Room Concepts

When figuring out how to furnish a small living room, it can feel like a balancing act between style and function. The secret lies in clever design choices that make your space look larger than it actually is. From choosing the right rug size to incorporating mirrors and cozy, well-proportioned furniture, there are plenty of ways to create a functional yet stylish small living room. Let’s explore some of the best living room design ideas and tips to make your compact space feel bigger.

6 Furniture and Decorating Ideas for Small Living Rooms

1. Floating Furniture

Making use of your walls will free up floor space, helping to make a small living room feel bigger. When it comes to floating furniture, you can use your walls for more than just floating shelves. You can mount your TV to the wall, hang sconces from the wall in place of table top lights, and even create a floating desk.

But we don’t just mean to float your furniture by hanging it from the walls. You can also float your furniture by keeping space between major pieces of furniture, like your sofa, and the wall. By creating space behind your furniture, you can make a small space feel bigger.

2. (Make Your Rug) Go Big or Go Home

How you style a small living room can affect how large it looks. An area rug that spans the length of your living room can not only be a focal point if it’s made with a unique design, but the size of it will help make your room look larger. Many people choose rugs that are on the smaller side, thinking it will make the living room look larger, but instead it accentuates the smallness of the space.

If you’re not a fan of rugs, keep your floors bare. A floor without any type of rug or covering can really make a space feel open. 

3. Use Mirrors to Your Advantage

When placed correctly, mirrors can make a space feel bigger and brighter. When planning to use mirrors to create the illusion of space, the bigger the mirror, the better. You can also create a statement wall with an arrangement of mirrors to not only create the idea of a larger space, but to also double as a focal point. Mirrored furniture can also help create the illusion of space while keeping your walls free for shelving or artwork. 

4. Cozy Seating That Fits Your Space and Your Life

Sometimes the easiest solution for how to make a space feel bigger is one we often overlook. Invest in furniture that fits your space and your life. For some, this means a large sectional will be a better option for furnishing a small living room. For others, they may forgo a sofa altogether and choose two or three comfy chairs as the perfect furniture for a small living room. 

5. Simplify Color Scheme

If you’re still trying to find your style, starting with a simple color palette may be the way to go. A simple color palette allows you to experiment with other design elements without making your space feel cluttered or overwhelming. It’s easier to add new elements than it is to take existing elements away.

6. Layer in Texture

Just because your living room is small doesn’t mean it needs to be boring. Finding ways to add in texture that don’t add in bulk or take away space is one way to add interest to your living room while also making a small space feel bigger. Common ways to do this are textured rugs, blankets, or pillows, natural wood elements, and different types of fabrics.

How Can I Make a Small Living Room Feel Bigger?

For some, a small living room can feel cozy. For those who don’t love their small living room, there are ways to make a small space feel bigger, from the colors you use to how you decorate it. The 6 tips we’ve already shared are popular ways to make a living room feel more spacious, but they’re not the only living room decorating ideas you should consider.

A lot of times we end up ignoring our ceilings, but when we have a small living room that we want to make look bigger, we need to pay attention to our ceilings too. Specifically, the color of them. Painting the ceiling (and the walls) a lighter or pale color can help make the room feel brighter and more spacious.

Taking advantage of natural lights will also help make a small space feel larger. Keep your windows clutter free and ensure you can pull up or pull back your blinds or curtains to let in as much natural light as possible.

Other living room furniture ideas to consider are what you want the focal point of your living room to be (your TV, artwork, etc.), if you want your furniture set up to encourage talking or watching TV, and what you need in your living room to make it functional for you.

Making a small living room feel bigger doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re redesigning your space from scratch or just making a few adjustments, the right furniture and decor choices can help you make a small living room look and feel bigger.

How Can I Keep a Small Living Room Clutter-free?

While it’s important to keep your windows clutter free to let in natural light, keeping your whole living room clutter free will help maximize your space and make it look bigger. But easier said than done, right? Luckily, we already wrote a blog on living room storage ideas and double-duty furniture exists. 

You’re probably aware of coffee tables and ottomans that double as storage space, but did you know end tables and entertainment centers can also include storage space? At Room Concepts, we offer customizable living room furniture, including coffee tables, end tables, and entertainment centers. You can enhance a small living room with customizable living room tables by choosing the size and number of drawers in your table. Our custom entertainment centers come in different sizes, with or without shelves, and cabinets to help organize electronics, cables, and more. 

Keeping a small living room clutter-free is all about smart storage solutions. By choosing customizable pieces that offer hidden storage, you can keep your space organized without sacrificing style. At Room Concepts, our range of customizable living room furniture helps you make the most of every square inch. Figuring out how to furnish a small living room can seem overwhelming, but with the right strategies, it’s completely achievable. Room Concepts is here to answer any questions you have about customizable living room furniture and help you design pieces that can maximize the space in your small living room. Get in touch with our team today or stop into one of our showrooms in Pittsburgh, PA (South Hills) or Wexford, PA (North Hills) to explore our customizable furniture.