As a designer, one of my favorite kind of projects is transforming small spaces! In essence, a small room has a lot of challenges and is really difficult to design & organize but I simply love exploring the creative potential.

In this blog post you will see how I transformed a small living room I found on reddit. By the end of it you will be surprised to learn the how tiny changes and tweaks impact the design on a large scale. If you too are struggling to make your small living room be functional while looking pretty, the takeaways I’ve listed here will help you in your decision making.

1. Look At The Layout Differently

The layout of this living room is challenging in a lot of ways; there’s no dedicated entryway, you walk straight into the space. In addition, furniture placement is complicated due to the small footprint. I brought the furniture closer and placed the TV on the wall next to the window. By doing this, it not only creates a dedicated seating area, it frees up the pathway as you enter and exit the house through the front door.

When designing a small living room remember to stay away from traditional layout patterns such pushing the furniture against the walls. This gives an illusion of a wider space and pathways but results in a complicated arrangement that does not make a lot of sense, functionality & design wise. Rethink the layout and don’t be afraid to bring the furniture closer, for one!

(You will notice there’s no fireplace in the original living room, I added that to show how you can design around a focal point. You can place a TV unit instead).

2. Mind The Scale Of The Furniture

This is a common mistake seen in most of the spaces. Scale of the bigger furniture pieces like a couch or a chair matter a lot and have a huge impact on how that room feels. A small couch in a big living room will make it look empty whereas a big couch in a small living room will make it feel crowded and unappealing.

Avoid this mistake by taping out the furniture you’re planning to buy before placing an order. You will save yourself from making costly design mistakes! Big bulk furniture pieces such as these tend to look comfy and loung-y but are not a great fit for a small living room.

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3. Mix Furniture Styles

Another commonly seen design and layout mistake is a lot of matching furniture pieces. While it’s the easiest time saving way to shop, it’s not the best decision you can make for your living room, large or small. Consider mixing different kinds of furniture. An easy way to do this is by opting for a large two or three seater couch and pairing it with a couple of accent chairs.

Especially for a small living room, stay away from adding too many furniture pieces to add more seating. Yes, the space does need to be maximized but do this creatively. In this living room I added a couch, accent chairs and a beautiful wooden accent chair placed at an angle. In addition, I placed two more accent chairs near the window. This arrangement not only added extra seating, it also created multiple zones, one for entertainment and one for conversation.

4. Stay In The Neutral Color Family

If you want to make your small living room to feel large and spacious, choose paint colors wisely! Unless you’re creating a moody look, which is uncommon if your house does not have more than one living room, stay in the neutral color family and choose colors that are light, bright and white! When I say neutral or white I don’t necessarily mean pure white. There are a ton of shades that are neutral and won’t wash out your walls.

This living room was feeling dark and small because of the wall color. By simply changing the color of the walls, the living room instantly looks more spacious, airy and light. Not to mention more inviting!

5. Styling and Decor Tips

Now that you understand the fundamentals of designing a small living room, let’s talk about the fun part - styling and decor!

If you too are thinking of creating zones, place a large rug in the seating area. Rugs do a great job in adding visual interest and grounding the furniture that otherwise feels afloat.
If you have a large empty wall such as this, add a gallery of picture frames. It’s a beautiful way of displaying travel and family pictures, makes a great conversation starter and adds sentimental value to the space.
Add throw pillows on the couch and mix & match the style & size. You can start the layering by placing a bigger throw pillow and adding lumbar pillows. Choose simple patterns and colors when shopping for throw pillow covers. Avoid loud designs and dominating colors.
Style your coffee table by placing a vase, stack of books or magazines and a tray with decorative objects. Coffee table styling is essential as it’s the one piece of furniture seen from all angles of the seating area.
Add a variety of lighting throughout! In this living room I added spot lights over the picture frames, a table lamp over the cabinet in the corner and ample of recessed lights with warm bulb temperatures. This will instantly give you a luxe feel and give your small living room the elegance it needs!

I hope this post gave you an idea and inspiration for designing your small living room. Small living rooms can feel overwhelming since there are limited options and you’re trying to achieve multiple things, both function and decor wise. But if you keep in mind the fundamentals I discussed above, designing it can be a fun and joyful!

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