Interior Decor For Small Living Room – Each item on this page has been handpicked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commissions on some of the items you choose to purchase.
It’s time to stop assuming that small living rooms are bad or undesirable. While a sprawling home may be a dream for some people, a compact living space can create a more inviting and intentional atmosphere for enjoying a lazy evening. As we enter the colder seasons and spend more time indoors, a small living room should be a place where you can relax and unwind; the trick is to keep the style very composed so it doesn’t look messy. If you’re looking for inspiration to start renovating your next room or renovating your home, these 60 small living room ideas from designer spaces are a great place to look.
Interior Decor For Small Living Room
Regardless of the exact size of your space, there are plenty of small living room ideas to consider. Some trick the eye into making the space look bigger than it is by playing with the scale of furniture and paint colors, while others are designed more to help you embrace your small space without it feeling too crowded or overwhelming. Your limited floor space doesn’t have to limit your creativity.
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Check out these 60 small living room ideas that show how to balance form and function for any design style. Get ready to transform your living room into a comfortable and stylish place that the whole family will love.
Large to create the dream space you are looking for. If you want a cozy living room, especially as we enter the fall, you may want to adopt a smaller size so that you can create the atmosphere you desire. The team at White Space Design Group put in a small gas stove and fireplace to keep things homey, something that would be harder to achieve if the room were bigger.
In small living rooms, it is essential to find creative storage solutions and arrange furniture to avoid a feeling of overcrowding. In Liz Dutton’s home in Ohio, this is achieved by neatly storing a stack of books under the old, low-to-the-floor coffee table and using a small side table for drinks. In a space with limited square meters, it is essential not to overflow the walls or block the walkways. Unique solutions like this ensure a balanced and open design.
With a small living room, you want to save as much space as possible to reduce clutter, and mounting the TV can be a solution. Designer Rasheeda Gray mounted this large TV flush with the wall so her clients could have as big a screen as they wanted without forcing the room to feel cramped.
A Gallery Of Living Room Inspiration
In this small living room idea, designer Amanda Jacobs focused the design on human connection rather than the television. She turned the two chairs on one side of the room to the couch on the other so the client’s family could sit comfortably and talk.
When Ashley Gilbreath designed this sun-drenched living room, she chose furniture she knew would age gracefully. Investing in pieces that you know will improve over time can help your small living room feel like the crown jewel of your home instead of a smaller-than-desired afterthought.
Minimalist design doesn’t have to feel stark and sterile. Designer Brian Paquette created this elegant Nordic-style living room for his clients, making sure it still felt warm without being too over-decorated.
Instead of choosing a sofa with a traditional back, designer Lichelle Silvestry opted for a divan style that didn’t block one half of this small Parisian living room from the other. Well, no matter where your guests are, you can manage them.
17 Small Living Room Ideas To Maximize Your Space
Rather than overwhelm the space with a large table or console, Jayson Home’s Devin Kirk kept a low profile in his family’s Chicago apartment with a short wooden stool. Because the emphasis is on the marble section, he had to balance the proportions of the other elements in the room. Mission accomplished in style.
Designer Sarah Solis wanted the Los Angeles family den to feel quiet, but functional for homework time. Cue: a floating desktop. Because the thin surface appears to float, it takes up far less visual square footage than a clumsy desk with legs, making it perfect for this small space. The backless stool also keeps things simple.
Low, curved or angled ceilings can make a living room appear smaller than it actually is. Working with it rather than against it, as designer Patrick Gallagher did here in his apartment in Rome’s Palazzo Taverna, can have the opposite effect. He used a subtle diamond pattern wallpaper to visually raise the vaulted ceiling and create the illusion of more space.
In this small living room idea from Amity Worrel, beige is far from boring. The monochromatic decor palette (with pops of red) was inspired by old-fashioned European ski chalets and keeps it from feeling too busy or cluttered. In addition, warm tones give the room the comfort that can only be obtained in small spaces.
10 Revolutionary Narrow Living Room Ideas
2023’s Whole Home with striking art (which we also love, don’t get us wrong), Caitlin Wilson opted for delicate framing
(reproductions of incised art popularized by travelers in the 18th and 19th centuries) of Statuette. The choice not only softens the room, but also allows your eye to focus on what’s important: the people around you.
In a studio by Los Angeles-based designer Alexandra Loew, a small loveseat sits against the windows. It was chosen to be proportional to the small children in the family, but it is cozy enough for adults to rest as well.
Owning pets comes with many comforts: food bowls, toys, scratching posts. But in the living room of Tammer Hijazi, co-founder and design director of Bower Studios, Cleo the cat gets free reign of the space, including the walls. A stack of Ikea Lack shelves creates a streamlined climbing system that doesn’t encroach on the living area below.
Decorating A Small Living Room: Maximize Space
In photographer Bjorn Wallander’s studio in New York City, not an inch is wasted. Instead of taking up valuable space with bookcases or display tables, stack your beloved coffee table books and stuffed animals on every windowsill and on the open floor, giving the apartment a real artistic touch.
In a tight apartment, rooms often have to do double duty. Regan Baker practiced great space planning when creating this bookcase, which could just as easily function as a small living room dining room. Dining room chairs like these can double as guest seating when a dinner party turns into a game night.
Just like in fashion, the right stripes can create a silhouette in your favor. If you’re not into the circus stripes trend, take a note from Jeffrey Alan Marks. Horizontal wooden panels visually expand your living room in California, making the small size not a problem.
Storage is essential in a small living room. If you don’t have enough space for a bookcase, look at your walls like designer John Wooden did in this bungalow. These tall shelves offer plenty of flat surface without taking up any of the valuable square footage below.
Inspiring Gray Living Room Ideas
In a small space, many colors and patterns can feel dizzying. Instead of wallpapering the walls, opt for a ceiling design like Brooklinteriors designer Alicia Hassen did in this apartment in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It draws the eyes and makes the rest of the space feel open.
In this minimalist living area by Raji Radhakrishnan, a traditional coffee table has been replaced with a low, bite-sized cocktail table. While it’s not big enough to put your feet up in (that’s what cushioning is for), it’s perfect for a coffee and your current read.
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How To Decorate A Small Living Room
35 Clever Ideas For Small Homes That Maximize Space Shop the chicest sofas for small spaces for decorating concerns. No room seems big enough for the furniture you want, and finding the space to implement all the ideas you have for your living room is almost impossible.
Don’t let your small living room dictate your home decor dreams. We don’t let all those Pinterest boards go to waste. Just because your space is small doesn’t mean you can’t make it modern and chic. There are many ways to transform your living room. Let’s dive right in!
When it comes to small living room decorating ideas, this one takes the cake. It’s a very simple trick to make your room airy, spacious and quiet. Also, white walls are like a blank canvas.
Whatever decor theme you choose will work