How to make a small living room feel bigger

The living room is one of the most important parts of the house. It is a place for relaxing and enjoying, where the family gets together and where we receive our guests. This space is used for multiple activities such a reading, talking, listening to music, watching TV or simply relaxing. It is also the perfect place to show art, exhibit objects and collections which you love. It is important to have appropriate furniture that provides an intelligent and functional solution to your requirements, with enough seating to accommodate both family and visitors. This is much easier if you have a large living room. However we don’t all have the luxury of a large living room – particularly if you live in a flat, apartment or townhouse.

Fortunately, there are some techniques you can employ to decorate a small living room to make it look bigger:

Paint colour selection for small rooms

Colours can transform a room dramatically. Small rooms should be painted with cool tones like grey, blue and green. Grey is a great neutral colour and looks great in living rooms, as it goes with any colour scheme. The ceiling must be painted a shade lighter than the walls to make the room look taller and more airy.

Curtain types for smaller rooms

The strategy of your curtains will be driven by the style of your windows and the size of your room. If your ceiling is not particularly high then floor to ceiling curtains will make the room appear larger. While for higher ceilings the strategy may be to go a little higher than the top of the windows.

How to select sofas for smaller rooms

The Sofa – In a small space you can use a combination of sofa and chair or recliner. Two small sofas facing each other with a coffee table in the middle also work well. Consider sofas or chairs without arms – this creates a more open space feeling. Also, avoid having too many pieces of furniture, it will only cause clutter in a small room and make you feel cramped.

The use of dual function furniture

Choose furniture with a dual function wherever possible. An ottoman or coffee table with a hidden shelf is ideal for hiding a stack of magazines. An entertainment centre with a bookcase allows you to display a few decorative treasures without requiring a separate library in a small space.

How to create a focal point for small spaces

Create a focal point. It may seem that using a large element seems counter-intuitive for decorating a small space, but a great point of focus will add style without feeling crowded. A single large piece of art is much better than several small pieces, which usually only serve to create a sense of disorder.

Use mirrors to open up smaller houses

Mirrors open up a space and reflect light, making the room seem larger. Place a large mirror above the sofa, or in front of a window to catch the light. You can also arrange several small mirrors to create the feeling of a large mirror.

Final thoughts on designing small living rooms

Whether you are redesigning the whole room or just making some minor changes, open your mind to the creative possibilities, think about the furnishings and finishes, colours and textures, follow your instincts, what matters is not a prescribed style, but your style. Always keep in mind the living room is the room in the house which most welcomes people and often creates a perception of what the rest of your home is like.