Foolproof Tricks to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger
We show you how to use concepts of colour, light and proportion to create an illusion of space in a small living room
Small living rooms can look cosy and comfortable – and expansive, if done right. But often they come off looking cramped and claustrophobic. Perfecting the former look takes some doing, in terms of understanding how to play with colour schemes, scale down (or up) furniture and use light to optimal effect. Here are some ideas that prove with the help of these three concepts, that the paradoxical ‘small and spacious’ living room is not so hard to achieve
2. …that is low-lying and leggy
Furniture that is closer to the ground creates a feeling of openness simply because there is more room above it. Similarly, it helps to raise your sofas and centre tables on legs, so as to create a sense of light and space.
See how to lay out a small living room
Furniture that is closer to the ground creates a feeling of openness simply because there is more room above it. Similarly, it helps to raise your sofas and centre tables on legs, so as to create a sense of light and space.
See how to lay out a small living room
2. Remember less is more
Instead of several small pieces of furniture, think of sectionals that can seat more people, and individual chairs that can be moved around. This sleek sofa seats as many people as an overstuffed one, but takes up much less physical, as well as visual space.
Instead of several small pieces of furniture, think of sectionals that can seat more people, and individual chairs that can be moved around. This sleek sofa seats as many people as an overstuffed one, but takes up much less physical, as well as visual space.
If you like your sofas deeply upholstered, think about buying a couch with low arms or no arms – it’ll make your room look larger.
4. White it out
White reflects maximum light and and can make any space look bright, welcoming and large. It adds brightness to a spot, regardless of the weather outside, and enhances illumination. The crispness of the colour adds to a space’s decluttered look, too. Note how this corner of the living room looks cheery and bright even with the drapes closed.
White reflects maximum light and and can make any space look bright, welcoming and large. It adds brightness to a spot, regardless of the weather outside, and enhances illumination. The crispness of the colour adds to a space’s decluttered look, too. Note how this corner of the living room looks cheery and bright even with the drapes closed.
Tip: To relieve the monotony of neutral-hued décor but to retain its advantages, introduce a small accent colour. Place spots of it about the room, so the colour is pulled together throughout.
Is white the best colour for living room walls? Look here for answers
Is white the best colour for living room walls? Look here for answers
5. Maintain a balance
If introducing bright colours, keep the lines of the furniture minimal and balance it out with lighter pieces in the rest of the room. A balanced colour scheme and minimal furniture make this living room seem more accommodating and welcoming.
If introducing bright colours, keep the lines of the furniture minimal and balance it out with lighter pieces in the rest of the room. A balanced colour scheme and minimal furniture make this living room seem more accommodating and welcoming.
Too many itty-bitty pieces can make a small room feel cluttered and cramped. Strike a balance by choosing pieces that look substantial (yet proportional) but have sleek lines.
6. Use natural light
Natural light is the best kind of light to liven up a room. It plays a major role in our spatial perception. It lights up all corners of a room, allowing us to see more of the space, thus making it look more open and expansive.
Natural light is the best kind of light to liven up a room. It plays a major role in our spatial perception. It lights up all corners of a room, allowing us to see more of the space, thus making it look more open and expansive.
7. Match curtains to walls
If curtains are a must, keep them the same colour as the walls – sticking to the same colour throughout makes a space look bigger. Avoid heavy materials that can weigh your room down by absorbing light.
Tip: Lightweight materials, such as sheer cotton or linen, have an airy look.
If curtains are a must, keep them the same colour as the walls – sticking to the same colour throughout makes a space look bigger. Avoid heavy materials that can weigh your room down by absorbing light.
Tip: Lightweight materials, such as sheer cotton or linen, have an airy look.
8. Hang them high
Hang drapes from a rod close to the ceiling rather than from the window frame. Sleek curtain panels draw the eye upwards along their length, creating an illusion of height. Also, the softness of the full-length curtains helps make a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors, thus seeming to increase the space.
Find out how to pick the right curtains for your home
Hang drapes from a rod close to the ceiling rather than from the window frame. Sleek curtain panels draw the eye upwards along their length, creating an illusion of height. Also, the softness of the full-length curtains helps make a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors, thus seeming to increase the space.
Find out how to pick the right curtains for your home
9. Merge the top of the walls with the ceiling
Paint cornices and coving the same colour as the ceiling, which will make the space feel bigger and look wider. In the absence of mouldings, simply paint about 8 to 10 inches of the tops of the walls the same as the ceiling. Even with dark walls, this trick makes the ceiling look higher, and the room appear bigger.
Paint cornices and coving the same colour as the ceiling, which will make the space feel bigger and look wider. In the absence of mouldings, simply paint about 8 to 10 inches of the tops of the walls the same as the ceiling. Even with dark walls, this trick makes the ceiling look higher, and the room appear bigger.
10. Introduce stripes
Stripes, as in clothing, make a room appear elongated. Make sure to orient the stripes along the length of the room for maximum effect.
Read more:
Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
11 Ingenious Ways to Maximise Space in a Studio Apartment
Tell us:
Which of these ideas would you use? Anything that you would add to this list? Do tell us in the Comments section.
Stripes, as in clothing, make a room appear elongated. Make sure to orient the stripes along the length of the room for maximum effect.
Read more:
Want to Make Your Small Kitchen Feel Bigger?
11 Ingenious Ways to Maximise Space in a Studio Apartment
Tell us:
Which of these ideas would you use? Anything that you would add to this list? Do tell us in the Comments section.
Proportion is key where furniture is concerned. And the rule is simple – the heavier the furniture, the stuffier the look. Avoid heavyweight pieces that eat up space. The furniture in this image is the antithesis of full-sized sofas and bulky armchairs.