seating place when a visitor comes over but also as an accent chair. The same goes for investing in a storage box-bed or a sofa with storage under its seat, which allows for an easy way to clear any clutter in a moment.

It’s important to remember that choosing multi-functional furniture not only means that it’ll be used for small living room ideas, but it can also create a stunning (and sometimes minimalist) look, regardless of a room’s size or shape.

3. OPT FOR VISUALLY LIGHTWEIGHT FURNITURE

Color can impact the acuity of what someone envisions as a small living room look. Furniture pieces that are light-colored or neutral have the appearance of being lightweight and making its surroundings such as the hallway or dining area look spacious.

While shopping for living room pieces, opt for pale colors over darker hues and select leggy pieces, glass tabletops, and see-through furnishings that will make a room feel less constrained. However, when taking visuals into mind, with consideration to the living room layout, sometimes a pop of color is necessary to highlight certain aspects of the living room design.

4. DISTRACT WITH STATEMENT PIECES

A living room that is limited in size doesn’t necessarily mean you cannot make a statement using a bigger piece of home décor for small living rooms. You can pick one or two well-curated items — such as an eye-catching, authentic piece of artwork that speaks to you, or a bold and hefty light fixture — to create a dramatic moment or add a spark.

Even an attention-grabbing accent piece (think: floating shelves, a bookcase, or an accent chair) can bring a fresh twist to a tiny space while creating contrast and intrigue. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll need to keep the rest of the room relatively clutter-free to balance out and draw the attention away from the size of the room.

5. EASY-TO-MOVE FURNISHINGS ARE A MUST

Small living room design ideas for décor mean that you should add a bare minimum number of items and furniture, or else there won’t be any space left to move. It is better, then, to go for a small-scaled sofa and petite-looking furnishings.

Although, if there is still the need for more small living room decorating ideas, try using furniture that can easily be moved, like stools or nesting tables. This will not only create more floor space, but will ensure that you have enough seating and surfaces to cater for everyone present.

6. SMALL LIVING ROOM DECORATING IDEAS MEAN CREATING A FOCAL POINT IS ON POINT

The center of your living room should be dedicated to a focal point, which will give the illusion of a much larger space. Especially in a small room, a TV wall design must be thought about in advance.

Having a television with a Pull Down and Swivel TV mount (like our MM540 Enhanced TV Mount) in the center of a plain and empty wall will make the room look bigger.

Also, since it’s a functional item, this will keep the focus off the size of the room and onto the mounted TV on your wall. Further, the empty space surrounding it will give a spacious appearance. You can even think about mounting your TV over a fireplace, which will further distract from the small living room size and, rather, allow you and others to focus on the fashionable design and look of the space.

7. UTILIZE YOUR HIGH CEILING

Not only can you choose to take advantage of the height of your ceiling when considering small living room ideas, but you’ll be able to put interior design tricks to work at the same time. A room with a higher ceiling can be utilized in cases of rooms with smaller widths when the height of the room appears to make the room look bigger and adjusts the space well.

One way to utilize the height is to install a high bookshelf, running from floor-to-ceiling. Alternatively, go for a full-sized window that runs up and down through the height of the room. This will bathe the room in natural light and make it look out of this world.

8. TRYING OUT UNIQUE LAYOUTS

Family room ideas for spaces that are tight on square footage may also involve experimenting with different living room designs for small space layouts. Placing the sofa set adjacent to each other, possibly purchasing a sectional for comfort and space considerations, or adding a center table to it, might look good.

Placing a floor lamp behind a sofa, or a table lamp on top of a small side table near the edge of the sofa, can also be one way to go about it.

One of our favorite options when thinking of layouts of small living room spaces is to choose to get a wall-mounted TV and place the screen right in front of the sofa set. This option will help you to relax on your recliner or lounger while watching your favorite television shows. This selection is even more attractive when you know that MantelMount has the MM815, a Motorized Drop Down and Swivel Mount.

See it in action below in the video. It might just be the investment in your home entertainment portion of your family room that puts a bow on the layout of the space.

MM815 Consumer Video D2C 03-10-23 from MantelMount on Vimeo.

9. CREATING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WALL SPACE

Aside from lamps, lights, and light colors, there is a whole range of living room accessories to explore when it comes to thinking about small living room ideas — even a good old clock can do wonders. 

You can also use some of the space on the walls to add vintage pieces, or put up some lovely photo frames — a walk down memory lane. Antique china and sheer curtains also go well with this sort of room décor. A set of mirrors, or frames of 90s celebrities, can also draw an attractive appeal to the seating area.

In many cases, people overlook the walls of their living room in order to find extra storage space around the house. Why not use the wall for small living room ideas and leave it bare for no reason? All that space is a great place to push a high-back bench with storage underneath, or have a cabinet for storing expensive utensil sets to decorate a small living room.

Your visitors can also feel comfortable sitting on the bench or trunk, which has been placed up against the wall, without knowing there is storage below. Similarly, a folding table can also be opened up in front of the bench when one has company, then later put away.

10. INTRODUCE A LARGE MIRROR TO CREATE AN ILLUSION OF SPACE

A well-positioned large mirror can instantly reflect more light into the living room, creating the impression of extra space. It will not only brighten up the small living room, but will be an easy way to decorate one. When it comes to mirrors, there are all sorts of designs to choose from: clean, vintage, minimal styles, or ornate mirrors that are bold in appearance and personality.

It’s all about collecting a one-of-a-kind piece of décor and making the most out of it. You can browse antique or local shops for a better find at a better price, or hunt for a bargain that can be upcycled in a weekend DIY project for your small living room ideas.

Feel free to let your imagination run wild with creativity when you decorate a small living room. The room size might be small, but your mind should wander freely in its space.