How to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger

You don't need to scour real estate listings for a bigger home or apartment. It's simpler than you think to make your current small living room seem more spacious with some smart design choices. Here are proven tricks to make a small living room appear larger without any structural changes. Follow this advice, and you'll be amazed at how different your living room feels.

Enhancing the size and brightness of your living room doesn't mean abandoning color. While dark wall colors can feel constricting, selecting a light, warm hue like coral can invigorate the space.

Applying white to your woodwork and skirting boards will help, and if you have shutters, even better, if not, consider skipping drapes to let in more light. Opt for painted furniture over dark wood, as rustic wood complements this style beautifully.

Too many small seats and storage pieces can make a room feel cluttered and tight. Don’t hesitate to use larger pieces in a small room, but be mindful of what is large and too large. For instance, avoid sectionals awkwardly extending into the room or an armoire nearly touching the ceiling. When furniture appears too large for a space, it makes the room look smaller.

Sometimes, the issue is the style of the furniture rather than its size. A sleek, low-armed sofa can appear more streamlined than a plush, overstuffed one. The same applies to armchairs, opt for a narrower (but equally comfortable) accent chair instead of a wide club chair to achieve the same function with a smaller footprint.

Ottomans are better than bulky coffee tables and can serve as extra seating when needed. Kasala has a great selection of sleek and modern furniture that is perfect for small living rooms.

When furnishing a small space, consider proportions carefully. If an item touches the room's limits, vertically or horizontally, it's too big. To create an airy feeling, ensure furniture doesn't sit flush against the walls, except for a bed, which can be snugly placed between two walls for a cozy feel.

Avoid bulky furniture that consumes too much space. A sleek sofa or chair offers the same seating capacity as a larger, overstuffed version but occupies less space. If you want a large statement piece like art or a mirror, hang it on the wall instead of placing it on the floor to save valuable space.

It might seem appealing in any room to push all your large furniture against the walls to maximize floor space in the center. However, having an empty center isn't necessarily beneficial.

Consider rearranging your furniture by moving some pieces slightly away from the walls, even just a few inches. This will create an airy feel by allowing space between the sofa and the wall. Furniture should be arranged closely to foster intimate conversation areas. If you can't reach the coffee table for your drink, it's time to bring the furniture closer to cozy up the living room.

Natural light can create an illusion of a larger, airier space, so avoid blocking it. Replace dark curtains that obscure windows and avoid placing large furniture like armoires or chairs near them. You might opt for no window treatments in your living room or use a simple shade for privacy. If you prefer curtains, hang the rod close to the ceiling and keep the panels outside the window frame to make the room look taller and your windows seem larger.

The décor in your room can make it feel smaller if it creates clutter. Not every surface needs to be covered with decorations. The more open and breathable the space, the larger it will feel. Arrange décor in groups of three or five items on tables or dressers, and using a tray can minimize visual clutter. Opt for a single large piece of artwork on a wall instead of a collection of smaller ones to help open up the room. If you have many smaller pictures, display them all on one wall.

Clutter can be detrimental to small spaces. The most effective step in making small rooms appear larger is eliminating clutter. This doesn't mean parting with beloved items; instead, find creative storage solutions to keep them hidden.

This optical illusion is crucial when making a small bedroom seem more spacious. Our bedroom should be a sanctuary for relaxation, and enjoying restful sleep surrounded by clutter is challenging.

To brighten your living room, consider incorporating color into your small lounge ideas. Apply color not only to the walls, but also to furniture, artwork, and flooring. Utilizing paneling can give the illusion of height, while mirrors can make the space appear larger.