52 Best Small Living Room Ideas to Maximize Space and Style

Limit the Color Palette

Stick to a limited color palette to maximize space in a small living room.

“The primary thing to remember when designing a small room is to ensure all tones stick to the same color palette—thus creating flow throughout the room,” says Gian Moore, former interior designer and partner at Mellowpine. “Make sure to shift your focus around monochromatic and tonal hues that will accentuate the scheme further.”

Select an Anchor Piece

Opt for a large anchor piece like a sectional sofa in a small living room for a streamlined look. Keep extra seating to a minimum, like the Danish modern armchair in this San Francisco condo living room.

Layer Your Lighting

Layer lighting to create a functional space with an inviting ambiance.

“Layering the heights of your lighting is key—so ensure you have a pendant light overhead with a dimmable control, lots of lamplight and wall lights,” says Moore. “Choose shades that can both direct light for tasks like reading, and create pools of light for the atmosphere. Having wall lights that direct soft shafts of light up and down will also make the space look taller.”

Create a Tonal Look

Create a tonal look in a small living room using shades of the same color. This small 18th-century home living room incorporates shades of green on the sofa, wallpaper panels, and built-in display shelving to add dimension.

Float the Furniture

Many people are tempted to push all the furniture up against the walls of a small living room. Try floating furniture instead to create a better flow, like this New York City apartment.

Open Up Walls

Consider opening up walls if you are a homeowner.

“A bright and fresh feeling is created when you open up the space, allowing natural light to enter,” says interior designer Kate Diaz of Swanky Den. “You can install floor-to-ceiling windows or doors, or side panels. You can also paint your walls in light colors with white trim, which will make it seem large.”

Hang Smaller Artwork

Choose smaller artwork that will allow your walls to breathe and make the room look more expansive than it is.

“You’ll want to keep any pictures or wall art small and only hang them if they are meaningful,” says Diaz.

Use Multipurpose Furniture

Save space and increase functionality with multipurpose furniture. Diaz says that this could be placing bookshelves near windows so they can double as window seats or using an upholstered ottoman as a coffee table that can also be used as seating.

Hang Decorative Mirrors

Decorating with mirrors is a small space hack that works every time. According to Diaz, adding a mirror leading into your living room will help give the space a more light and airy feel.

Contrast Walls and Floors

Light colors are great for your walls—but you can opt for a darker floor color if you’re looking to create a sense of warmth.

“Using light colors on the walls with dark floors will create a clean look,” says Diaz.

Be Strategic With Artwork

Add visual interest to a small space with artwork. Diaz suggests hanging artwork directly above your sofa rather than all around the room to keep visual clutter to a minimum.

Consider Wall Sconces

Brighten a small living room with wall sconces. Diaz suggests grouping sconces together for a bold wall statement or positioning them over picture windows for a gallery-like effect.

Move Decor Around

Decluttering your living room creates space to allow your favorite pieces to shine. Diaz suggests decluttering by putting items in different places around the room to keep the space interesting.

Decorate With Vases

You don’t need to forego decorations in order to make your space feel neat and tidy.

“Adding vases to your space can offer visual interest without looking cluttered,” says Diaz. “I suggest using a glass or porcelain vase for a tall, clean look.”

Take Advantage of Alcoves

Utilize recessed spaces such as alcoves for seating, suggests Diaz. Nestle a smaller sofa into an alcove, or create a seating nook to maximize space.

Hang Statement Art

Take advantage of tall ceilings to hang oversized art. Skip the frame for a light and informal feel.

Minimize the TV

Decorating around the TV is a constant challenge for interior designers and home decorators alike, especially in a small living room. Paint your fireplace wall in a dark shade of navy to obscure a large flat-screen.

Zone an Open Floor Plan

Create a small living room area in an open-plan space by defining zones. A freestanding open shelf divides one end of the conversation area from the home office, while the armchairs are positioned with their backs to the kitchen island.

Choose a Colorful Sofa

Choose a colorful sofa to add personality to your small living room. A mustard yellow modular sofa keeps a low profile beneath the large windows in this New York City apartment living room, making the ceilings feel even taller.

Install Open Shelving

Hang open shelving to display decor and personal items. Just be sure to keep it tidy and neatly styled.

Choose Neutral Wall Paint

Paint walls in a single neutral shade to make a small space feel more expansive. If you do want to add more personality, you can always add pops of color in select furniture pieces and accessories.

Vary Furniture Heights

Choose furniture with varying heights and depths to give your small living room a sense of dimension, helping it to feel more visually interesting. A low-slung sofa will make the ceilings feel taller.

Incorporate a Floor Mirror

Lean a large decorative floor mirror against the wall of a small living room. The large glass will reflect the rest of the room, visually doubling its size.

Choose Neutral Rugs

Neutral colorways will make a tiny space appear larger—but that’s especially true for your carpets or rugs. You’ll want to opt for light-colored textiles, which will make a room look light and spacious, regardless of the size.

Optimize Vertical Space

Free up floor space by utilizing walls for storage and decor.

“As much as possible, you’ll want to focus on hanging cabinets or open air coffee table storage,” says Jeneva Aaron of The House Wire. “The floor space can still be used for something else, so choosing hanging cabinets or coffee table storage that isn’t too bulky is key.”

Keep It Minimalist

Take a minimalist approach to give your small living room a light and airy feel.

“Choose multifunctional furniture,” says Aaron. “Be creative and try to mix and match.”

