Deciding on a small living room layout can be a tricky puzzle. The tight dimensions limit your options, but the right furniture arrangement can create a functional space that seems larger than it is. Try these tricks that make the most of your room. We have ideas for arranging furniture around a sofa, small living room layouts for open floor plans, and more.
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Focal Point Layout
Plan a small living room layout around a designated focal point. A TV, fireplace, window, or wall decor can all serve as the room's center of attention. Position furnishings around or directly facing the focal point to maintain a clear view.
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Small Living Room Layout Mistakes
Maintaining an open space in the middle might seem like a small living room layout that will make your space appear larger, but the opposite is true. Avoid this common furniture arranging mistake by pulling sofas and chairs away from the outer walls. Gather furniture in the center of the room to create a cozy conversation area.
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Light Visual Weight Furnishings
Pay attention to the visual weight of furniture, not just its actual size. Light-color furniture or pieces with legs appear lighter than dark or boxy upholstered pieces. In this small living area, the leggy, armless chair doesn't obstruct views of the floor or fireplace, making the space more open. The small marble-topped coffee table also consumes very little visual space.
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Small Living Room Layout Tricks
This small living room layout employs several design tricks for an open, orderly look. Helping the space appear larger, an acrylic coffee table offers practical storage while taking up virtually no visual space. Matching armchairs, poufs, and table lamps are mirrored on either side of the room, creating a streamlined and aesthetically pleasing effect.
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Small Living Room Neutrals
Using a neutral palette throughout a small living room is one of the best ways to create the illusion of more space. The eye can roam freely through a neutral color scheme, making the area feel more expansive. Choose white, cream, tan, or gray variations for walls and large pieces of furniture, and bring in small touches of color or pattern with accents.
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Space-Defining Layout
A small living room can feel even smaller when it shares space with a home's kitchen or dining area. To help distinguish the two spaces, position the sofa with its back facing out of the living room. Arrange accent furniture next to or across from the sofa, maintaining a clear pathway into the room.
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Vertical Space in Small Living Rooms
A room includes more than just its horizontal dimensions. Invite the eye to move above and below eye level to make a small living room furniture arrangement look more substantial. In this living room, emphasis on the vertical comes from floor-to-ceiling draperies that hang just below the ceiling.
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Small-Scale Furniture
Choose furniture with a scale appropriate for the room and the people who use it. In a small living room layout, pairs of armchairs can make better use of the space than a large sofa or sectional. These chairs' sleek design and smooth lines ensure the small room doesn't feel crowded.
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Light-Enhancing Window Treatments
Take advantage of all available light to help enlarge a small living room. Use white or pale colors, which increase the brightness of a room by reflecting light. Keep window treatments simple and avoid blocking the windows with heavy layers of fabric. Arrange small living room furniture near the windows to best enjoy the effect.
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Open-Concept Small Living Room Layout
In an open floor plan, stake out an area for the living room with a small sectional, a large coffee table, and a rug. This small living room layout's seating placement distinguishes a cozy living space from the kitchen and dining area beyond. Filling the floor space with large furnishings might seem counterintuitive, but using a few big pieces in a small space visually simplifies the room, making it feel spacious.
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Light Furniture Colors
Repeat light colors across furniture choices for a bright, open feel. This small living room escapes feeling constrained thanks to white walls, slipcovers, and accent furniture. White unites the room's elements, while pops of blue add crisp contrast.
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Dual-Purpose Living Room Furniture
Multifunctional furnishings help small living room layouts work harder. A large upholstered ottoman doubles as a coffee table when you add trays to provide a flat surface for drink glasses or a vase of flowers. When guests come to visit, it can serve as overflow seating.
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Small Living Room Layout Traffic Paths
Arrange small living room layouts to direct traffic around the conversation core rather than through it. In this living area, a pair of armchairs marks the beginning of the seating space. Traffic from the door is directed to go around them rather than directly through the conversation area.
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Small Living Room Furniture Alternatives
Look for creative alternatives that can maximize your small living room furniture arrangement. For example, a window niche with a built-in seat can stand in place of a traditional sofa. Instead of a large coffee table, place a matching pair of small side tables in the middle of the seating area. Choose slender, leggy furniture over plush, heavy-looking pieces.
