While it has its drawbacks, a small footprint can make a home cozy. A shortage of square footage lends itself to a plethora of intimate small living room design ideas. Because you have less real estate to work with, you’ve got to make the most of every vignette, so items from floor lamps to coffee tables should be selected with intention; all the pieces will need to work together to tie the space cohesively. Think of this sitting area as something that incorporates all your needs—from a chic TV stand to a comfy lounge space to built-in bookshelves that double as a library and a display area for home decor.
“The most important thing to keep in mind when designing a smaller living room is the scale and layout of your furniture,” says Anne McDonald, principal of the Minneapolis-based firm Anne McDonald Design. “Invest in comfort and style without the bulk. You can add more depth and interest to the room with paint, art, and rugs. I love to layer rugs in a smaller space.”
Read on for a roundup of small living room decorating ideas that are as eye-catching as they are comforting, according to interior designers across the nation.
What’s the best furniture layout for a small living room?
In small living room design, the goal is to create a central gathering area as well as at least one intimate area, says Frank Ponterio of Frank Ponterio Interiors in Chicago. Borrow armchairs from the smaller setup for additional seating as needed.
Suzanne Dawson of Suzanne Dawson Interiors in New York City recommends arranging two similarly size sofas to face off in your small living room. She also suggests opting for an L- or U-shaped sectional with a coffee table in the middle and club chairs right across to create a conversation zone. The table offers a space for snacks, games, puzzles, and cocktails.
While it might be tempting to put smaller furniture in a smaller room, Amanda Khouri, founder and principal designer of Amanda Khouri Interiors in Nashville, encourages clients to think bigger. “It’s counterintuitive, but filling a small room with small furniture can make it feel…well, smaller,” she says. Instead, come up with a layout that can accommodate at least one standard-size sofa or love seat with a coffee table, and ideally two comfortable chairs.
What are some design tricks to make the most out of a small living room?
When you don’t have too much floor space, custom built-ins offer a storage solution designed for your specific area. Plus hiding not-so-pretty items is always a bonus.
To create ambiance, designer and Ash creative director Xavier Donnelly, who just launched a lighting collection with Tulip, emphasizes diffusing light and opting for light bulbs with a warm color temperature. (Harsh, direct light coming from an overhead fixture is the antithesis of cozy.) Add a few eye-level lights with vintage table lamps to give the space interest and a sense that guests should feel enveloped, not interrogated, in the space.
What paint colors work for small living rooms?
When it comes to selecting paint colors for a small living room, consider your needs; choosing a warm and buttery hue—like Little Greene Paint Company’s Light Peachblossom, a dusty pink, or a creamy shade like Benjamin Moore’s Cake Batter—can make the space feel more expansive and airy.