Want your tiny living room to feel bigger? Here are 20 small apartment living room decorating ideas & small living room design ideas that are both useful & pretty!
Styling a small living room is not exactly as hard as it may seem! There are simple rules to follow & advice to take, but creating your dream small bedroom design is super easy in reality!
Not only is it super important to choose practicality over aesthetics here, but it’s also of high importance that you find the right size, color & design of furniture & decor, that’s guaranteed to suit a small space. And not just suit, but enhance & enlarge as well!
But with this guide, you’ll be able to make the right choices & create a wonderful small space! So be ready to learn 20 awe-inspiring small apartment living room decorating ideas that’ll transform your whole space!
01. Develop a cozy style -small spaces love that!
If you’ve been wondering which style is best to develop for small spaces, here’s the answer for you: cozy loves tiny living rooms!
So go ahead & cozy up your space nicely! Fluffy rugs, fuzzy decorative blankets & a set of soft decorative throw pillows will enhance your small apartment living room so well!
02. Your choice of rug can make or break the look!
Your rug choice can basically make or break the look! That’s why one of the most crucial small bedroom decorating ideas on this list is to find the right size rug for your space!
But why is it extremely important? A smaller than recommended rug will look tacky & out-of-place in your design, creating the illusion of a cluttered, overcrowded space. And a larger than recommended rug probably has even more disadvantegous impacts! They narrow down your space quite a lot! And that’s because a larger rug makes all your furniture look small.
So what’s the right choice? A rug will look best in your small living room if its size is based on the size of your sofa: choose a rug that’s no more than 4 inches wider than the width of your sofa.
03. Divide your areas -but make it useful!
In a small open living room, the functions of the different areas (kitchen, dining, living) can blend together easily. To preserve the purpose of your living room, you’ll have to invest in room dividers!
But since your space is very limited, let’s utilize these room dividers for more storage! A simple bookshelf, a bench with storage baskets underneath or a cube organizer will help structure your space & hide your clutter!
04. Create an accent wall
One of the most important small apartment living room decorating ideas out there is to create an accent wall! Without a wall that draws attention & locks the eyes in, the focus will be on the smallness of your living room. And that’s exactly what you want to avoid!
Whether your accent wall is a wall with a patterned wallpaper, a boldly painted one or one that’s embelished with a different material (wood planks & stone are the best), they all help create one exceptional focal point in your tiny living room that visually enlarges your space!
05. Curate an exciting focal point
And if we’re talking focal points, let’s also not forget about designing a statement central point in your small apartment living room: that is, your coffee table decor & chandelier.
You might be wondering why bringing some excitement into your central point is of high importance. Well, because of their central location, your coffee table & chandelier are a natural focal point for the eyes. If they are left empty or thoughtlessly designed, they make the eyes linger more on the size of your space, rather than your home decor. And this causes your space to appear much smaller than it actually is.
So grab the eyes with a well-curated coffee table decor & a statement chandelier!
06. Round instead of rectangular: the key to a cohesive outcome
This right here is one of the tiniest yet mightiest small apartment living room decorating ideas -especially for open plan living rooms! That is, prioritize round coffee tables!
Since the inner architecture & built-in kitchen of an apartment cannot be anything else than rectangular, you’ll be surprised how a few round items can tone down those sharp edges & create a more harmonious look!
So if you want your small apartment living room design to be the most continuous ever, consider a round coffee table made of glass, rattan, wood or a metallic material! These are materials that all suit small spaces due to their light outlines & light reflecting ability.
07. Frame your space with statement seating
There’s one thing that should not be underestimated when it comes to designing a small apartment living room: and that is to put enough effort into framing your space!
All of this is crucial to create a closed down area with obvious boundaries & functions! And the most simple way to achieve this is to get a statement armchair & place it into one of corners of your area rug. You can get a small foot rest or ottoman to put right in front of your new armchair as well!
This will instantly set clear boundaries between your spaces, making each of them seem larger.
Go with wicker, rattan, leather, velvet or upholstered armchairs. What’s even better is an indoor hammock chair! They provide both sophistication & excitement!
08. Accessorize those boring walls!
Empty walls are your biggest enemy in small spaces. That’s why this is one of the most useful small apartment living room decorating ideas on here: accessorize your walls properly!
This means floating shelves above your sofa & nice shelf decor, a gallery wall, metal wall art, a grandiose painting or a hanging macrame, but there are other great options as well. Such an accentuated wall will draw much attention & therefore help enlarge your space!
09. Utilize vertical space as well
When there’s not enough horizontal space, your small apartment living room should be expanded vertically. We’re talking functionality & storage on the walls.
Install a nice set of floating shelves, get a few wall-mounted cube organizers to store both your decorative items & your clutter. There are hanging organizers as well & they look so trendy!
10. Bring life into your design
Including potted plants & vases full of blooming flowers is probably one of the least talked about small apartment living room decorating ideas. But their role is not as futile, as you might think!
Without beautiful living things, your already tiny living room will look even more cramped. But flowers & plants help brighten up the space & create a vibrant, fresh look for your small living room design! Not to mention how useful they are!
So go around your living room & fill all those empty spots with plants in handwoven planter baskets -for that cozy vibe- & flowers in simple glass vases -for a minimal, yet stylish touch.
11. Enlarge the space with mirrors
Mirrors have superpowers in tiny rooms, no doubt! Their ability to reflect light makes them an extremely important part of your home decor, since they create more depth & make your space seem larger than it actually is.
Therefore, you should use every possibility you have to include mirrors into your small apartment living room design. Place a standing mirror into those empty corners & get at least one mirror for your accent wall as well!
If you can, try to place your choice of lighting right next to a mirror. Together they create such a fantastic composition! Not only that, but your mirrors will reflect even more light this way, creating the illusion of a bigger space.
12. Don’t have space for a home office? Get a wall mounted folding desk!
Let’s be real, a full-size home office with a proper desk setup just cannot be fit effortlessly into a small space. But if your tiny living room is your only shot at creating the WFH station of your dreams, you’ll have to make compromises.
That’s what one of the most practical small apartment living room ideas on this list is going to help you with! Wall mounted folding desks are the real heroes in small spaces, so you should definitely consider investing in one!
Install your folding desk near a less crowded wall, where you’ll be able to fit a chair as well. The best possible places for this is either in a spare corner, behind your sofa or right next to it. If you have a TV stand, feel free to mount your new folding desk so close to it that they touch.
13. Natural materials will make your decor pop!
Bringing enough excitement into your small apartment living room design is essential for the perfect outcome. However, since you’re working with a tiny space, you’ll want to avoid overcrowding your room with bold & clashing materials!
In your small living room, it’s best if you use simple & light materials. Brick painted white, rattan, wicker, seagrass, wood in lighter colours & glass are all you need to achieve an airy, continuous design that’ll visually enlarge your space. Incorporate these materials into all your furniture: coffee table, armchairs, planters, shelves.
14. Use light neutrals, but make it exciting!
Ever wondered what colors to use for the perfect small space design? Then this will be one of your favourite small apartment living room decorating ideas: use bright, light colors, but make it exciting!
Light neutrals are an all-time favourite for small rooms, and it’s clear to see why. They are a perfect fit for your tiny living room because of their reflective abilities: they can instantly enlarge & brighten your space!
But light neutrals alone won’t suffice here! Small spaces LOVE accents. And with complementary colours, you can effortlessly create them!
Complementary means opposite colors. Don’t worry, though, they won’t clash if you use them wisely! Pastel green & a deep red, or a blush pink & grey for example are a perfect combo!
Want more complementary color ideas? Here are 23 absolutely gorgeous color combo ideas for your small space!
You just have to make sure you’re not using them excessively! You could use one as a paint color for an accent wall & the other as a reccuring pop of color in those tiny details, like your throw pillows & decorative vases.
These complementary hues are for creating a lively, vibrant look through the details. So forget about using them consistently for best results!
15. Don’t leave your windowsills empty!
Window sill decor is one of the most essential parts of a well-curated small living room design, yet it’s forgotten most of the times.
But you should never underestimate the impact of window sill decor -or lack of it- on the outcome. A thoughtful composition of decorative items creates an eventful window sill, that’s nice to look at.
And when the eyes have something pleasant to admire, the space instantly feels bigger. So grab your favourite scented candles, decorative bowls & vases, a set of books for elavation & your personal items to put onto those boring, empty window sills!
16. Get a standing storage unit with a slim structure
Some of you are blessed with more space than others. And if you have a spare corner you can’t seem to utilize, then this will be one of the most useful small apartment living room decorating ideas for you: get a shelf with a slim structure for your corners!
Not only do these bookshelves & standing storage shelves provide you with that much needed extra storage, but they look super good in small spaces as well! Their slim, metallic structure lends them a less assertive design than those chunky wooden shelves. Both this & their ability to reflect some light make them really good at creating more depth in your room!
17. Illumination is a must -but make it fit your tiny space
Providing enough illumination for both your work & relaxation spots, as well as specific points in your home decor is crucial in every space -regardless of size. But how can you still get the same effect in a tiny apartment, if regular lamps don’t fit?
Well, you’ll have to be very mindful about your lighting choices here. First, try switching out standing lamps for wall sconces. If you can’t or don’t want to, go with floor lamps that have a very thin body. And finally, avoid table lamps with a very clear & strong outline. Instead, opt for metal wire cage table lamps, glass table lamps or arched table lamps. These create a see-through effect that let the eyes travel freely.
18. White flowy curtains will enhance your design
Curtains are big home decor enhancers! And you’ll thank yourself later for investing in a set of white, flowy curtains for your small home!
Not only do they preserve your privacy & help regulate the temperature better, but they also make your whole interior design look more bright, fresh & airy. And this is exactly what your tiny living room needs!
19. No need for a sectional, if you can create one!
Have you ever wanted more than a simple two-seat sofa? Everyone does. But those beautiful sectionals are just not fit for small spaces. This is one of those few small apartment living room decorating ideas, that’ll help you make the right choice!
Let’s be honest, we all love sectionals. They look super good & provide much relaxation as well! But their rigid structure makes them a questionable choice for a tiny living room. If only there was a way to mimic sectionals but with a looser structure! Lucky for you, there is!
A boring two-seat sofa can easily be transformed into your dream couch with a square ottoman or long bench! These extra parts can be moved around easily -unlike a sectional- according to your preferences & needs. And this helps your sofa become a very practical item in your home, rather than a static one that just takes up space.
20. Forget about side tables -or not?
In a tiny living room, you’ll have to eventually rethink the purpose of a side table -and if you actually need one or not. Side tables are just a waste of space in a small room. But if you repurpose them, they might add more to your home design, than they take!
Wire basket side tables are exceptional storage solutions, but they also look trendy! Side tables with built-in storage baskets are a dream to work with in tiny spaces as well! And there are lift top side tables as well, that provide a work surface along with plenty of storage!
So if you’re in need of one, definitely go for a side table that has more functions. This makes them “worthy” of taking up so much valuable space.
Want more small space ideas? Learn to design a small bathroom, small bedroom & small kitchen here!
