How to make the most of your space when you have a small living room

The living room is the room a family spends most of their time. When you have friends and family around it can be a bit tricky to have the space you crave for. A small room can present a few design challenges and you might feel very restricted when it comes to designing this area.

But in this article, we will give you a few tips to help you make this room more spacious and where possible squeezing in extra seating for your guests. There is more to life than chunky furniture and block sofas and we will show you how to combine few elements to maximise your space. Let’s get started.

1. Use mirrors

A small living room with not much natural light can feel a bit claustrophobic. You can create a focal point to let the light flow into your room by placing a mirror opposite your window. The mirror will reflect the view outside, giving the impression of an extra window and will create a nice flow.

2. Choose smart furniture

When you shop for furniture, consider its visual weight. This concept refers to the perceived heaviness of an object based on size, colour and design. Pick out pieces that have a lightweight appearance, as heavier ones will seem to constrict a space. Opt for pale colours over darker ones, as a light colour will give you the impression you have much more space and select pieces that have legs while avoiding those that are boxy.

Additionally, pick furniture with built-in storage to limit clutter. A trunk or storage ottoman as a coffee table works well.

3. Use plants. Like mirrors, plants are a wonderful way to add depth to a small living room. Lush greenery softens corners and fools the eye into thinking there is more to the room than there really is. Plants are especially effective in corners and beside or behind chairs and sofas.

4. Have spare seats

In a very small space, it may not be possible to have as many seating options as you would like. One way to get around this is by storing a few folding chairs or stacking stools in a closet (or under a bed), where you can easily pull them out when family and friends are over.

5. Use “invisible” piece. Acrylic and glass are wonderful materials to use in a small living room because they take up zero visual space. Try a coffee table or nesting side tables with a waterfall edge in one of these clear materials.

Tell us: We’d love to see your great small living room. Please share a photo and tell us about it in the comments!

And if you think your home needs an extension or a loft conversion we can help. Our in-house design service can help design and build the home extension of your dreams that fully utilises the available space.

Give us a call on 020 8537 0361 to book a FREE consultation with one of our experts. We can help you plan, design and build the extra room that will enhance your house and your lifestyle.

We will guide you through the whole process from initial conceptual drawings to completed build. We’ve been doing just that, continuously, for local clients like yourselves, for the last 22 years!