23 Clever Tips To Make Your Tiny Living Room Look Bigger

23 Clever Tips To Make Your Tiny Living Room Look Bigger

No matter how big our homes are, they never quite seem big enough! If you've got a small living room and you wish it were bigger, we feel your pain.

We've been there, done that, and today we're sharing some lovely tips for you to help you make it look more spacious. Try some of these clever tips and it'll be unrecognisable before long.

Editor's Note: This post was originally posted in November 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in September 2018. 

1. Lightweight fabrics

light curtains fabric
Keep everything light and bright. ©Pxhere

If your goal is to make your space look bigger, you'll want to avoid heavy fabrics. Whilst these work in spacious rooms, thick curtains will absorb light and weigh the room down, making it appear smaller.

Choose light-weight material around your living room, such as light linen curtains to help the room feel airy.

2. Striped floor

If you're daring, consider having a striped floor. This will make your room look longer than it really is - magic!

Go for black and white for a really striking effect.

3. Choose cool colours

We all know that white makes everything look bigger, but if you can't face up to such a cold, blank canvas, opt for light, soft colours.

Replace dark blues and greys with light greens and blues to brighten up your living room and make it instantly feel more spacious.

4. Be shelf-smart

living room shelves
Don't go overboard! ©Pxhere

It's tempting to stuff your shelves with everything from books to last month's shopping bags, but you should avoid filling up your living room shelves.

Leave some empty spaces to show the true depth of the room and create airy look. If you have lots of books you need to house, pick floor-to-ceiling bookcases as this will make your ceilings look higher.

5. Keep curtains & wall the same colour

Another clever method of making the most of your space is choosing the same colour for your curtains as you have your walls.

This way, the curtains will blend into the walls rather than intruding on the space available and making your living room look smaller.

6. Clean your windows

clean windows
They'll make everything look brighter!

Struggling to find the motivation to clean your windows? Bear in mind that they won't just look cleaner, they'll make the whole room look more spacious too.

Dirty windows can distract the eye and prevent light from coming in. Make sure the glass is clean, inside and out.

For a cheap option, fill a spray bottle with white vinegar, and dry using an old newspaper.

7. Pick monochromatic colours

When it comes to your furniture, soft furnishings, fittings, ornaments, curtains and carpets - pick different shades, tints and tones of a single hue.

Multi-colours might make the room look exciting, but they'll overwhelm a small space and ultimately, make it look smaller.

Monochromatic colours are easy on the eyes, so you'll be able to take in the whole room without being interrupted by contrasting colours.

8. Keep your floor visible

Have a clear floor as much as possible by choosing sofas and TV stands with legs. Your room will feel instantly more open as light will be able to flow underneath.

Glass coffee tables are also a great idea as the light will be filtered through to the floor.

9. Clear clutter

living room sofa
Keep the area tidy.

The first thing you should do when making any space look bigger is have a good clear out. Decluttering your living room will instantly make it look roomier. Plus, you'll have less to clean and less to worry about.

TOP TIP: A clutter basket is an easy way to do quick tidy ups every day and keep mess under control.

10. Paint dark to light, from low to high

If you're up for redecorating your living room, the best thing you can do to make it look more spacious is get painting.

If your floor is dark then paint your ceiling in a light shade. This will give the illusion of space as your eye will be drawn upwards.

11. Give your sofa some space

If you have the room, pull your sofa away from the wall slightly. It will create breathing room and make the space seem larger from the shadows created behind it.

12. Draw the eye to corners of the room

If possible, the largest and tallest pieces of furniture such as bookcases and tall floor standing lights should be placed in the corners of your room - this way your eye will find them easier to take in.

The same goes for paintings - hang them near to the corners of the room to draw the eye to the widest points of your space.

13. Mirror, mirror, on the wall

vintage mirror plant
It's amazing the difference they make!

Most people know that a mirror will make any space look larger, however, there are different ways to implement this strategy in your living room.

A large mirror is the best option for most homes, but they tend to be expensive. If you're on a budget, try grouping smaller mirrors together on a wall and paint the frames in the same colour to create uniformity.

If you have a skinny mirror in your bedroom, try turning it on its side and hang it in your living room.

