A sofa area, armchair, footstool, TV cabinet, chest of drawers, bookshelf and a dining area shouldn’t be missing either: making a small living room comfortable can be a challenge. When furnishing a small living room, it’s all about, on the one hand, to make it seem bigger and on the other hand, to use every square centimeter perfectlyto meet individual needs.
So that you can easily master the challenge, we have put together three basic rules and 19 tips for you. One thing in advance: You will most likely have to make some restrictions with this challenge – and experience some positive surprises when you realize what is possible in your apartment. Challenge accepted? Let’s go!
Setting up a small living room: 3 basics
1. Space, please!
If a room is not large, it can quickly appear chaotic, restless and uncomfortable. Basic rule number one against the cluttered impression is not to clutter up the room to leave as free areas as possible.
2. Friendly outsourcing
You should also consider in advance whether you want certain… Outsource items (or even sort them out). Does the armchair really have to be in the living room or do you only need it when you have guests? If it is not in constant use, it can be moved to the bedroom, for example.
3. Bright joy
And basic rule No. 3: For small rooms bright colors choose. Why? Because they convey a feeling of space and visually open up such rooms. You will find out what else you should pay attention to in the next section.
Wall colors and their spatial effect
Light wall color doesn’t necessarily mean just white! Beige and cream are warmer than white and quickly conjure up a hygge feeling in the living room. Light gray is modern and easy to combine. In small rooms, pastel tones and cool, delicate colors (such as blues and greens) also work well.
Not only the color itself, but also how you paint a living space has a visual effect:
- Make a narrow room appear wider: Paint the front side darker, so the eye is drawn to the short side and the room appears wider.
- Visually widen a narrow room: Paint the color from the top to approximately the underside of the window sill, leaving a light stripe at the bottom. The ceiling also remains light.
- Make a room appear longer: Paint the ceiling and front wall the same color to differentiate yourself from the rest of the room.
- Low room stretch: Ceiling and a strip at the top of the walls must be lighter than the rest of the room.
As you can see, wall design in the living room is a colorful science in itself – with a high fun factor! For more tips and ideas for setting up your living room, click here.
Even a small hallway can be delightful with the right furnishing ideas! This is how you get the most out of decorating your hallway.
Sources:
IKEA Germany: “Arrange furniture correctly | IKEA tips & tricks“, last accessed on April 18, 2024
Anna Sophie Wolf – Interior Design: “8 tips for SETTING UP small SPACES“, 04/18/24