How to Decorate a Small Living Room on a Budget
Whether you live in a studio apartment or have just got on the property ladder with a cosy two bedroom house, a small living room poses a tricky challenge to those who want to freshen up their décor.
And, while decorating a small room might feel restrictive to start with, there are so many ways to unlock the stylish potential of every square inch of floor space.
In this article, we will talk through some of our favourite small living room ideas to try in your home, as well as the benefits of each one.
Read on to find out how to decorate a small living room.
1. Declutter the room of nonessential items
While it might sound simple enough, anyone who became infatuated with Marie Kondo’s method of minimalism will tell you how difficult it can be to wave goodbye to prized possessions.
However, for those looking to make the most of their small living room layout, decluttering is essential. Not only do you open up more space in your small living room, but it also helps draw more attention to the showstopping statement pieces in your décor.
If you’re struggling to decide what to keep and what to throw away, think about how much you use each item on your shelves or surfaces – or, in fact, when was the last time you even picked up or noticed said item?!
We’d also recommend clearing everything away to start with, and then slowly adding the absolute essential items back in batches until you’re happy with your small living room décor. By assessing what has value in your space, you should be in a better place to strike a balance between a minimalist and a ‘lived in’ décor.
Found some items you can’t bear to part with? If you have the room, consider investing in some closed storage furniture. While open shelving can seem cluttered in a small space, storage options that include drawers or cupboards are a practical way to corral the clutter. Stylish sideboards, coffee tables with storage and TV stands are all great options for small spaces.
2. Create an eye-catching focal point
Most decorating ideas for small living rooms are based around creating the illusion of more space in confined quarters – and an attention-grabbing focal point is key!
Whether it’s a sage green feature wall, an ornate fireplace, or a TV stand sporting a huge screen, a well-placed focal point in a small living room layout draws attention and creates a sense of depth. It takes the emphasis away from the room’s size and directs it to the elements of your small living room design that you actually want to highlight.
To implement this small living room idea, start with your focal point of choice and then build out the rest of your décor around that element. For example, if you want to draw attention to a fireplace, arrange your sofa and armchairs around it and add pops of colour across the arch of the fireplace. You’ll likely find you do this naturally around the television anyway, it’s just a case of emphasising those décor choices to make it more eye-catching.
3. Let the light in
We all love relaxing in a sun-soaked room, whiling away a lazy Sunday, but did you know that natural light also has practical benefits for when you’re decorating a small room?
That’s right, by flooding a small living room with warm, sunny rays, you can help it feel more open and expansive. A simple move like this could help you wave goodbye to those dark corners and stretching shadows that make the boundaries of a room feel close and claustrophobic.
Start by swapping out any dark and heavy curtains for light and airy alternatives. You can also achieve the same effect with blinds that you can keep up when the sun is shining to let the light in. Whichever way you choose to dress your window according to your small living room décor, just try to keep the windows as unobstructed as possible during the day.
To enhance the effect of this small lounge idea, place mirrors strategically around the room to reflect the natural light and create the illusion of more space. Light and bright colour schemes also help better reflect light and expand the room, but we’re getting a little bit ahead of ourselves…
4. Opt for a lighter, brighter colour scheme
Get your paintbrushes at the ready, our next small living room decorating idea is all about colour!
Don’t worry, you don’t need to read up on any complicated colour theories – it’s just a case of choosing light and bright hues for your lounge. That’s because whites, creams, pastels, and light neutrals better reflect natural light, making your small living room décor appear brighter and more open.
When choosing this colour scheme, we’d also recommend sticking to similar hues across the room. Contrast is a great way to make your small living room more visually interesting, but it also clearly defines the limits of the space to you and your guests. So, if you were thinking of painting your walls a soft white, then follow suit with scatter cushions, rugs, and footstools all in similar neutral hues.
Essentially, you’re aiming for that open, airy feeling that makes it seem like you’re relaxing in a much larger, less confined space.
5. Buy a corner or modular sofa
Buying furniture for a small living room can be a tricky task, as you are more limited by square footage than those blessed with a larger space.
But there’s no need to look longingly at that huge 4 seater sofa which simply won’t slot into your space – a corner or modular sofa will see even the smallest of spaces propelled into a comfort kingdom.
That’s because, with a corner sofa, you could squeeze the same amount of seats into your small living room layout, without overwhelming the space. That’s because the L-shaped silhouette contours to the dimensions of your lounge, perfect for fitting four seats in a space most typically utilised for a party of two.
There are also modular sofas that you can easily add to your small living room décor. These flexible furniture designs are made up of individual pieces that can be arranged into any shape or size, letting you personalise the way you relax. Perfect for those on the hunt for more modern small living room ideas or those looking to decorate a rented home! In terms of where to place the new sofa in your small living room layout, resist the temptation to push the furniture right up to the walls. This might make sense from a clean design perspective, but you more clearly define the boundaries of the room by doing so. What’s more, if you bring your seating arrangement away from the walls and closer together, you can create a cosy conversation pit that was all the rage back in the 70s (which we hear is having an interiors renaissance).
So, there you have it; living room ideas for small spaces that maximise the square footage of your home in an instant. If you want some guidance on how to furnish a small living room, browse our collection of sofas and armchairs, as well as our home furniture.