14. Draw the eye to an accent piece

Choose a point the longest view away from the door and put an accent piece in it. Whether it's an unusual ornament or an interesting plant, your eye will be drawn to it and this will make your living room appear larger.

15. Multi-purpose furniture

If you've got a small living room then one of the problems is storage. In order to make your living room look bigger, you want to keep as much floor and wall space on view as possible.

The answer? Pick out dual-use furniture, such as an ottoman you can use as a storage space, seating and a table.

16. Wall lamps & bookshelves

Save floor and surface space by choosing a wall-mounted lamp, rather than floor or tables-standing.

You could also try mounted shelves instead of bookcases to give yourself more room underneath to utilise as storage space.

17. Rug decisions

living room rug
Enhance your space with a rug. ©WikiCommons

When you get a rug right, it can really enhance your space, but done wrong, it will look smaller than ever.

When rug shopping, choose a pattern with small repeats to encourage the eye to follow the pattern and make your living room look bigger. Create the appearance of having a larger living room by using different rugs underneath different pieces, such as a rug under your coffee table and another rug underneath an armchair.

18. Clever lighting

Our eyes are drawn towards the light - overhead lights will draw the eyes to the ceiling, whilst a corner standing lamp will emphasise the size of the room.

Arrange different lighting options round the room, such as lamps on the wall, candles and tiny table lamps.

19. Pick the right dining table

If your living room also acts as a dining room, be cautious when picking your table. Ideally, you want something that gives you the most space to use whilst taking up the least.

One with removable leaves, or drop leaves will give you the best of both worlds.

20. TV

living room tv unit
Elevate your TV to save on space ©Pxhere

If you've got a small living room, then consider mounting your television. This way you'll be able to free up floor space - a floating shelf placed just underneath is a great option for any television boxes or DVD players that need to be close by.

21. Long curtains, higher ceilings

Just because your windows aren't tall, it doesn't mean your curtains have to be. Mount the curtains near to the ceiling and have extra-long drapes. This will make the ceiling look higher, and the space appear bigger.

22. Remove the door

Fancy going open plan without the comittment of knocking walls down?

While this may seem drastic, removing the door to your living room will allow you more wall space to store items or hang photos. If you need to, hang a curtain across, which you can pull closed when needed.

23. Go retro

retro living room sofa
Retro tables are perfect for small spaces.

When choosing furniture, think about going retro. Vintage inspired appliances and furniture are often smaller in size and elevated on high legs, so will give you more floor space to work with.

Hope you've enjoyed these tips! If you've got a tip for those with small living rooms, let us know in the comments below...

Colleen B

Editor

Lifelong biscuit addict. Obsessed with recipes, cooking & eating. Slightly lazier than the average bear, so likes writing about life hacks & discovering the quickest / easiest way to do things.

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  1. Author Eluzabeth mc clay on November 9, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    This are wonderful but ... I have my grandchildren daily and weekends not a good combination light walls and furniture with kids around

    1. Author Colleen B on November 10, 2015 at 10:51 am

      Oh no! That's definitely not a good combination!

    Reply
  2. Author Patricia small on November 9, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Thanks for the tips im moving soon cant wait to try them out on in my new flat.

    1. Author Colleen B on November 10, 2015 at 9:26 am

      Thanks Patricia and enjoy your new flat!

    Reply
  3. Author Lorraine Bowen on November 9, 2015 at 6:40 pm

    These are great ideas for my small apartment. Thank you.

    1. Author Colleen B on November 10, 2015 at 9:25 am

      Hi Lorraine, thanks for your kind words!

    Reply
  4. Author Anna on January 13, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    where does that amazing multi purpose coffee table come from?

    1. Author Anna on May 15, 2017 at 3:36 pm

      Thanks.....such a shame they can't ship to the uk!

    2. Author Raveen Khailany on May 19, 2017 at 1:41 pm

      Hi Anna, You can try Dwell instead. They have similar coffee tables.

    Reply
  5. Author Alison MacDougall on January 13, 2017 at 2:38 pm

    Would you suggest two sofas either opposite each other or in an L-shape to give more space?

    1. Author Colleen B on March 2, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      Hi Alison, it completely depends on the room shape and the style of each. A L-shape can help to separate a room and create two areas whereas two sofas opposite each other might dominate a room.

