How to arrange a small living room to make it seem bigger?

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26 November 2020

A small apartment might be a deliberate choice or a necessity. Regardless of the reasons for living in studios and small flats, their tenants face very similar problems. There are many challenges, from tiny bedrooms that can fit only a bed in them, to a bathroom not big enough for a washing machine, to tiny living rooms that need to be arranged so that they can also be used as the dining room, home office, TV and relaxation space, reading room, play area, and sometimes also the place for night rest.

Unfortunately, the bad news is that it is usually impossible to increase the size of the apartment. Unless you manage to evict your neighbour and connect your home kingdom with the rooms they have occupied. 😉 However, if your neighbour does not intend to move out, and his apartment is additionally separated from your home by a load-bearing wall that cannot be demolished, all you can do is use one of the many tricks to optically enlarge the available space. And this is good news, there are quite a few tricks and their results can be more than satisfactory.

Here are 20 decorative tips and tricks for decorating your home to make your rooms seem bigger

1. Paint the walls in light, neutral colours. They give an impression of space and depth. Avoid dark colours, which absorb light and can be overwhelming. White in various forms is a friend of your space. Use it.

2. The room will look larger if you paint the ceiling white. Strong colours are not recommended, especially if the room is low. If you absolutely want to choose a different colour, go for ash or subtle beige. In a small room, the ceiling should definitely be a few tones lighter than the wall colour.
3. Do not cover the windows with curtains or drapes. This creates the impression of depth in a small space. If you are an avid supporter of curtains, give up strongly creased and effective patterns in favour of light, delicate and short curtains (e.g. asymmetrical in length) that reach no further than the window sill. It is best if they do not cover the entire window so that more natural light can enter the room, which is a definite advantage in small spaces.

4. If you want curtains, choose the same colour as the one on the walls. This will make you room look spacious. Choose natural, nicely fitting and light fabrics, such as linen, silk or cotton. Do not use heavy, patterned materials with a firm texture and strong colour, as they will have an overwhelming effect on the arrangement.
5. 5. Use light to visually enlarge the room. The more natural light there is, the better. But if the window is small and the room is also located to the north, you can achieve a nice effect by properly arranging the lighting points. Instead of a single chandelier at the centre of the ceiling, put several lighting pieces in different parts of the room.
6. Avoid large ceiling lamps with large shades that direct the light down. Such a chandelier will not only look heavy and overwhelming, but its shadow on the ceiling will also make the room seem lower. It is best when light points such as a ceiling lamp, floor lamp, table lamp or wall lamps direct the light upwards. The room will appear higher and more spacious thanks to the light reflected the ceiling and walls. The positive effects may also surprise you when you add light to the nooks of the room by placing a floor lamp in the corner and illuminate the recesses or shelves with halogen or LED tape.
7. Maintain order and harmony. This applies to both the choice of colours, lighting, accessories, furniture arrangement, and the style of individual decorative pieces. For example, if you install many light points, make sure that their fixtures are made in the same style. If you choose colours, do it carefully and in moderation. Monochrome is a friend of small spaces. Do you want to make a small room larger? Make sure that the furniture and accessories are in similar colour.
8. Use fabrics and carpets with small patterns or plain ones. A uniform colour will make a small room appear bigger. Avoid a long pile rug, and ideally expose as much of the floor as possible. A light floor will visually enlarge the room.
9. Fight the temptation to hoard items. If something is unnecessary, damaged or has been put away because it “may still be useful”, just throw it away. Chaos and disorder make the space cluttered and therefore more cramped.
10. In a small room, less is more. So do not go overboard with accessories. One large picture on the wall is better than several smaller ones.
11. Enjoy mirrors. You can hang them on the wall, on the front door to the room or on the closet door. A mirror near the window is also a good idea. The light reflected in the mirror will give the interior depth and clarity.
12. Every centimetre is priceless in small rooms. No wonder we often use all shelves to the maximum to tightly arrange books and knick-knacks on them. However, try to limit the number of items on open racks and shelves. Leave some space between items on shelves, at least a few centimetres between each. Make sure they look orderly and they will become an element that relieves the space.
13. There are some furniture-related tricks you can use to visually enlarge your room. One of them is to choose the furniture colour similar to the wall colour. Thanks to this, they will blend into the space, which will seem larger.
14. If you want to put a table into the room, choose a smaller model that is extendable or features a folding top. A great effect is provided by glass and transparent materials; for example, you can have a table with a glass top or transparent plastic chairs.
15. An interesting trick is to introduce a bookcase that extends from the ceiling to the floor or from wall to wall. There are two major advantages to this solution: you will gain space for storing various items and you will make the room seem higher.
16. Choose a sofa and an armchair on high legs. As a result, the furniture line is more delicate and slender, which makes the whole arrangement more light and subtle. This way the furniture reveals the floor. Minimalist design and light forms are preferable to heavy and richly quilted sofas and armchairs ornamented with many decorative elements.
17. Choose multifunctional furniture, so that you can save on space and make better use of it. For example, a great solution is to use a XXL pouffe, which can also be used as a coffee table, footrest or an additional seat. An interesting solution is the Snap pouffe – thanks to the raised backrest it can be quickly turned into a compact armchair without sides.

18. Do not put furniture in one row, next to each other. Keep some space between them.
19. If possible, open the living room to the rest of the apartment. You can connect it with the kitchen by demolishing the separating wall. You can also enlarge the living room entrance by enlarging the door opening and raising the lintel. If this is not possible for technical reasons, just remove the door to gain a little more space.
20. Select a specific point in the room (for example, opposite the entrance) and highlight it visually. It might be some decorative piece in a more vivid colour, a tall bookcase, a tall lamp standing in the corner or an interesting plant. It will immediately catch attention and distract from the dimension of the room.

The key to success in arranging a small and cramped apartment is the right combination of creativity, unconventional thinking and proven decorative tricks. A small area can be made friendlier and cosier if it is appropriately designed and arranged. Even a small interior metamorphosis can really surprise you. After changes, you will surely feel better in the visually more spacious interior.

So, just get started! A wonderful decorating adventure awaits you; use the light, play with colours and accessories, try to rearrange the furniture. Treat your small living space as a creative design challenge. We keep our fingers crossed and wish you a lot of inspiration!!!

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