How to Decorate a Condo Living Room

Condos are popular with homeowners who don't want or need a lot of space and landscape to take care of, from singles to young marrieds to empty nesters. Usually smaller than a detached home, condos can present challenges in decorating. Their small size must be taken into consideration when deciding on a room's furnishings. Small, however, doesn't have to mean cramped and uninviting. You may have to make some sacrifices, but it is possible to create a stunning living room in very little space.

Things You'll Need

• Small-scale furniture
• Floating shelves
• Light curtain treatments
• Decorative accessories of your choice
• Mirror(s)
• Paint and painting supplies

Instructions

1. Make sacrifices. Choose to display only the knickknacks that are most important to you. One or two beautiful items will have a much larger impact than a cluttered tabletop and will make your room look larger in the bargain.

2. Paint the walls a light neutral color. Paint is the easiest and cheapest way to make a room look great, and a light color will make your living room feel more spacious. Choose a blue-gray color for a calming effect, or a pale yellow for a warm, cozy feel.

3. Choose furniture that is small in scale. This means an armless sofa, or an apartment chair instead of a love seat. Skip the coffee table and simply move two side tables to make a coffee table when the need arises. Or use an ottoman that can also store items such as DVDs.

4. Consider purchasing two small area rugs for your living room, rather than one large rug. This will also help your room appear larger.

5. Use the walls. Instead of a large bookshelf, hang floating shelves on the walls and store your favorite books on those. Mount a flat-screen television on the wall and avoid having to find the room for an entertainment center.

6. Brighten up the room by hanging mirrors. Mirrors create the illusion of open space and also reflect light, making a room seem larger. Let even more light into the room by keeping the window treatments simple. Use sheer curtain panels instead of thick, heavy fabrics, or remove them entirely if privacy is not an issue.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the model condo in your building or complex to get ideas. They are usually decorated by professionals to maximize space.