The living room is arguably the most important area of the house, so it can be frustrating when it’s also the smallest. While you can’t do anything to change the actual dimensions of the room (aside from knocking down a wall or moving to a new property) there are many clever tricks that you can try to give the illusion of more space.
If you’re fed up with feeling cramped in your living room, here are four top tips to help you maximize your space in an instant – whatever your budget.
Make Smart Color Choices – The color choices you make will drastically affect the look and feel of your room, including whether it looks small and cramped or big and spacious. To maximize your square footage without major renovations, opt for pale flooring and light wall colors to reflect the light.
You can also opt for vertically striped rugs to elongate your floor space, making sure to point the stripes in the direction of the door. Other handy color tips include painting or wallpapering the ceiling to draw the eye upwards, and color-coding your books and decorative items to make your shelves appear less cluttered.
Choose Your Furniture Carefully – While it makes sense to choose small furniture for a small space, lots of different pieces will make a tiny room look too busy. Depending on the size of your room and the number of people it needs to accommodate, your best bet is to go for a medium-sized sofa and a loveseat.
Loveseats are ideal for smaller spaces because they provide more comfort and space than a traditional armchair but don’t take up too much floor space. Regarding quality, design and choice, Y Living is a highly recommended supplier of loveseats and other home furnishings, and you can view their collection of modern loveseats online. Opt for seats and sofas with exposed legs to give the illusion of more floor space.
Hang Shades or Blinds Instead of Drapes – Since you’re not likely to be woken by sunlight in this part of the house (unless you sleep there of course), the only reason you need curtains in the living room is for privacy. However, heavy drapes block that all-important light getting in and make a room look more crowded than it is. Opt for blinds, roman shades or shutters to create the illusion of space while still keeping the outside world at bay.
Use Lamps Instead of Top-Down Lighting – When it comes to creating a relaxing atmosphere, top-down lighting is not your friend. Not only is it harsh and impossible to adjust without a dimmer switch, it also pools all the light into one area of the room, making it look smaller. Instead, use a variety of table lamps, floor lamps and sconces to create your desired mood and enjoy a larger looking space.
Whether you own or rent your home, there are plenty of opportunities to make a smaller space look bigger – proving that you don’t need to be an expert to have a few clever tricks up your sleeve.
