While a small room holds certain charms \u2014 less to clean, less expensive to decorate, and a cozy feel \u2014 it also has its challenges. Balancing space constraints while maintaining a satisfying design aesthetic requires a creative mind.<\/p>\n
We asked two top interior designers who specialize in small spaces to share their unique living room solutions:<\/p>\n
Rita Melkonian<\/a>, the creative mind behind Small Space Designer. With a growing Instagram following<\/a> Melkonian\u2019s profile showcases her penchant for eclectic bohemian design in cozy spaces.<\/p>\n KD Reid<\/a>, a New Jersey and New York-based designer and stylist with a honed craft for visual storytelling. You\u2019ll find Reid\u2019s work in places such as House Beautiful<\/a> and HGTV<\/a>.<\/p>\n When it comes to redesigning a small living space, this is the best thing you can do, according to Melkonian: \u201cTreat your living room as though it is <\/i>bigger.\u201d Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n Taking advantage of shelving not only keeps clutter off the coffee table and adds vertical interest, it also enhances the room\u2019s height rather than its lack of space. To avoid taking up too much space, use narrow shelving 3 to 4 inches deep.<\/p>\n Narrow shelving forces you to keep your shelf decor curated. With limited space, you\u2019ll be less likely to clutter your shelves.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more natural light available in a room, the bigger and brighter it will look,\u201d says Melkonian. But if your living room isn\u2019t blessed with the sun\u2019s rays, overhead lighting can mimic a bright day. While a hanging light fixture could make a low ceiling appear lower, recessed lighting brightens up the room, making it look more expansive without taking up vertical space. Look for low-energy LED lighting<\/a> that mimics the color temperature of natural light.<\/p>\n Design newbies make a beeline for petite lounge chairs and undersized side tables when shopping for a small living room. After all, small furniture makes a size-challenged room appear larger, right? Not necessarily, says Melkonian. A cluster of seating options and table groupings tend to make a space look crowded, not open and airy.<\/p>\n Instead of cluttering your living room with several side chairs, select individual anchor pieces that suit the room size, such as a single statement couch and storage ottoman.<\/p>\n Just don\u2019t blow sizing out of proportion. A heavy leather sectional that takes up half the room will look just as cramped as lots of small furniture pieces.<\/p>\n In living rooms that lack ample square footage, airy ceilings spell the difference between a cozy enclave and a stifling cavern. One way to draw the eye upward: install curtain rods well above the window frame. \u201cIf you\u2019ve got 8-foot ceilings, hang your curtains as high up as you possibly can,\u201d advises Melkonian.<\/p>\n Installing curtains up high tricks the eye, making the ceiling appear taller and the living room more open than it actually is.<\/p>\n Large rugs aren\u2019t cheap, so if you\u2019re going to splurge on something, make it a rug that\u2019s large enough to make an impact. \u201cA rug can make or break your living room,\u201d Melkonian explains. \u201cRugs are meant to delineate a space, so the smaller it is, the smaller the footprint of the living room will appear.<\/p>\n Shop around for a rug that\u2019s large enough to sit under most of your furniture \u2014 your sofa, coffee table, and side table \u2014 rather than floating in the middle of the room like a small deserted island.<\/p>\n Your first reaction may be to gravitate toward white paint for a fresh,<\/a> open aesthetic<\/a>, but there\u2019s no need to shy away from color in a small living room. In addition to the often de facto white found in small rooms, consider painting your walls in sophisticated blue and gray tones, recommends Reid.<\/p>\n Benjamin Moore\u2019s Kensington Blue<\/a> and Farrow & Ball\u2019s Lulworth Blue<\/a> provide a vivid, yet soothing backdrop without stifling a room\u2019s size. And while some think that grays visually shrink a space, Reid says the hue has the opposite effect. \u201c[It makes] a small space appear sophisticated but warm and inviting.\u201d When it comes to modern grays, Reid favors Benjamin Moore\u2019s Thundercloud Gray<\/a> and Farrow & Ball\u2019s Plummett<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your ceiling fan looks disjointed with your design style, try painting it the same color as the ceiling, recommends Reid. Matching paint camouflages the fixture instead of drawing attention to it. Blending the fan\u2019s color with the ceiling skews depth perception, which prevents the fan from pulling the ceiling\u2019s visual height down.<\/p>\n Working from home without a dedicated office space? If you\u2019re typing away on the kitchen table because your living room isn\u2019t big enough for a desk, Reid suggests a space-saving solution: a floating desk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Take Zoom calls from a foldaway office that tucks away at the end of the day, keeping clutter at bay and optimizing your space. During office hours, this streamlined desk won\u2019t cramp your living room style \u2014 it takes up little floor space. And when it\u2019s time to clock out, the desk sits out of the way. To further conceal your new home office, Reid suggests hanging artwork or a mirror in front of it.<\/p>\n \u201cStorage is key in any small space,\u201d says Melkonian. That\u2019s why Reid recommends multipurpose furniture that doubles as a storage space. A low storage stool<\/a> or ottoman <\/a>can serve as a footrest, extra seating, side table, or storage hideaway. The right piece can provide \u201cstorage for blankets, pet toys, and even board games,\u201d offers Reid.<\/p>\n Wallpaper has enjoyed a design resurgence in recent years, and small rooms aren\u2019t exempt from the trend<\/a>. Designer Kyra Hartnett tells MyDomaine that small patterns (or patterns on just one wall) can make a room look smaller<\/a>. Instead, take a chance by installing large-patterned wallpaper on every wall, which she says will give the illusion of a taller ceiling<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more you make use of vertical space, the better,\u201d says Melkonian. She recommends pulling the couch forward and away from the wall. Behind it, a floor-to-ceiling bookcase \u201c[adds] depth and interest to the room without taking up too much precious floor space.\u201d<\/p>\n To keep the bookcase decor<\/a> sleek rather than cluttered, curate your shelf design<\/a> with select decorative elements such as sculptures, plants, and bookends. Conceal smaller objects not meant for display (think phone charging cables and office supplies) in baskets to keep the space tidy.<\/p>\n Short of wielding a sledgehammer to your walls, you may be stuck with limited living room space. But with a splash of creativity and a dose of visual witchcraft, a few strategic design moves can help transform your four confining walls into a comfortable, cozy haven.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/small-living-room-ideas-shelves-666x381.png\")
<\/a>1. Decorate with narrow floating shelves<\/h2>\n
2. Invest in dimmable recessed lighting<\/h2>\n
3. Bigger furniture is better \u2014 just don’t overdo it<\/h2>\n
4. Install curtain rods up high<\/h2>\n
5. Don\u2019t skimp on rug size<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/small-living-room-ideas-gray-666x381.png\")
<\/a>6. Replace white walls with blues and grays for a sophisticated, jewel-box look<\/h2>\n
7. Paint the ceiling fan the same color as your ceiling<\/h2>\n
8. Convert your living room into a home office with a foldaway desk<\/h2>\n
9. Choose furniture that doubles as storage space<\/h2>\n
10. Don\u2019t be afraid to go bold with wallpaper<\/h2>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/small-living-room-ideas-bookshelf-1-666x381.png\")
<\/a>11. Add visual interest (and coveted storage) with a floor-to-ceiling bookcase<\/h2>\n
Embrace your space despite its size<\/h2>\n