How to Decorate a Small Living Room With 7 Design Tricks
Easy tips for elevating small-space living rooms.
Styling your living room can feel like a challenge when you're short on space. Knowing how to decorate a small living room comes down to choosing the right proportions, a little bit of tricking the eye, and finding what suits the needs of your space.
From wall art to area rugs to table lamps, well-placed decor can make the most of a limited layout. Keep reading to discover some simple tips for decorating a small living room.
Tip!
Not sure which layout works best for small living rooms? Read our guide How to Arrange a Small Living Room to learn more.
1. Anchor the Space
Rolling out a cozy rug can help define the seating area and make the room appear larger. To make your small living room feel more spacious, opt for a large rug that extends far enough that the front legs of your furniture are placed on top of the rug. Though it might feel counterproductive to choose a large rug, it can actually pull the eye outward to give your living room a grander look.
Light-colored rugs are often used to make a room feel brighter and more open, but that doesn't mean you should avoid incorporating patterns or colors. In the photo above, the rug's subtle pattern and neutral hue provide the perfect base for bold upholstery.
Finding the right lighting is key for turning your small-space living room into an inviting retreat. When decorating a small living room, go for slim, low-profile fixtures to complement the compact space rather than overpower it. Narrow floor lamps are great for illuminating seating areas, while table lamps with fabric shades are perfect for softly diffusing light throughout the room.
One easy way to make your small living room feel a little more spacious is by drawing the eye upward. Hanging curtains higher than you might typically hang them can make the ceilings appear higher and allow in more natural light, making your space seem brighter and more open. As a rule of thumb, try to install your curtain rod 4" to 6" above the top of the window to achieve this brightening effect.
Tip!
Find step-by-step instructions on hanging curtains with our guides How to Hang Curtains and How to Hang Curtains from the Ceiling.
4. Free Up Floor Space
If you don't have much floor space to work with, think vertically. Tall bookcases, wall shelves, and other vertical storage units can help you maximize storage space without cluttering your floor plan. Wall shelves are also great for drawing the eye up to elongate the room, and they're easy to style with your collection of books, framed photos, or decor.
When decorating a small living room, multipurpose pieces like ottomans can help improve the functionality of your space and build visual interest. Petite poufs and ottomans can be used to prop your feet up, stand in as an end table, or provide extra seating. Plus, they come in so many patterns, shapes, and colors that you can really play around with your furniture pairings.
Mirrors are a great tool for reflecting natural light, which can help make your space feel brighter and more open. To really make the most of the natural light, position the mirror on a wall across from a window. This spot will reflect the light from the window and create an almost window-like effect.
Another key to decorating a small living room is minimizing clutter. With limited space, too many items can be distracting to the eye. Instead, try to cluster pieces of decor on select surfaces, such as fireplace mantels, bookshelves, or end tables. Decorative baskets are great for tucking everyday essentials out of sight, while trays are best for corralling coffee table decor or transporting snacks to the sofa.
Tip!
For more small space inspiration, check out our guide 40 Space-Saving Small Living Room Ideas.
