How to make a living room look bigger, brighter and more spacious

For any family, the living room is a place where so much of daily life happens. Its where we play with our kids, relax after a long day, host get-togethers for family and friends and sometimes even work from home. It is very important that the place feels more welcoming and less cluttered. Whenever I’d scroll through magazines and photos online for living room ideas, most of the ideas out there had huge living rooms, some bigger than my entire apartment and almost none for small spaces.

With a few smart design choices and ideas, even a small living room with less space can feel comfortable, stylish and make your home look expensive. Here are some living room ideas for small spaces that will help you utilize every inch and completely transform your home.

Choosing your Living room Furniture

Oversized furniture may look good in a showroom, but you must always evaluate the space available before making any purchases. For a small living room, choose a sofa with visible legs to show a bit of the floor area. This makes the room look bigger and less crowded. You can also opt for storage ottomans that hides clutter when you have sudden guests visiting.

For your coffee table, choose nesting tables. They save a lot of space when not in use.

Use Light colors for small spaces

Light colors naturally reflect more light and make the room look fresh and airy. I know with kids, we tend to think twice while choosing light colors. You don’t need to have a room that’s all white, only the larger pieces like the walls and sofas. You can choose colors like:

• Beige
• Cream
• Off-white
• Light grey
• Champagne
• Sage green

To add some creativity, you can choose to add some color to your living room with colorful cushions, artwork, accessories like candles, centerpieces and rugs.

Pick a colour scheme

It is very important that you stick to a single-color scheme. Choose two or three colors that go well with each other and when you go shopping, try to stick to these colors. Having a simple color palette helps the things in the room to feel more connected. Here are some color schemes you can pick that go well together.

• Soft pink – Camel – Dusty Rose
• Grey – Blue- White
• Ruby – Sapphire – Cream
• Sage green – White

If you are someone who loves color, you can add it in with cushion covers, artwork, plant pots. It is not necessary to follow the color palette strictly.

Although following a colour palette won’t make the room bigger, it is a great styling tip that makes the room more organized and look spacious.

For more assistance, you can check out the Sherwin William’s color collection for inspiration or Benjamin Moore color collection.

Add a Large Mirror

This is one of the oldest tricks used. A large mirror is great for reflecting natural and artificial light making the room appear more spacious. The mirror is best placed in front of a window, behind the sofa or across from any light source.

Vertical Storage space

When floor space is limited, wall space becomes your next best thing. Instead of purchasing bulky wooden cabinets, use furniture like

• Wall-mounted shelves
• Vertical storage units
• Hanging baskets

Invest in Multi-purpose furniture

When I say multi-purpose furniture, it means furniture that can be used for a purpose other than its primary use. For a small space, the furniture should be more practical, it should work harder to earn its spot in the room. Some great options for multi-purpose furniture include:

• Storage ottomans – Great for storing blankets, toys and remote controls
• Lift-top coffee tables – These are very helpful if you use coffee-tables for a workspace too
• Storage benches – These are great for additional storage whilst adding seating to your living room.

Here is my post on how to organize your home on a budget.

Control the clutter

No decor hack can compete with a clutter-free room. Toys and random household items can easily be left around creating clutter in the living room. A tidy room automatically feels larger.

Add plants to bring life

One of my favorite ways to decorate any small space is with plants. Plants can instantly add greenery, texture and warmth to any room. Some excellent plant choices are:

• Peace Lily
• Snake plant
• Pothos / money plant
• Lucky bamboo

Here is my detailed blog post on how you can style indoor plants at home

Keep decor simple

I love shopping for home decor, but the truth is, too much decor can make the room feel crowded. It’s not necessary to fill up every corner and every inch of space on the shelf.

Choose quality over quantity. Choose items that you actually love or things that are personal like:

• Family photo frames
• Travel souveniers
• DIY items like crochet or candles
• Plants you’ve grown yourself

Add some good lighting

Lighting changes the entire feel of the room. Instead of using one ceiling light, use warm lights from floor lamps or a table lamp. It makes the room feel more inviting and cozier, especially during the evenings.

Place a rug in the centre of the room

When choosing a rug, make sure it is large enough for the front two legs of your sofa to sit on. A larger rug makes the room feel bigger. There is no such rule that a small room needs a small rug. A rug helps bring the entire room together and define the space.

At the end of the day, comfort is what matters most. Your living room need not look like a magazine cover. Just a few simple changes like letting in more natural light and reducing clutter can have a big impact on how your home feels.

You may also like:

How to Style Indoor Plants at Home – Modern Mama Life
Making your home look expensive – Modern Mama Life
Organize your home on a budget – Modern Mama Life