Not everyone can afford their dream bungalow or a two-level penthouse. But, do not let the small space damper your ideas for your living room. No matter how troublesome planning decor and placing furniture in your small living room seems, with the correct guidance, you can still create a dazzling living room with all your desired elements. Right colour, buying suitable furniture items, and creating an illusion of a bigger space by using space tricks are vital factors you must remember to design your small living room. Here are some small apartment small living room ideas for you.
Buy the correct furniture
A room without any furniture is just a space. Furniture is what gives volume to a room and also helps make our living easier. Be it a sofa or a TV cabinet, there are so many options to pick from. As tempting as it is to buy every fantastic piece of furniture, due to the limited space, you must decide what type of furniture you really want.
Firstly jot down all the essential furniture necessary for any living room. The first thing is choosing a perfect seating arrangement. A big sofa will be a waste of space and money if you live alone. Consider small L-shaped couches with convertible seats. You can also go for stools with vibrant tops that add colour to your room and do not take up extra space. Armchairs and floor sofas also work great.
To add extra bed space, buy a sofa that slides out and turns into a bed. Similarly, buy a TV cabinet with additional shelves and storage drawers to store items. Add a small shoe cabinet near the door, and buy a glass cabinet to display decorative items and store dishes if required. Coffee tables should be smaller than the size of your sofa, and make sure they have hidden storage space as well. Keep pieces of furniture from making the room feel stuffy or blocking all the pathways.
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Plan an open-space layout
Planning a good layout is one of the most important aspects of interior design. We have a habit of placing furniture right in front of the walls to make a walking space in between. But if you want something fresh, try laying down your sofas and TV units a little away from the walls to make them feel airy. Sofa tables are very in, and you can place one behind your couches; they not only have extra storage but also can be used as an office desk.
Use rugs of trendy prints and colours below the furniture legs; they add vibrancy to the room. Do not build a wall between your living and dining space; use glass doors or bookshelves as a divider. The open-space concept will give you privacy and make the living room feel big.
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Stick to a light colour theme
No matter how many windows your space has, harsh colours on your walls can make it feel dark and unwelcoming. When you have a small living room situation, you must stick to shades that will make the room feel big and airy. Light hues such as grey, white, beige and cream colours are timeless shades. These colours on your walls will soothe the eye, and the light reflecting off them will brighten up the room.
You can smartly use accents and patterns in contrasting colours to add warmth to the room. Use bright yellow, orange or soft green to paint the borders of your walls or even the ceiling. Wooden furniture paired with these shades makes for a cosy setup. You can also add a pop of colour to your room by adding dark-coloured rugs or using colourful decor items.
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A big glass mirror makes the room feel bigger
The trick of hanging mirrors to give us the illusion of the room feeling bigger has been used by interior designers for ages. It truly gets the job done cost-effectively and acts as a decoration in the room. For small living rooms, go big with mirrors. A statement mirror with a nice border can hang above the mantle or the sofa. You can also use a standing mirror on one side of the room. Mirrors of different sizes can also be used to cover an empty wall reflecting the light and adding an extra vibe to the room’s decor.
You can experiment with the position and size of the mirrors available in the market. Try hanging them on different walls and positions to find the correct space where they reflect the light and are visible to anyone who enters the room. Use light fixtures beside the mirror for extra details.
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Install good light fixtures for brightness
Apart from visibility, good lighting not only sets the mood but also brightens up tiny spaces. Start by using smart and designer ceiling lights instead of boring LEDs. Nowadays, ceiling lights and chandeliers in various sizes and patterns exist in the market. No matter how low or high your ceilings are, invest in a good light fixture and hang them in each corner so every nook can be lit up.
If you use your couch for reading, buy a standing lamp or install spotlights on the wall above your sofas. Side table lamps in sofa tables and unit shelves with pretty details make them look like art pieces. Floor lamps and low wall lights can be used to light up the path at night. Yellow light bulbs add warmth to the room. Standard white lights are also a good alternative, depending on the theme of your room.
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FAQs
What decor items can we use to decorate our tiny living room?
Extra decorations such as hanging art pieces on the wall or having a wall full of framed family photos will add character to your room. Use plants of alternate sizes and place them on the sofa table or beside the sofa for greenery.
How to get additional storage space for your small living rooms?
Do not let corners and empty walls go to waste. Hang floating shelves on the walls or build an L-shaped cabinet to keep extra items such as books and glasses. Build drawers in your coffee table, TV units and even inside your sofas for additional storage.