29 Innovative Small Living Room Decor Ideas
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1. Create a focal point
What’s the first thing you see when you walk into this room? It’s the large piece of art on the wall, right? That’s because this living room was designed to have a focal point.
In interior design, a focal point is the star of the room.
It’s the first thing you see when you walk into the space, and it’s what the rest of the room is designed around.
In this case, the art is the focal point, and everything else in the room is designed to complement it.
2. Use mirrors and wallpaper
If you’ve been on social media at all in the past few years, you’ve probably seen the “mirror wall” trend. And for good reason: mirrors can make any room feel bigger.
In this small living room by interior designer Tamsin Johnson, a large mirror takes up most of the space above the couch, creating the illusion of more space.
The wallpaper, too, adds a lot of visual interest and makes the room feel more dynamic.
3. Choose small-scale furniture
If you have a small living room, you’ll want to choose furniture that’s more to scale.
That means you’ll want to choose a smaller sofa, and possibly even a smaller coffee table, to make the space feel more open.
In this living room from Design Sponge, the sofa is streamlined and compact, and the coffee table is a little smaller than you’d expect.
The overall effect is a living room that feels open and airy.
4. Use multi-functional furniture
With limited space, it’s important to use multi-functional furniture. That means looking for pieces that can serve more than one purpose.
A storage ottoman can be used as a coffee table and extra seating when you have guests. A sofa bed is perfect if you don’t have space for a guest room.
A console table can be used as a desk, a bar, or a place to store books and other decorative items.
When it comes to small spaces, the more uses a piece of furniture has, the better.
5. Use neutral colors for a small living room
If you have a small living room, it’s best to stick to a neutral color scheme.
You can add pops of color with your decor, but keeping the walls and larger furniture pieces neutral will make the room feel more open and airy.
This living room from us is a great example of how to use neutrals in a small space.
The white walls and light gray sofa make the room feel bright and welcoming. The wood tones and greenery add warmth and texture to the space.
6. Use hidden storage
If your small living room is also your main living space, you likely have a lot of stuff to keep in there.
It’s important to keep things organized and out of the way so you can still achieve a clean, open look.
This small living room by Emily Henderson uses a coffee table with hidden storage and a large media console to keep clutter at bay.
The large storage pieces are balanced out by a set of small side tables, so the room doesn’t feel weighed down.
7. Choose furniture with exposed legs
Furniture that is raised off of the ground can help a small space feel larger.
This is because the more floor space you can see, the bigger the room will appear.
This small living room uses a simple color scheme and minimal decor so that the furniture can be the main focus.
The exposed legs on the sofa and coffee table allow the eye to travel under the furniture, making the room appear more open.
8. Use glass and acrylic furniture
Glass and acrylic furniture are a godsend in small living rooms.
Their transparency makes them feel invisible, so your eye will focus on the other beautiful elements in the space.
This small living room by Emily Henderson is a perfect example.
The acrylic coffee table feels like it’s not even there, allowing the plush rug and the many colors in the room to take center stage.
9. Make use of vertical space
If you’re short on floor space, look up and see what areas of your living room you can utilize.
In this space designed by Leanne Ford, a floating shelf turns into a small gallery wall with a few decorative items and a collection of plants.
The best part is you can swap out the items on the shelf and change up the look of the room as often as you’d like.
10. Choose a large rug
Using a large rug in your small living room is a great way to anchor the space.
Not only does it bring a sense of cohesion to the room, but it also helps to make the space feel larger.
When you use a small rug in a small room, it can make the space feel disjointed and choppy.
However, when you use a large rug, it helps to visually expand the space, making it feel more open and inviting.
In this small living room, we used a large, neutral rug to help anchor the space and define the seating area.
This simple design trick helped to make the room feel more cohesive and welcoming.
11. Use small living room decor ideas with plants
The best way to make a small living room feel cozy is to add plants.
They add texture, color, and interest to a space. Plus, they bring the outdoors inside, creating a relaxing environment.
You can use tall plants to draw the eye up and make the room feel larger.
Or, you can use small plants to add pops of color and life to your decor.
If you don’t have a green thumb, you can still add plants to your small living room.
There are plenty of low-maintenance plants that are perfect for beginners.
And if you’re really not into the idea of caring for live plants, there are plenty of faux options that look just as good.
12. Decorate with baskets
Baskets are an easy and inexpensive way to add texture and warmth to your living room.
You can use baskets to store blankets, pillows, and other living room essentials, or you can use them as wall decor.
In this small living room, the basket wall adds a fun and unexpected touch to the space.
13. Add a pop of color
Add a pop of color to a small living room with a colorful area rug.