    Reply
  6. Author Carol Holt on January 13, 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Good tips, may use some of them.

    1. Author Anushka F on January 16, 2017 at 10:52 am

      Thanks Carol!

    Reply
  7. Author Edward S Jures on January 15, 2017 at 1:30 pm

    We live in a bungalow doing the living room up this year, your tips are a big big help thank you.

    1. Author Anushka F on January 16, 2017 at 10:52 am

      Oh I'm really glad to hear that!

    Reply
  8. Author Tara on February 8, 2017 at 3:55 pm

    Great article. Have you for tips for a small bedroom?

    Reply
  9. Author Judy price on February 8, 2017 at 4:06 pm

    My favourite is no. 7 .i just love that colour !

    1. Author Anushka F on March 9, 2017 at 11:03 am

      It's lovely isn't it!

    Reply
  10. Author Katy on May 15, 2017 at 8:39 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I was looking for some advice as moving in to a flat in the next couple of weeks, so can't wait to give your advice a go!

    1. Author Stephanie C on May 16, 2017 at 4:46 pm

      Hi Katy. Moving into a new flat sounds very exciting - hope it goes well! Thanks for stopping by :)

    Reply
  11. Author Deb on December 2, 2017 at 5:43 pm

    Thank you, there was great ideas I'm going to try in my L shaped living area.

    1. Author Stephanie C on December 4, 2017 at 9:46 am

      Hi Deb. So glad you found our tips useful. Good luck with your living room! :)

    Reply
  12. Author Birchi on March 31, 2018 at 8:47 am

    A Dining table an essential part of furniture item of every home as people stay with food in home and it as a tool of comfort. Your article given an amazing idea to customers to select the best for themselves. so this is a great post for me and others to get the best item.

    Reply
  13. Author Ganesh Dasari on August 31, 2018 at 7:48 am

    Yeah, it is very difficult to fit in awesome living room furniture in smaller rooms and expect it spacious at the same time. You have shared very nice & lovely tips that will really help if implemented in a right way. Yes, I also agree with keeping Retro theme living room furniture in our interior for better looks. Thanks for the article.

    1. Author Joanne A on August 31, 2018 at 9:28 am

      You're welcome, Ganesh!

    Reply
  14. Author Casy on September 18, 2018 at 2:30 pm

    I like to have a spacious uncluttered enterance so you can walk in and not get stuck trying to come thru front door with all the groceries and shopping bags and such. I get so irritated coming into my home and having to wedge thru the front door. This way you come home and without shoving the like a defense player in a football game!! Also, giving yourself time when you plan to change your house around. I sit and strare at a certain spot I feel needs something and it will come! Not only the idea will come , but the actual thing I may have set my mind on getting!! Happens a lot. The law of attraction as they call it!

    1. Author Joanne A on September 18, 2018 at 2:58 pm

      Hi Casy! Love that analogy of it being like a football game. We agree that the law of attraction is a powerful thing.

    Reply
  15. Author amina on January 15, 2019 at 3:04 pm

    I have a small room with light walls and I would really like to put a navy blue sofa but I'm scared that will make the room look smaller any advise

    1. Author Joanne A on January 15, 2019 at 3:51 pm

      Hi Amina! You could certainly have a navy blue sofa if that's what you would like! Just be sure to maximize the look of your space by following the other tips in this blog post. Go for a sofa with legs that show some space underneath and try to pull it away from the wall, for example. The key is to draw the attention up to artwork or accent pieces too. Another option would be to have a neutral coloured sofa with a navy blue throw blanket or cushions. This will achieve a similar look without closing the space too much. Please do get back in touch if you have any questions.

    Reply
  16. Author Andrew Gallant on June 1, 2021 at 7:53 am

    Try using shiny mirrored furniture to make a bijou bedroom look bigger.

    1. Author Joanne A on September 22, 2022 at 11:28 am

      Lovely idea!

    Reply
  17. Author kimmy kervel on September 28, 2021 at 1:12 pm

    Thanks for sharing.

    1. Author Joanne A on January 11, 2022 at 5:45 pm

      You're welcome, Kimmy!

    Reply

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