Small living rooms can be a challenge to decorate. You want to make the most of the space you have, but you don’t want it to feel cramped or cluttered. Thankfully, there are a number of home staging tips and tricks that can be used to help give the illusion of a larger and brighter space.
#1 Use Light Paint Colors
Dark paint colors tend to make a room feel darker and smaller. While light paint colors can’t open up a space that is actually quite small, they will help give the illusion of space by making it as bright as possible. An important tip is to use white or off-white paint on large surfaces such as ceilings since they tend to make the ceiling appear higher and more spacious.
#2 Use Tall Focal Points
Tall focal points such as tall plants, coffee tables or vases filled with tall flowers, and tall lamps will help draw attention upward and give the impression of a room that is taller than it actually is. Keep in mind that this only works if the focal points are tall and large enough to make an impression.
#3 Lose The Clutter
One of the most important ways to ensure your small living room looks as big as possible is by getting rid of unnecessary clutter. Cramp shelves, filled-up coffee tables, overly-packed T.V. stands and more will make your room look congested and small. Make sure to have a place for everything in your small living room, and get rid of anything that doesn’t have a permanent home.
#4 Avoid Distractions
The more things you have going on in a room, the smaller it will look. For example, if you have several pieces of furniture next to the walls and a single piece of furniture in the center of your room, it will make your room look cramped and crowded since there is very little space left to breathe.
#5 Furniture Arrangement
Don’t place all of your furniture at the walls or up against them. If you have a small living room with minimal space around its perimeter, it is important to leave some space between the furniture and the walls. Furniture that is placed far away from the walls naturally creates an airy feel for a room.
#6 Avoid Heavy Fabrics
While heavy fabrics are perfect for making rooms seem cozy, they can have the opposite effect on small living rooms where it is important to get the best impression possible. Heavy fabrics will make a room feel dark and smaller. If you do decide to use these types of fabrics in your small living room, opt for lighter patterns rather than darker ones. This would apply to window treatments, furniture, pillows, blankets and area rugs.
#7 Make Use of Smart Storage Spaces
If you’re looking for ways to make the most of the space you have, be sure to utilize all storage spaces available. Be creative with shelving and cabinets. Large baskets under coffee tables can serve as useful hidden storage space. Pull-out drawers under couches, side tables with drawers and more can be used to store unsightly, but necessary items such as remotes.
#8 Use Mirrors for the Illusion of Space
Mirrors are one of the best home staging tips because they can be used to make any space look bigger and brighter by reflecting light. Placing a mirror behind furniture is often effective in doing this since it will reflect bright lights that shine into dark corners to brighten the entire room.
#9 Embrace Multi-Purpose Furniture
While it’s great to have plenty of seating, desks and more in your small living room, having furniture that does double duty is an excellent way to save space. For example, if you like to host guests, make sure your couch is also comfortable enough to serve as a bed when necessary. Instead of having two side tables for the T.V., opt for a wall-mounted unit that holds your cable box and gaming system.
#10 Ensure there is Plenty of Light
The more light your small living room receives, the more spacious it will appear. Having plenty of windows is an obvious way to achieve this goal; however, creating soft natural lighting can also be done by hanging up lamps that are designed with lampshades or material that diffuses bright lights into more subtle ones.
A proper home staging ensures the quick sale of a house. These home staging tips should help you get started thinking about how to make the most of your space and create a more spacious feel for your small living room so that potential homebuyers fall in love with your home. With a few simple touches and minor tweaks, your dark and cramped living room can be easily transformed into a light, airy space with plenty of breathing room.