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Small Living Room Layout with Storage
Factor storage into your small living room layout. This bank of cabinets adds grand character and maximum function without taking up additional space. This unit incorporates concealed storage and open cubbies, which help the piece feel lighter in the room.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in small living room layouts, I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in this article. Here are the key points:
Focal Point Layout
- When planning a small living room layout, it's important to have a designated focal point, such as a TV, fireplace, window, or wall decor. Positioning the furniture around or directly facing the focal point helps maintain a clear view.
Small Living Room Layout Mistakes
- Avoid the mistake of maintaining an open space in the middle of the room, as it can make the space appear smaller. Instead, pull sofas and chairs away from the outer walls and gather furniture in the center of the room to create a cozy conversation area.
Light Visual Weight Furnishings
- Pay attention to the visual weight of furniture. Light-color furniture or pieces with legs appear lighter than dark or boxy upholstered pieces. This can make the space feel more open. Additionally, using small furniture pieces, like a marble-topped coffee table, can consume less visual space.
Small Living Room Layout Tricks
- Employ design tricks to create an open and orderly look in a small living room. For example, using an acrylic coffee table can offer practical storage while taking up virtually no visual space. Mirroring matching armchairs, poufs, and table lamps on either side of the room can create a streamlined and aesthetically pleasing effect.
Small Living Room Neutrals
- Using a neutral color palette throughout a small living room can create the illusion of more space. White, cream, tan, or gray variations for walls and large pieces of furniture can make the area feel more expansive. Adding small touches of color or pattern with accents can provide visual interest.
Space-Defining Layout
- If your small living room shares space with a kitchen or dining area, it's important to distinguish the two spaces. Position the sofa with its back facing out of the living room and arrange accent furniture next to or across from the sofa to maintain a clear pathway into the room.
Vertical Space in Small Living Rooms
- To make a small living room furniture arrangement look more substantial, invite the eye to move above and below eye level. This can be achieved by using floor-to-ceiling draperies that hang just below the ceiling.
Small-Scale Furniture
- In a small living room layout, choosing furniture with a scale appropriate for the room and the people who use it is important. Pairs of armchairs can make better use of space than a large sofa or sectional. Sleek designs and smooth lines can help prevent the room from feeling crowded.
Light-Enhancing Window Treatments
- Take advantage of available light to help enlarge a small living room. Use white or pale colors for window treatments, as they increase brightness by reflecting light. Keep window treatments simple and avoid blocking the windows with heavy layers of fabric. Arranging furniture near the windows can help maximize the effect.
Open-Concept Small Living Room Layout
- In an open floor plan, you can create a small living room area by staking out the space with a small sectional, a large coffee table, and a rug. This seating placement distinguishes the living space from the kitchen and dining area. Using a few big pieces in a small space can visually simplify the room and make it feel spacious.
Light Furniture Colors
- Repeating light colors across furniture choices can create a bright and open feel in a small living room. Using white walls, slipcovers, and accent furniture can help the room feel more expansive. Adding pops of contrasting colors can provide crisp contrast.
Dual-Purpose Living Room Furniture
- Multifunctional furnishings can help small living room layouts work harder. For example, a large upholstered ottoman can double as a coffee table when you add trays for a flat surface. It can also serve as overflow seating when guests come to visit.
Small Living Room Layout Traffic Paths
- Arrange small living room layouts to direct traffic around the conversation area rather than through it. Placing a pair of armchairs at the beginning of the seating space can help guide traffic around them, creating a clear pathway into the room.
Small Living Room Furniture Alternatives
- Look for creative alternatives that can maximize your small living room furniture arrangement. For example, a window niche with a built-in seat can stand in place of a traditional sofa. Instead of a large coffee table, you can place a matching pair of small side tables in the middle of the seating area. Choosing slender, leggy furniture over plush, heavy-looking pieces can help create a more open feel.
Small Living Room Layout with Storage
- Factor storage into your small living room layout. Incorporating a bank of cabinets can add grand character and maximum function without taking up additional space. Including concealed storage and open cubbies can help the piece feel lighter in the room.
I hope these tips and tricks help you create a functional and visually appealing small living room layout! Let me know if you have any more questions.