How to Design a Small Living Room Layout

A sleek, neat living room

When you do not have a lot of space to work with in your home, designing a living room layout can seem difficult. But cramped quarters can be turned into comfortable, attractive spaces.

Instructions

1. Install adequate lighting to create a cozy atmosphere rather than a claustrophobic one. Dramatic wall lighting is perfect for small spaces, so look for wall sconces and other wall fixtures that shed light in an upward direction. Even if you have darker-hued walls, the right lighting fixtures can open up the room.

2. Choose fewer, larger pieces of furniture rather than many smaller pieces. Some examples of furniture that will be useful in a small living room include armless accent chairs, ottomans, low benches and double-duty pieces such as storage benches. Choose light and airy fabrics and colors for upholstered furniture, rugs and accents. Pale greens and blues, buttery yellows and other light colors make a room feel spacious.

3. Arrange the furniture so it does not block doors and windows and so it allows smooth traffic flow through the room. Open up as much floor and wall space as possible.

4. Remove clutter. Although it is nice to have your favorite mementos around, small rooms can seem claustrophobic when filled with too many items. Finding the right storage solutions becomes vital so you can put your things away. Use sleek bookcases and attractive cabinets.

5. Decorate your walls and tabletops with just a few, larger items. A single, larger piece of artwork on the wall or just one or two items on an end table will have more impact in a small room than several pieces.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose floor coverings and wall coverings before purchasing furniture, and do not buy any other accents or decor until you have positioned the furniture.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish