20 Small Living Room Ideas That Maximize Style and Storage

Sneak in Storage

chandelier living room vintage trunk mural — Hector Sanchez

Hide clutter in a small living room by using furniture that doubles as a storage unit. For a coffee table alternative that provides hidden storage, try a trunk. Books, children's toys, extra blankets, and other items can be stashed inside for easy access, and this small living room idea looks great in almost any room.

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Create a Focal Point

eclectic pink, blue, and yellow midcentury sitting room — David A. Land

If your small living room lacks a natural focal point like a fireplace, create one. Here, a large, colorful piece of art draws the focus to one wall. Matching bookshelves and wall sconces flank the artwork, creating a pleasing sense of symmetry.

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Utilize Small Living Room Furniture

modern neutral tones living room — Laurey Glenn

Every inch counts in small living rooms, especially when it comes to furniture. Use armless sofas or those with a narrow design to avoid taking up too much space in a small living room. Their slim footprint can make the difference between having enough seating and being overcrowded.

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Arrange Furniture Efficiently

sitting area with white brick fireplace — Josh Grubbs

The right furniture arrangement is a small living room idea you don't want to skip. Although pushing all the furniture against the walls might seem like it would maximize space, this layout can make the room feel closed in. Instead, pull the furniture toward the center of the room to create a cozy conversation area.

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Add Your Personal Style

seating area with wicker chair and white sofa — Annie Schlecther

You don't need to scrimp on style when it comes to small living room ideas. The trick is to scale down the size and amount of furniture and decor so they don't overwhelm the space. Start with a few pieces of right-sized furniture, then layer in a curated selection of accessories to provide texture and personality.

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Make Walls Pop with Art

living room with gallery shelves and l shaped couch — Dylan Chandler

Since it doesn't take up any precious floor space, artwork is a small living room idea that can go a long way in upping the style factor. Vary the size and style of frames throughout the room to add visual interest. To allow for frequent swaps and rearrangements, prop framed art on floating shelves rather than hanging each piece.

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Choose Double-Duty Furniture

dormer hangout room sofa boho pillows bold poufs gold accents — John Bessler

Outfit a small living room with furniture that can do double duty, such as an ottoman or pair of poufs instead of a coffee table. A tray can quickly take these upholstered pieces from a casual place to put your feet up to a surface fit for entertaining. In this tight living room, the plush poufs also ease the pain of inevitable knee bumps.

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Minimize Visual Weight

Mancini home tour living room — Melanie Acevedo

Choose clear furniture and accessories that take up minimal visual space. An acrylic coffee table provides a stylish, almost invisible solution in this small living room. The table provides a sturdy yet lightweight solution for displaying books, flowers, and other accessories.

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Establish a Soft Background

white living room with wood floors and fireplace — Brie Williams

Visually fade the perimeter of your space for an expansive small living room idea. To make the walls appear to recede into the background, paint the walls, trim, and ceiling the same or similar shades of white. For the windows, choose sheer curtains that match the walls and let in as much light as possible.

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Add Character to Walls

Living room with blue seating and TV — James Nathan Schroder

Dressing up the walls can add a lot of character to a tiny living room. For small rooms without much space for accessorizing, bring architectural detail to walls by installing molding or paneling. A deep charcoal hue and picture frame moldings add depth and personality to one wall of this living room without taking up too much physical or visual space.

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Reclaim Storage in Small Living Rooms

living room with sectional and sofa table two ceiling fans — James Nathan Schroder

Capitalize on every available inch in a small living room with behind-the-sofa storage. Slide a narrow console table along the back of the sofa to create a landing spot for books, knickknacks, and other items. Opt for a short bookcase or cabinet instead of a table for even more storage capacity.

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Choose Space-Expanding Colors

blue, white, and yellow living room with modern touches — David Tsay

The right color scheme will instantly make a small living room look larger. Since pale and cool colors reflect light, paint colors such as bright white and light blue can create the illusion of a bigger space. Painting woodwork, trim, and doors the same color as walls also helps them "disappear."

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Keep Floors Bare in a Small Living Room

living room with plush pink couches — Nathan Kirkman

A small living room idea that helps maintain an open feeling is a bare floor. An unbroken sweep of wood flooring will make a room look larger than a busy-patterned area rug. If you prefer covered floors, choose the right size for the room, as a rug that is too small will call even more attention to the room's diminutive size.

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Select Low-Profile Furniture

white living room with patterned chairs — David Tsay

The success of many small living rooms relies on clever furniture choices. Complement the size of the room with low-profile furniture that minimizes visual disruptions. A pair of low-slung chairs allows an uninterrupted view into this living room while matching sofas provide a chat-friendly seating arrangement.

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Fake Taller Ceilings

den with patterned curtains and wall art — Nick Johnson

Make a short ceiling appear taller with this small living room idea. Hang curtains just under the ceiling instead of directly above the window frames. Install curtain rods extending slightly beyond the frames to make windows appear larger.

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Decorate a Small Living Room with Mirrors

living room pink couch cream armchairs — Laurey Glenn

Use mirrors on one wall to make a small living room feel more open. Mirrors pull off their expanding act by bouncing light around and reflecting other parts of a room. Choose one statement-making mirror or group several mirrors together to make a striking focal point while stretching the dimensions of a small room.

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Stick to a Clean Color Scheme

white living room remodel black fireplace — Seth Smoot

Keeping your color palette simple will make a small living room look larger. Stick with neutrals and just one or two colors to deliver a streamlined and well-coordinated look. In this living room, white walls and furniture combine with a black fireplace to form a neutral foundation, while dollops of blue and a touch of wood tones anchor the scheme and keep it interesting.

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Maximize Seating with a Sectional

striking living room with black gallery wall and white couch — Brie Williams

A sectional can be your best bet in a tight living room for maximizing seating. These corner-hugging pieces offer multiple seats in one, providing plenty of lounging space without chopping up a small room. Here, a sectional is positioned in front of built-in bookcases, leaving just enough room to access the lower cabinets.

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Layer In Texture

living room slipcovered sofa floral curtains window seat cushions — John Bessler

Add interest with design elements that don't take up space. A small living room idea that adds interest is to use a variety of textures, such as smooth, coarse, and fibrous, that can add depth and detail without demanding extra space. A mix of linen fabrics, woven materials, fringe details, and warm wood tones enlivens this space.

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Go Big Where It Counts

minimalist living room with gray sofa and wood floors — Matthew Williams

It might sound counterintuitive, but a few oversized furnishings can make a small space appear larger. Trying to cram in too many small pieces can create a cluttered feeling. A sofa capped with a chaise longue helps this room live large in form and function.

Living Room Ideas in Favorite Colors

You can't go wrong, no matter what size a living room is, if you infuse it with color that makes you happy and comfortable. For a living room that boosts energy, go for a red palette. You may not want all-red walls, but a red sofa, red curtains, or a red area rug will add enough red to make an impact. If you're interested in something more subdued, look to gray for a subtle color that can be warm or cool.

Green is a good choice for nature lovers who want to bring some of that outdoorsy feel to the inside of their homes, especially in places with long winters. Go bold with emerald green or subdued with quiet sage. If you prefer a subtle palette, neutrals are always a go-to option. Add color as much or as little as you like to a neutral room to infuse personality.

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