This will help to break up the space and add some visual interest.
Try to keep the rest of your decor neutral so that the color really stands out.
14. Use floating shelves
Not only do floating shelves add more storage space, but they can also be a great way to add more visual interest to your walls.
You can style them with books, plants, and vases, or use them to display your favorite art and décor pieces.
Pro Tip: If you’re renting, you can use removable adhesive strips to hang floating shelves without damaging the walls.
15. Create a gallery wall
Gallery walls are a great way to add personality to a small living room. Plus, they’re easy to create and can be customized to fit your space and style.
You can use a mix of framed prints, photographs, and artwork, or you can stick to one type of image.
You can also play around with the size and shape of the frames to create a more eclectic look, or you can keep things more uniform.
The key to creating a great gallery wall is to plan it out ahead of time.
You can do this by laying out your frames on the floor before you hang them, or you can use kraft paper to trace the size of your frames and then tape the paper to the wall.
Once you have your layout planned out, you can start hanging your frames. And don’t be afraid to play around with the arrangement until you get it just right.
16. Use small living room decor ideas with lighting
Lighting is an essential part of any room design, but it can be especially important in a small living room.
The lighting in your space can help to create a focal point and can also be used to make the room feel larger.
In this small living room, the lighting is used to create a focal point above the fireplace. The chandelier draws the eye up and makes the room feel larger.
17. Decorate with books
If you have a collection of books, this is a great way to decorate and add some color to your space.
You can also use your books to create a focal point on your coffee table or bookshelves.
Group your books by color to create a rainbow effect or use them to create a layered look.
18. Choose small living room decor ideas with metallic accents
Metallic accents are a great way to add some visual interest to your small living room.
You can find metallics in all shapes and sizes, from coffee tables and side tables to picture frames and lamps.
Metallic accents are a great way to add some visual interest to your small living room.
You can find metallics in all shapes and sizes, from coffee tables and side tables to picture frames and lamps.
This small living room features a metallic coffee table, end table, and lamp, as well as metallic picture frames and a metallic throw pillow.
The metallic accents add some shine and texture to the room, and they help to make the space feel more polished and put-together.
19. Add a statement piece
Just because you’re working with a small living room doesn’t mean you have to stick to small furniture.
In fact, adding a large statement piece, like this abstract painting, can actually make the space feel bigger.
That’s because it draws the eye up and makes the room feel taller.
20. Use small living room decor ideas with textiles
If you’re renting, or don’t want to make any big changes, using textiles is a great way to add color and personality to a small living room.
You can change the curtains, cushions, rugs and throws as often as you like, and it’s a really quick way to update a space.
Here, a mix of patterns and colors has been used to create a cozy feel, with the vibrant yellow being the accent color that ties the whole look together.
The window has been framed with a bold patterned curtain and the color is picked up in the rug, cushions and throw.
21. Add a small bar cart
If you need an excuse to add a bar cart to your living room, then here it is.
A bar cart is the perfect way to add a little extra style to your space, and it’s also super functional.
You can use it to store drinks and glassware, of course, but you can also use it to store other items like books, candles, and more.
It’s a great way to add extra storage to your space without taking up a lot of room.
Plus, you can easily move it around your living room or even to another room in your home if you need to.
22. Use small living room decor ideas with trays
A small living room can feel cluttered quickly, so use a tray to corral items and keep them looking neat.
For example, you can use a tray to hold your remotes, put together a coffee station, or display your favorite candles.
The key is to make sure that the items you use on your tray feel intentional and not just like a random collection of stuff.
23. Add a large piece of art
When you have a small living room, it can be tricky to find space for decor.
Instead of filling your walls with small pieces, try a large piece of art that will draw the eye up and add a focal point to your space.
You can find large pieces of art at a reasonable price, or you can even make your own! This is a great way to add personality and color to your small living room.
24. Create a small reading nook
If you have an empty corner in your living room, consider turning it into a small reading nook.
This is a great way to maximize space and create a cozy spot for relaxing. All you need is a comfortable chair, a side table, and a lamp.
You can also add a rug and some throw pillows to make the space feel extra inviting.
25. Use small living room decor ideas with candles
Candles are a great way to add ambiance to your small living room.
You can use them to create a cozy atmosphere on a chilly day or to add a little romance on date night.
You can also use candles to add a pop of color to your living room.
I love the way this small living room uses the red candles to add a little life to the otherwise neutral space.
Conclusion
We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. All of the rooms were created by the designers, photographers, and bloggers we reached out to, and we asked them if we could share their photos and products with you, and they agreed. We hope you are inspired by the small living room decor ideas we’ve provided.
