Buying a home with a small living room might sound like a dealbreaker, but there are a few design secrets to make a space seem larger than it is. We recently asked our Design Consultants for tips on how to decorate a small living room, and they understood the assignment.
Designing to Scale
According to Design Consultant Sherry Howell, the living room is the easiest and most common area that people tend to make mistakes selecting furniture for. To combat potential errors, Sherry will ask her clients for the dimensions of their space. If they are unsure, she will illustrate the floor plan for the clients to see what their living room could look like.
From there, she will work with them to provide the best furniture ideas for their small living room.
“Any furnishings selected for that space needs to be to scale, whether it be rugs, sofas or sectionals, light fixtures, end tables, cocktail tables or wall art,” Sherry said. “If not, it will only look like a crowded space and will lack balance.”
Design Consultant Costanza Ellertsson supported this statement by emphasizing the importance of choosing the best furniture for your small living room.
“Be sure to select furniture with the right scale to balance the smaller space,” Costanza said.
Alternative Furniture Considerations
Who says you must have a sofa in the living room? Design Consultant Debbie Kennon says you don’t! Swapping a sofa for club or accent chairs can serve as unique furniture ideas for your small living room.
If you do decide to place a sofa in your space, then Design Consultant Matt Tinch has a few tips and tricks.
“At the expense of sounding too obvious, consider smaller scale items when selecting upholstery – don’t overpower the room with a gigantic sofa; find yourself a sofa that doesn’t waste too much of its length on the arms, but instead has small arms with more of its length dedicated to seating space,” Matt said. “Don’t bring in another large piece like a second sofa or a loveseat; find yourself a couple of chairs to give yourself flexibility when arranging the seating area and keep things looking more open.”
Are end tables a necessary companion for your sofa? Matt says no!
“Instead of a coffee table, use a rectangular ottoman in front of your sofa, and don’t feel like you have to have end tables for your sofa either…you can place a tray on the ottoman to hold drinks, books or any other living room essentials and place a floor lamp beside your sofa to provide lighting,” Matt said.
Cue the Decorations
Once you have selected the furniture, Matt said you can have fun with interior décor for your small living room.
“I really love the idea of having an accent wall in a smaller room with a rich paint color or wallpaper decorated with wall art, a mirror or even a couple of shelves that wall to help designate it as the room’s focal point and create a little division between the seating area and that portion of the room,” Matt said. “To really tie a bow on your small living room, use a large rug to anchor your sofa, chairs, ottoman, accent table and floor lamp."
While it might be your goal to create the illusion of more space in your small living room, take comfort in knowing that small spaces can sometimes become the coziest living areas. If you find yourself asking, “how can I decorate my small living room to be more inviting?” it can be as simple as selecting a warm wall paint color.
“When designing a small space, scale and neutral tones can make a room feel more spacious and welcoming,” Design Consultant Angela Six said.
Angela points out how bringing together warm, beige tones and mixed textures can incorporate lightness in the room. Smaller accent chairs and an open cocktail table can also make the room feel welcoming.
Maximizing Your Space
Design Consultant Jennifer Zepp takes the approach of maximizing the space of small living rooms by using multipurpose furniture, such as nesting tables (tables of differing sizes that can be placed over one another).
“Placing a sofa with a cocktail table that has seating stools to fit under is a great idea. Utilizing stacking or nesting tables or a sofa table with seating is also a plus,” Jennifer said. “This way, you have unique, multifunctional furniture with additional seating available without interrupting the flow of the space.”
Design Consultant Olya Smith encourages you to “embrace your cozy space and make it unapologetically yours.” You can do so by purchasing the furniture your dreams without being afraid of it taking up too much space.
“You do not necessarily need to get small-scale furniture,” Olya said. “I love a nice-sized sofa or a sectional as a centerpiece of your room. Chances are, you will be spending a lot of time lounging in it, so make it comfortable with plush pillows and throws.”
Directing Traffic
Once your furniture is selected, the next step is to place it in your space. Doing so can be a stressful process, so Design Consultant Charlie Sheffield provided numerical specifications when considering how to decorate your small living room.
“Always make sure to allow 2.5 to 3 feet for traffic flow in your space,” Charlie said. “Sometimes, less is more in providing a nice open concept in your space.”
Whether you’re gathering information for how to decorate a small living room or simply searching for furniture ideas for your small living room space, we hope these tips will serve you well. Here at Furnitureland South, it is our goal to present you with a world-class design and shopping experience, so contact your Design Consultant today to discover how our luxury furniture brands can fit in your space!