Small living rooms can be cosy, comforting, and full of purpose. With thoughtful decorating, you can utilise your space to its full potential, and in this guide, we’ll show you how to do so, with our small living room ideas.
A small space can mean a big opportunity. You might be surprised how a few simple changes can open up the area and make it feel roomier. Try keeping a neutral colour theme, using furniture of varying heights to maximise vertical space, or even switching out a rug to create a fresh, spacious feel.
Join us as we share our top tips for perfecting your space with our small living room ideas – plus, get inspired by seeing these ideas in action.
12 small living room ideas with big character
1. Use light neutral tones
In a compact living room, a darker theme can make the space feel enclosed. Lighter colours, like whites, creams, soft greys, and pastels, can help open up the room. Add pops of colour or leafy plants here and there to bring in character and warmth.
2. Multi-functional furniture
Furniture can quickly fill up a small room, especially sofas, so it's wise to consider dual-purpose pieces like sofas with storage, fold-out tables, and floating shelves.
This clever sofa from Dunelm combines style with functionality. It has ample storage under the cushions and even folds out into a sofa bed, making it a perfect solution for compact spaces.
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3. Pick vertical furniture for storage
Taller shelving or bookcases work well in smaller rooms since they give the room height by drawing your eye upwards. A top tip is to opt for lighter-coloured wood, to stop any tall items feeling overbearing.
Tall corner furniture is a brilliant way to maximise space. This beautiful corner shelf from Dunelm offers plenty of storage while maintaining a minimalist look. It’s perfect for displaying your favourite books, trinkets, and framed photos. Try adding a lamp or fairy lights to create soft accent lighting.
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4. Choose furniture with exposed legs
Opting for furniture with exposed legs allows light to travel freely around the room creating a light and airy feel while still having practical furniture.
In this example, you’ll also notice the use of a rope chair – another fantastic option for maintaining an open, spacious look.
5. Small living room ideas with TV
TV cabinets can take up valuable space, but mounting your TV on the wall helps free up room, creating a cleaner, more organised look.
If you have multiple gaming consoles or other tech that need to be near the TV, you can keep your TV stand and use it as a storage solution. This way, you'll not only maintain storage space but also utilise the top of the stand for additional decor or essentials, as the TV is now elevated on the wall.
Credit: Beytistudio / Pinterest
6. Light curtains or blinds
Another big part of making a room feel spacious is allowing in the maximum amount of daylight. To do this, make use of light-coloured blinds or curtains. Lightweight fabrics like linen are a great option to not overwhelm the room.
Credit: Thelitsea / Pinterest
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7. Hanging plants
As we’ve already mentioned, placing decor at varying heights can create interest and depth in the room. Hanging plants are a great way to achieve this, and they won’t take up floor or table space!
Bloom & Wild have a fantastic array of beautiful plants, so there are plenty of types to choose from. We’d recommend opting for a hanging or trailing plant, such as the Spider Plant as they also grow well in hanging baskets.
This one comes with a hanging basket, but if you want to make your own, have a go at our macrame plant hanger.
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8. Large modern mirrors
Adding mirrors to a room can create the illusion of extra space, it’s a great way to add a modern touch too. This gold-rimmed asymmetrical wall mirror is absolutely beautiful and would add an elegant touch to any space.
9. Accent lighting
Soft lighting can make a small living room feel cosy while also helping to spread areas of interest, drawing the eye around the room instead of focusing on one spot.
The use of lanterns and fairy lights in this example is the perfect way to use lighting to build height in a room.
Credit: Decor Angle / Pinterest
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10. Natural wooden furniture
Incorporating natural wooden pieces into your home can create a sense of openness, thanks to their connection with the outdoors – the more rustic, the better! A great way to put this into practice is by choosing a wooden coffee table.
A coffee table is a must-have and will be used constantly, so something hard-wearing is key. If you want to create a more airy feel then opt for a coffee table with exposed legs like this one from Etsy. It blends the rustic charm of natural wood with sleek black metal legs, offering both style and practicality.
11. Collage wall
You might think a busy wall would make a room feel smaller, but it can actually have the opposite effect. If you choose to create a collage wall, it’s best to keep it to just one feature wall and leave the other walls in a neutral colour to maintain balance.
Credit: Home With Two / Pinterest
A feature wall like this is a great opportunity to showcase your favourite art or illustrations. If you haven't found the perfect pieces yet, we recommend checking out Not on the High Street, where you'll often discover works from independent artists. We love this design by Wee Blue Coo, featuring a vibrant sunset in modern colours.
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12. Large colourful rugs
If you have a fairly neutral wall colour throughout your living room, a great way to add texture and interest to a small room is with a pop of colour, in this case, a vintage-style rug.
This choice of rug also works well if you want to achieve a cosy, retro vibe in your space.
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Credit: PlixRO - Home Design Ideas Interior / Pinterest
Small living room checklist
- Maximise light and space
- Focus on dual-purpose furniture
- Create a sense of vertical space
- Add texture and warmth with pops of colour
- Use soft, ambient lighting
- Keep it clutter-free
- Add plants and greenery
- Opt for light-coloured rugs
Small living room ideas that you can easily do
Whatever your budget there are plenty of simple ways to make your small space work for you. Whether that’s little touches like adding hanging plants and flowy curtains, or completely transforming the room with new furniture. There are lots of ideas in our round-up for you to try today.
Mid century modern living room ideas to fall in love with
Practical and pretty, mid century modern style blends long-lasting practical furniture with retro fashion and pops of colour to create a minimalist airy space. It can be utilised for big and small spaces with great success! Read our mid century modern living room ideas to find out how.
