Small Living Room Ideas

• Providing as much light as possible will make a small living room bright and airy, so avoid dark curtains and let in as much natural light shine as possible.
• Ensure a balance of light with equal illumination in all corners of the room.
• Skylights can bring in natural light when the windows are limited.

Limited floor space doesn't have to mean cutting back on furniture or giving up storage. Turn unused wall and ceiling space into functional areas with the right accessories.

Use pendant lights instead of floor lamps for task lighting. Or, install a wall shelf and rest a table lamp on it. You can also display decorative accents or store books, games and other items on shelving.

To add soft light and warmth to your space, install an electric wall-mount fireplace. These fireplaces use electricity to produce the look and heat of flames without real fire. As a result, you don't need to ventilate or connect to a gas line to use them.

Tip: Swing extra seating into your space by hanging hammock chairs.

One of the best-known methods to make a living area look bigger is by freely using mirrors, which amplify the available light while creating the impression of more space. Wall mirrors and even mirrored tile provide excellent decoration.

You can also consider mirrored furniture such as chests and coffee tables.

Tip: Glass furniture pieces lack reflective surfaces but have a similar effect.

Fake higher ceilings by raising the line of sight in a room. One way to do this is to place decorative shelving high on the wall. Fill the shelves with decorative accents in bold, bright colors that pull the eye.

Another way to draw eyes upward is to add a wallpaper border. Choose one in a pattern that fits your decorating theme. Then, hang it all the way around the room where the ceiling meets the wall.

Tip: Make windows seem larger and the entire room feel bigger by hanging curtains and drapes a few inches above the window trim.

Similarly, chairs, sofas, coffee tablesand other pieces that are lower to the floor than standard also create the effect of tall ceilings and greater spaciousness. Just make sure you’re comfortable with the seating before committing.

Choose living room furniture designed to have more than one function, such as a sofa that has built-in storage space, a coffee tablethat makes a comfortable dining surface or a trunk or ottoman that serves as extra seating or storage.

Similarly, folding chairs and dining tables with extensions can conserve space or be put away when not in use.

Where an undersized throw rug may have a meager appearance in a small room, an eye-catching large rug or wall-to-wall carpeting takes advantage of the floor as a decorative surface.

Embrace the compact space by emphasizing a close-up, cozy seating area with sectionals and plush throw pillows. The more children in the house, the more practical this may be for family time.

Decorating with a bold color palette or patterns on your carpeting, walls and furniture, can make a memorable statement, such as a monochromatic color scheme on the walls and furnishings.

• White paint or light colors maximize illumination and convey an airy interior.
• Stripes provide a classic means of drawing the eye up.

• Avoid a cluttered look with a minimal design, including smaller decor with clean lines instead of ornate furnishings, to keep your limited space from seeming cramped or busy.
• Consider armless accent chairsand avoid ones with unnecessarily tall backrests, and opt for loveseats instead of sofas.

Some interior designers buck the conventional wisdom by using a large, dramatic piece of furniture as a theatrical focal point, including chandeliers, artwork or a large armchair. Your family size may dictate how much seating you need.