Designing a small living room could be a pain in the neck. You’re limited in space, so carefully planning what furniture pieces you buy and how to arrange them are crucial. A modern home design is apt for smaller spaces as it dwells on a sleeker, slimmer, and cleaner appearance. It relies on a more elegant atmosphere, using minimalist furniture and neutral colors. If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some modern small living room design ideas.
1. Multi-functional furniture
One limitation of a small living room is you won’t be able to display as many furniture pieces. The best option is to use multi-functional furniture to expand your storage space while keeping your living visually pleasing. You can opt for ottomans that double as storage. Instead of grabbing an oversized sectional sofa, you can also purchase a sofa bed to transform your living room into a guest bedroom if you have visitors over. Finally, you can choose nesting tables, which you can pull out and stow away for extra space if needed.
2. Be clever with the living room layout
Homeowners think that pushing furniture against a wall gives you more space. However, you can make your small living room space more airy by letting furniture float, leaving some space behind. Also, floating your furniture will make your living room appear bigger and wider. It also allows more light to pass through, beside, and around the furniture and spaces, giving the impression of a bigger room.
3. Choose a big rug
Some people think that a small living room space means you can only display a small rug. But this is further from the truth. A big rug in a small living room will give the impression that you have a larger floor space. A rug should be bigger than your most oversized furniture, such as your sofa or coffee table. For instance, one side of the rug must be at least six inches longer than your room’s most significant furniture piece.
It’s crucial to measure your room and ensure the rug rests within 12 inches of all four living room walls. Also, ensure the rug displays little to minimal texture. While texture is an excellent way to diversify a room, it might make a small space more congested. Finally, choose light-colored rugs with little to no patterns, as they make the room brighter and more spacious.
4. Zone through different paint colors
You might want to try zoning the room with different paint colors. Dividing a wall or floor space with various paint colors or colored tiles will zone spaces without using furniture or dividers. Using contrasting colors is recommended if you want to make areas stand out. This is especially smart when using the small living room for other purposes, such as a workspace or dining area. The point is to use contrasting shades of the same color for a softer and more cohesive look.
5. Use blinds and shutters instead of curtains
Curtains are eye candy in any room. However, when considering the most space-efficient modern small living room design, blinds or shutters do an excellent job of freeing up space on both sides of the window. While curtains add elegance to your modern home, blinds or shutters, open up visual space and light.
6. Create an accent wall
A small space with too many accessories, a haphazard furniture arrangement, and the lack of a focal point confuse the eyes. Because too many design components are vying for attention, your eyes won’t know where to settle. Creating a focal point, such as an accent or gallery wall, is a way not to make the room feel claustrophobic. Select a wall to show off a gallery of curated artwork, paint it with a different color, or display a complementary patterned wallpaper.
7. Raised furniture
Modern living room designs consist of raised furniture. Choose furniture with raised legs to let light pass through underneath. It also makes the living room feel airy as slender and undecorated legs give the impression the furniture is smaller than it is. Shorter furniture with block legs also exudes a more modern vibe. However, ensure you choose sofas, coffee tables, or center tables that display clean and straight lines for a minimalist approach.
Conclusion
These small, modern living room design ideas will keep your space functional and aesthetic. Ensure you’re not overcrowding your small space with too many furniture and accessories. Maintain a sense of balance and cohesion in your area to attract the eyes. Choose neutral colors, and don’t be afraid to go bold with a focal point, such as accent walls or statement chairs. Most importantly, always let natural light in as it illuminates your space, making it seem bigger.
About the author
Karen Faith
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