If your living room is smaller than you would like it to be, is there anything you can do to make it appear larger? Besides remodeling and expanding the space, there are a few things you can do to make the room visually appear larger.
You can make a small living room appear larger by sticking to neutral and muted colors with a monochrome color scheme. Get rid of clutter and focus only on the furniture pieces that you absolutely need. Using a single statement piece can often be more effective than using many pieces. Avoid bulky furniture and opt for pieces that are more open and let light through.
Natural light can breathe life into a space and help make any room feel larger than it actually is. Combining light with neutral colors can give a living room a sense of spaciousness that you desire, so avoid blocking natural light sources.
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Stick to Light Neutral Colors
Neutral colors are unsaturated or have very low color saturation. These include white, ivory, beige, gray, and black. Since the goal is to make the room appear more spacious, stick to very light neutral tones.
White can be used in various shades to create a cohesive look. If you choose gray or beige, make sure to use light tones as they help better reflect light and make the living room appear larger.
Painting the walls in light neutral tones can serve as an ideal background for your living room. Apart from making the room appear larger than it actually is, neutral tones can have a soothing effect, something you would desire in a tight space.
Minimize Furniture
Start by thinking about the furniture that you absolutely need, both in terms of its function and its ability to serve as a visual centerpiece. Think about more eye-catching furniture rather than a few smaller pieces.
Having a single centerpiece that makes a bold statement is more effective than having many smaller furniture pieces that actually create clutter and make the room look smaller. Once you have the centerpiece, you can build around it.
However, do not overdo it when building around the main furniture. Less is more. Stick to furniture pieces that are needed to make the space functional, but avoid again having too many small pieces.
Use Low-Height Furniture
Try to furnish the space with furniture that is low in height but without being uncomfortable. Lower furniture allows for more open space at eye level and better distribution of natural light.
By keeping the height of your furniture pieces low, you can create the illusion that the living room is more spacious than it actually is. This is because it creates a more open feeling at eye level, making the space appear less cramped.
Lower furniture also tends to give a room a sense of greater height. Avoid furniture pieces with high backrests or sides as they tend to block the line of sight, affecting both the sense of volume and the height of the space.
Avoid Bulky Furniture
Just as lower furniture tends to create a more open feeling, so do furniture pieces that allow more light to pass through and let the eye see more open space. The less obstructive the furniture is, the better this is achieved.
Bulky furniture tends to create a sense of confinement in a space, making it feel smaller. Instead, opt for more open and airy furniture. Sofas with tall, slim legs, for example, work better than those with short, thick legs.
Similarly, smaller furniture can also contribute to making the space feel larger, but remember to limit the number of pieces to a minimum. Too many small pieces have the opposite effect of what you are seeking.
Move Furniture Away from the Wall
Furniture does not necessarily have to be placed with its back against a wall. It can be pulled away to free up the sides of a room. This can help create the impression that the space is wider than it actually is.
By pulling furniture away from the wall, you can also create a pathway alongside. This can support the circulation of the space, make it functionally more efficient, and at the same time, appear less cramped.
Often, you can place accessories directly behind furniture. An example could be a wide bookshelf behind a sofa. You can use the top part to adorn the space with accessories and the bottom part to store items.
Allow Light to Dominate
Natural light can truly help make a room appear larger. If your living room has windows, make the most of the natural light. Avoid blocking the light by placing furniture or other accessories in its path.
This includes heavy curtains, blinds, or other window treatments that impede the passage of light. If you must have curtains, opt for a sheer curtain that gently filters the light and provides for visibility.
In addition to natural light, windows also expand the field of view. It can make a small space appear larger by giving the impression that nature is part of the living space.
Utilize Mirrors
Mirrors are another great way to increase the perception of room size. In a living room, you should strategically place mirrors as you do not want them to take over the space.
A mirror at eye level, proportionate to the living room, can work as it reflects the space and enhances the effect of natural light. Use a frame that matches the furniture or no frame at all.
If you have pictures or artworks in frames, you can use a similar style for the mirror to make it feel like it is part of the room’s look. Be strategic, do not overdo it. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors are not the look you are aiming for.
Emphasize Horizontal Patterns
Horizontal patterns create the visual effect of making spaces appear longer than they actually are. You can use this to your advantage by either making one side appear larger or balancing a room to look more symmetrical.
Horizontal patterns can be used on walls, ceilings, or floors. When used on floors or ceilings, it creates an elongating effect in the space. When used on walls, the walls will appear larger than they actually are.
You can use the pattern on all four walls for a more balanced look or on a single wall or opposite walls for a more strategic accent. Opt for a subtle pattern that generates the effect less obviously.
Avoid Area Rugs
Area rugs can add some visual interest to a space, but since the eye unconsciously relates the size of the rug to the size of the room, it can be an instant giveaway that the room is small.
Steering clear of rugs when working with a small living room is likely the best strategy, but if you need to incorporate a rug as part of the design, try to downscale it. Use a small rug that does not overpower the space.
Another approach you can take in this case is to use a rug that adheres to the neutral color scheme that you are using for the walls. This helps create a more cohesive look and avoids making the room appear smaller.
Keep the Clutter
A small living room requires careful consideration of the pieces that are placed in the space, much more than a large living room. Adopt a minimalist approach where less is better. Too many furniture pieces make the living room look cluttered.
Try to use only furniture that you absolutely need in the space to make it functional, and use pieces that take up the least amount of space. If you have shelves in the room, do not overcrowd them with too many accessories.
Strategically place the items on the shelves so that they are color-coordinated and do not have the need to fill every inch of the shelves. Leaving areas empty can help make the units feel less crowded, reducing the visual clutter in a small space.
Opt for Multipurpose Furniture
Multipurpose furniture is a great solution for living rooms where space is limited. A sideboard with hidden storage, a coffee table, or an end table that also provides storage are common options.
If you do not have furniture with hidden storage, you can let your creativity flow Arrange furniture in a way that allows you to store items without taking up too much space.
One example is storing small furniture under the coffee table until they are needed or placing a bookshelf behind a sofa so that items can be stored out of sight while the top part can be used to place accessories.
Final Thoughts
A small living room does not have to feel small. With some creative planning, ample access to natural light, and disciplined furniture selection, a small living room can feel airy and open.
Due to the limited space, being disciplined in selecting furniture pieces and accessories is more important than ever. A single statement piece can be much more impactful than many smaller pieces.
Choose furniture and accessories only if they add value to a space, not just in terms of functionality but also in terms of overall concept. If using art on the walls, choose a piece that will define the space.
A minimalist approach significantly contributes to achieving your goal of creating spaciousness in a limited area. However, you must be relentless in relying only on furniture accessories that you absolutely need.