Consider Mirrored Furniture

Incorporate mirrored furniture pieces that reflect views, expand sightlines, and bounce light around. In this cottage-style living room, a pair of round mirrors illuminate a dark corner and a vintage-inspired mirrored buffet does the trick.

Work Those Weird Angles

A living room with an awkward layout might seem like a challenge to decorate and furnish—but it’s actually a great opportunity to take the emphasis off the small size. Opt for a salon-style gallery wall or jewel box-inspired decor to help make your quirky space shine.

Optimize Natural Light

Smaller living rooms can appear more spacious when flooded with natural light. Optimize natural light using mirrors, sheer curtains, regularly cleaning windows, and clearing window sills of clutter.

Choose a Light Palette

Use a light palette to make a small room feel more spacious.

“Colors such as white have a higher reflectance, and this can make your room seem a lot bigger than it is,” says Roman Ramona, founder of Living Beyond Design. “This trick works well when we're dealing with small spaces as it lets the light bounce around the room.”

Avoid Statement Rugs

Some designers advise against using bold or statement rugs that will create a focal point that visually shrinks the size of the room.

“Try to make everything as uniform as possible," Ramona says, "because that contrast can draw attention to that rug and your room will seem even smaller.”

Hang Mirrors Strategically

Place a mirror on a wall to double the space visually. Hang it opposite a window to reflect natural light, making the room feel more expansive.

Choose Furniture With Legs

Ramona suggests using furniture that is raised off the ground—such as a sofa with legs—to help create more visual space. Seeing more floor space will trick the eye into thinking the living room is larger than it is.

Embrace Beige

If you're not a fan of white, light shades of beige or taupe paint will also reflect rather than absorb light, helping to make the room feel larger.

Incorporate Negative Space

Incorporate blank—or negative—space in a small living room that allows it to breathe.

“The effective use of space is the most important element in designing a small living environment,” says interior designer Heather Higgins of Higgins Design Studio. “Although it is tempting to try and use every square inch, maintaining a balance with open, empty space is key to creating a personal, high-functioning design that provides comfort and visual appeal.”

Organize With Modular Pieces

Providing enough and the right type of storage is crucial, says Higgins.

“Modular-style storage with cabinets and drawers will conceal clutter and streamline a space,” says Higgins. “I often create a storage wall that runs the length of a space. Because the units are usually just 15-18” deep, they require very little floor space, but provide copious storage.”

Create a Focal Point

Identifying a focal point in a small living room can help you create a timeless furniture layout. In this 1920s Tudor home, the classic fireplace is embellished with a black-and-white patterned tile surround and decorated with contemporary art.

Consider a Low Sofa

The visual impact of a low-slung sofa and other furniture will help make your ceilings look much higher, creating a more open feel.

Add Texture

In a small space with a neutral color palette and minimal furnishings and decor, focus on adding multiple textures. Mix textiles, materials, and finishes in order to keep the space visually interesting and inviting.

Use Cool Shades

Opting for warm colorways might seem like a cozy idea—but it can also make a room feel more congested. Instead, stick to cool shades and classic colors that will establish a flow throughout the whole room.

Go Monochromatic

Consider decorating a small space with a monochromatic color scheme for a cohesive look.

“Using different colors makes the room look divided, which ultimately makes it look smaller,” says Richard Fung, owner of Forever Homes. “Even if you use more than one color, limit that to two.”

Commit to Black and White

Give a small living room a polished modern feel with a black-and-white palette. Warm it up with wood accents and natural greenery.

Draw the Eye Upward

Maximize vertical space by installing tall shelves or floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Or draw the eye upward by hanging a decorative chandelier or pendant light will give the room a sense of space by making the ceilings appear higher.

Choose an All-White Palette

An all-white room looks clean and modern. White reflects light which can help make a smaller living room feel more light and airy.

Lose the Drapes

Drapes and living room curtains can easily obstruct the view from outside and make a small living room feel closed off. Opt for blinds or roller shades instead.

Add Budget-Friendly Storage

Focus decor on one wall for a more streamlined effect without the expense of built-ins by using a row of budget-friendly bookcases instead. In this living room, the shelving stores books and displays decorative objects without encumbering the rest of the space.

Opt for Slender Table Legs

Choosing a coffee table with slender legs or an otherwise airy base will allow light to flow through and help create a sense of airiness. Brexton Cole Interiors chose a modern coffee table with a solid wood top and a delicate base, but you could also opt for a transparent acrylic table that will virtually disappear when not in use.

Add Bold Pops of Color

Energize a small black-and-white living room with bold and unexpected pops of color. Interior designer Alvin Wayne placed a bright painting on the black fireplace wall, filling the firebox with multicolored logs for an eye-catching look.

Incorporate a Bar Cart

Maximize space with a bar cart. Style it with bottles, glasses, greenery, and decor objects, and hang a pair of mirrors on the wall above for an intentional look.

Layer Wall Decor

Add interest to a small living room with vibrant color pairings and eclectic wall art. Salmon-colored grasscloth wallpaper creates a colorful backdrop for a geometric mirror and a multicolored print over the fireplace.

Paint the Walls Yellow

Wake up a small living room with bold yellow paint. Complement the vibrant color with red and green accents and a patterned rug to create a lively feel.

Try a Standalone Book Tower

Choose unique or vintage storage pieces for books instead of cumbersome built-ins or bookshelves. Cathie Hong Interiors created a reading nook with a vintage armchair and a vertical book tower in this airy living room.