8 Ways to Decorate a Cosy and Compact Small Living Room

The living room is often the part of the house we use the most. After a stressful day at work, this is where we relax. It is where we entertain guests after dinner and where the family comes together. If you have a small living room, you can still make the most of your space with some tricks. After all, a small space can be extra cozy and you don’t have to sacrifice usefulness with some of these eight helpful tips.

1. Furniture

In your living room, a cozy sofa is often the most important piece of furniture. It is certainly the most used one! But bulky, large sofas can quickly overwhelm the space. Instead, look for alternatives. You can avoid the “corridor feel” by using corner sofas, or you can opt for smaller items of furniture like love seats. You won’t be sacrificing the comfort aspect, especially if you opt for a reclinable love seat, but you will gain a whole lot of space in the room.

Small scale sofas and love seats also help you make the most of awkward architectural spaces, like bay windows! These are beautiful features of your home, but often the typically large and bulky furniture can hide them and lead to the loss of floor space. Instead, small furniture like loveseats will fit the space you have and open up the rest of the room. Here you can find some perfect loveseats that will help you to make your room warmer and cozier.

2. Storage

Small rooms can look cluttered easily, even if there isn’t much around. To avoid the room looking unfocused and messy, make sure to have an effective storage system that creates a home for everything. This includes a media center to keep all the consoles and leads out of sight! Storage can also help you maximize vertical space through bookshelves towards the top of the walls, as well as hanging baskets or planters. This allows you to store all your precious belongings, display some of them to the best possible effect, and make the most of the space you do have.

Additionally, make the most of the storage your furniture can provide. If you need more seating space or would like a footrest, you can choose one that comes with inbuilt storage. Those provide ideal storage for items like blankets which are essential for comfort but can make the room look untidy when not in use.

3. Zoning and media

We all use our living rooms for a multitude of purposes! From simply relaxing to reading or watching tv or even having supper, a living room is the heart of the house. A large rug in the middle of the room can help create a cohesive feel to the room and pull everything together. But you can also utilize decorations to create zones for different activities.

For example. the tv doesn’t have to be in the lightest part of the room. Instead, create a reading and well-being nook by the window with a comfy love seat, good lighting, and houseplants to boost your mood. If you eat in the living room, consider using footstools with trays on them instead of bulky coffee tables to put your plates down. Those can double up as seating for guests, so you have the perfect “hosting zone”. This way, you can make sure you have the space for all the activities you enjoy, even in a small room.

4. Media and the entertainment zone

We all watch tv in the living room, so make sure you have a comfortable seat with a good view of your entertainment center. Remember, you can use storage solutions to hide away all of that, and mount your tv on the wall to make the most of the space. With some clever wiring, the bulk of the technology can be wherever it is convenient in the room. Let the interior design blog The Design Story inspire you to create a cosy TV corner in your home. Visit The Design Story to read how to create an awesome home entertainment zone.

5. Mirrors

This is a common tip for making the most of small spaces and that is because it really does work! Medium to large mirrors not only serve as a statement piece of decoration, but they also make your small living room look bigger. Through the mirror image, the room size gets doubled and creates the illusion of more space. Mirrors also reflect your decorations, making them stand out from every angle! Make sure the mirror frame is a light and warm color to aid the effect, as long as that fits with your overall decoration theme.

6. Lighting can brighten up a room and draw the eye

Light is crucial for how a room is perceived and used. Floor lamps can take up a lot of space, make more room by using an overhanging pendant light. No one likes to sit in the dark all the time, so make sure it is located where you need it. A light over the coffee table will draw the eye and create a focal point. It provides the light you need when sat on your sofa or love chair, and guests can draw stools or floor cushions around it when you have visitors.

If you want to know more tips that you can use in lighting you can read this article.

7. Statement Pieces in a cohesive theme

A cohesive theme to your decorations is important to avoid a cluttered look which will make the room feel smaller. Instead, choose one or two large statement pieces in the same style as the rest of the room. They can draw the eye to the best aspects of the room and provide a focal point. Hanging art on the walls will draw the eye upward and make the most of the vertical space as well. Even if you have a small space, this allows you to showcase your personality and tastes, small spaces don’t have to be bland!

8. Choose light colors and let in natural light

Choosing light colors can really brighten up a room and create the illusion of a larger, more airy space. Light colors reflect light and you can avoid the feeling of being enclosed and claustrophobic. Brilliant whites can feel clinical and get dirty easily, but warm blush or taupe tones can add comfort, while subtle greens, greys, and blues can create a relaxing environment.

Natural light will emphasize these colors, so don’t use dark curtains or block out the window if you can help it. Lighter or semi-sheer shades can make the most of even the smallest windows.