How to Decorate a Small Apartment With a Large Brown Couch

Light colors complement brown and make a small room seem bigger.

The key to decorating small spaces is to deceive the eye into thinking the room is larger than the square footage would suggest. Light colors usually accomplish this better than dark hues, which can make a room feel smaller and closed in. But a large brown couch doesn't automatically mean your already-small apartment will seem tiny. Use lighter colors to decorate the rest of the room -- the focal point will remain the large couch, but you'll open up the rest of the space.

Other Pieces of Furniture

Avoid placing other dark and solid furniture near the couch. Instead, opt for light pieces. Vibrant light blues, greens and yellows, or cream all complement brown and provide a color pop for upholstered chairs or ottomans. Don't be afraid of patterned upholstery. Funky flowers or subtle stripes will offset the solidness of the couch. If the chairs or ottomans have wooden legs, match the legs to the couch's brown. That rolls the pop of color and a bit of subtle matching into one. For coffee and end tables, stay away from solid, dark pieces. Instead, find tables that are either a light or natural color wood or are dark but have glass tops. Even with the dark frame, glass makes the tables look more delicate, offsetting the couch's dominance.

Rugs and Floors

"Matchy-matchy" usually isn't a compliment when it comes to home decor. It means a monochrome look that just tries too hard or makes your home seem blah. The best way to avoid matchy-matchy in your apartment is to make the floor and your couch different colors. If you have hardwood floors that match the couch, lay a rug under the couch area. Again, lighter colors will make the room seem bigger. Consider a simple cream rug to offset the floor and couch colors. If you have wood or laminate floors, pick a color that's either several shades lighter than a dark couch or darker than a light brown couch. Or, better yet, opt for a cherry finish to add some red tones.

Decorations

Like the other furniture, look for decorations that both complement and match your couch subtly. For example, put out bright colored flower vases and pictures, but select picture frames that match your couch color. The bright colors pull your eye away from the couch, while the frames help tie the room together. For other wall decorations, hang one large or several small mirrors. If possible, hang them across from a window. The reflection makes a small room look larger and, like the glass-top coffee table, the mirror prevents the room from looking too dark thanks to the large brown couch. If the couch is still too dominating, use light-colored throw pillows or a blanket to break up the brown mass.

Other Rooms

Even if your living room seems overwhelmed by the brown couch, don't be overly concerned about the rest of your apartment. Treat your other apartment rooms -- from the bedroom to the kitchen to the bathroom -- as separate decorating opportunities. While you don't want to mix too many styles, there's no reason to include browns in every room just to match the living room couch.