Is it necessary to make your modest living room appear larger? Is there a shortage of light or does the lack of space make it feel cramped? We’ve discovered several foolproof techniques to make a living room appear larger, lighter, and brighter – and we’re not talking about going minimalist and painting everything white, though it does work.
These professional advice will be handy if you are seeking for small living room ideas that are strictly space-enhancing, from white ceilings, light wood floors, and no fussy window coverings to innovative methods with mirrors.
Modern Living Room
Simple Color Schemes
When designing a tiny space, the most important thing to remember is to keep all tones on the same color pallet, which will help the space flow. On his blog, Bobby Berk frequently highlights the significance of creating a coherent space. Bobby’s living room paint ideas, despite his love of color, tend to be monochromatic and tone colors that will enhance the design even more. Instead of utilizing distinct colors and patterns that separate the room and make it appear smaller, Bobby advises us to conceive of the space as ‘one coherent space’ when choosing our palette.
‘With studios especially, the instinct is often to cut the main room into separate sections to create the illusion of a larger room – but what you’re actually doing is cluttering up the space and making it appear much smaller,’ he warns.
‘That doesn’t mean that it can’t be colorful, but that does mean sticking to a tonal palette, whether that be cool tones like blues and greens or warmer tones like terracotta, beige, and rusts,’ Bobby explains.
‘By keeping things within the same palette, the space will feel larger and more cohesive, which will allow it to feel less disjointed. In a smaller space, we usually like to use a matte finish to help hide imperfections in the wall, which will make the dark color feel more expansive visually,’ he says.
Use Color Wisely
Creating a larger, brighter living room does not rule out the use of color. A dark color on the walls will have the opposite effect, whereas a light, warm color, such as coral, will brighten the space.
Use white on your woodwork and skirtings, and if you have shutters, even better; if you don’t, and you don’t mind going without draperies, let the light in. Instead of dark wood furniture, go for painted pieces, and rustic wood works really well with this aesthetic.
Utilize Beautiful Textures
You’ll want to trim back clutter to make a small living room appear larger, but you don’t want to create a sterile scheme with minimalism and all-pale tones, which, as we all know, produce space-enhancing light spaces. Instead, go for luscious textures that don’t take up too much visual space.
Sheepskin rugs, grained wood pieces, limed floorboards, velvet cushions, and oh-so-soft tan leather recliners will all instantly warm up a scheme, especially when combined in otherwise minimalist apartment living room ideas.
Embrace Mirrors
We are firm believers in the power of mirrors in decorating since they can make a tiny living space appear larger if they are strategically placed.
VSP Interiors demonstrates how stunning they can be in this living room. This set of mirrored alcoves reflects everything back and bounces the light from the windows. It’s a surefire method to bring light and brightness, but go big with your mirrors — there’s no place for small and dainty in this area.
Layer Lighting
Even though your living room gets plenty of natural light during the day, small living room lighting solutions can make it feel bigger at night. Layering the heights of your lighting is crucial, so make sure you have a dimmable pendant light overhead, as well as plenty of lamp and wall lights. Select shades that can both direct light for duties such as reading and create light pools for ambience. Wall lights that direct delicate shafts of light up and down will further heighten the room.
Keep Your Furniture Refined
Remove visibly heavy furniture that will drain the light from your living room, as well as chunky pieces that are simply too big, to make a tiny living room appear larger. Consider ‘light’ with tapering legs and thin frame components, as well as glass. Knowing how to buy the correct couch for a tiny living room is crucial to making your area feel as spacious as possible.
‘It’s important to integrate refined furniture pieces in lighter toned natural finishes such as soft timber veneers, handmade silver leaf, or polished marble to generate a bright and expansive sense within a living space,’ says Louise Bradley, Founder of Louise Bradley Design Studio.
Neutral Pieces
Because the sofa will be the main piece of furniture in your living room, it’s important to choose the proper color and size.
‘A neutral sofa can help lighten the space, however it’s worth remembering that neutral doesn’t have to mean selecting a plain design. Opting for styles with beautiful details, such as curves, buttons or fluting, will add character to a small space without overpowering your scheme, advises Suzy McMahon of Buying Director at Sofology.
‘Additionally, cushions and throws in bolder shades and patterns can keep the look from feeling too pared back. Alternatively, an accent chair is a great way to add a pop of colour and will effortlessly lift a darker space.’
