A little living room can work just as hard or harder as a massive space. Once you’ve got each your key living room furniture pulled together, consider using one or more of these space-changing ideas. Done correctly, they can help upsize the personality and performance of your living room.
Lisa Petrole Photography
Paint your walls a darker colour. We all know that light colors make a room look larger, but using the ideal dark shade can make the walls evaporate, creating the identical effect.
To counterbalance a darkened wall shade, use lighter parts of furniture and present metal and reflective surfaces, such as the coffee table and light fixture in this room.
Tip: Getting just the ideal black can be complicated. Experiment with colours on a single wall. If you love one, paint others in that colour too. Keep in mind that cooler blacks often recede more than warmer blacks, and satin or low-sheen paints are more forgiving than semigloss paints. So request help the regional paint shop is a great resource.
guides to working with black
Add extra seating. Stools or ottomans work wonderfully in small spaces. Easy to move in, out and around your living room, these multitasking bits will never be out of work in a small living area.
Tip: if you’re able to afford to, hire a decorator to design a custom-made ottoman. Request an ottoman that’s soft enough to put your feet on but sturdy enough to hold a tray, and can also store blankets or books and tuck into a corner when necessary.
If you would rather get off the ground, darker leather, vinyl and rattan are lasting material options. Make sure the height of this ottoman doesn’t exceed the height of your current couch or chair seat cushions.
Melanie Coddington
Background your walls. A daring wallpaper in a little living room attracts attention away from the size of this room and injects instant personality.
Tip: Background has come a very long way in design and program. Removable wallpapers are easy to find — but do your own homework, as some work better than others.
Applying two different backgrounds on adjoining walls can make a room look larger, too. Make sure the two papers are similar in colour or pattern therefore the look doesn’t feel too disjointed. Wallpapering only the ceiling is just another smart visual trick, though you may want professional help for that.
Change up your chair style. Instead of cramming a gigantic sofa into your living room, consider combining a smaller seat with a couple of upholstered armless seats. These take up less room than your normal lounge chair, and moving them around is simple.
Tip: If you’ve got a little living room with room for only 1 couch, bring seats in from different rooms when you have guests — the armless slipper chair in your bedroom or a plush dining chair will do the job just fine, even when they spill into an adjoining room.
Molly McGinness Interior Design
Layout a window seat. Extra seating is a bonus in almost any living area. If you’ve got a window, you can maximize the view and the distance with a window seat — even in the event that you don’t have a bay window.
Extra storage under the seat cushion is especially valuable in small spaces. Don’t forget to use a top notch insert on your seat cushion — your family and friends will thank you.
Tip: If price is a factor and you’ve got the distance, a freestanding bench seat or love seat can provide you with a similar effect. Often backless, these furniture pieces do not take up as much room for a built-in. Insert a few cushions and you’re going to have tons of additional seating.
Tobi Fairley Interior Design
Take your curtains to the ceiling. Whether you want curtains, draperies or blinds, window treatments can make a room appear larger. Position the curtain sticks just under the cornice, as with the curtains in this inviting living room, to indicate a larger feeling of distance.
Tip: Use a vertical striped cloth to accentuate the height of your ceilings. Don’t use a stripe that’s too thin, or it’ll lose its effect.
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