Looking at larger living spaces of neighbors and friends, if yours is much smaller, can put you in an awkward spot. In spite of this however, what you should know is that with smart styling you can turn that small living room into a space which feels far more amplified than its measurements would suggest.
The devil is very much in the detail with this room, and the more of those details that you get right, the larger the space will feel. Here are just some examples of how you can play with the space to make it feel bigger.
Well Placed Lighting
Having an open ceiling is key to amplifying the space which rules out any kind of lighting which hangs. Utilizing smart lighting here is the ultimate option, with the inclusion of swinging arm lighting on walls around the room and installing strip lighting to the ceiling above. With regards to lamps, smaller options will be best so as to fill less space.
Adding Club Chairs
There is always the temptation to add a sofa straight into this space but the use of club chairs here would be a much smarter idea. Singular chairs can be moved easier and they also occupy less space. For best results here look for natural colors and materials, such as soft linens. Companies like Papaya sell some delightful armchairs in such colors and materials and they work perfectly for this kind of space.
Use of Mirrors
Both mirrors and windows offer that feeling of increased space, adding windows may be a bridge too far here, but the inclusion of a large mirror is the perfect option to create more space. Pick the largest wall that you have and aim to fill as much of it with a great looking mirror.
Build-In Shelving
Additional shelving units are of course going to encroach on the limited space which you have, yet they are very often a necessity in this room. The ideal option here is to go into the wall and create shelving which is built-in. This solves two problems, the first is that you can have storage without filling up the space, and secondly the indent that you create will add to the amplified feeling of the room. For this reason, be sure to avoid placing doors on the shelving, leaving it open and spacious.
Low Tables
Filling up the ground space isn’t the end of the world, but when you begin to eat into the higher levels of the room, this is when it can begin to feel full. For this reason TV consoles and coffee tables should be low down, to maximize that space above the eye-line when you are seated.
And finally, with regards to the color palette, much of this will depend on how much natural light you have coming in. If there is floods of light through the window then go for a darker palette, if there is limited natural light then go for bright creams and light tones.
Through smart design, you can really ensure that your living room feels even bigger than it really is.
