Moving into a new home or apartment is usually an exciting endeavor. This is true until stepping into the empty living room. Living room furnishing ideas start at this point. Style and comfortable has to be the most important concerns for any new homeowner or apartment dweller. This can be achieved without overspending or overcrowding.
There is good news. Great living room design isn’t all about filling space. It’s about solving a puzzle with some creativity. Smart furnishing ideas tailored to common pitfalls new homeowners and apartment dwellers face can make all the difference for problem-solving.
In the sections to follow, this post will aim to address some common issues when formulating living room furnishing ideas.
1. “My Living Room Is Too Small for Any Good Living Room Furnishing Ideas”
Common Resident Issue: Facing Limited Space.
The top three issues related to limited space are usually limited square footage, awkward layouts, or open-plan apartments (too wide open).
One common issue. The space is very cramped. That is, there is not enough square footage to build out a “dreamed up” design.
Or, the space has an awkward layout. A strangely designed living room can cut off access to some parts, and this typically causes interruption with the lines of the space.
Then there’s the open-plan apartment. This is a situation where the space is an “open” canvas. That means other living areas (kitchen, den, other rooms) interfere with design elements where walls normally define them.
Living Room Furnishing Ideas for a Small Space
A couch for small living room needs to be a scaled sofa, not a bulky one. Oversized sectionals can and will overwhelm small living rooms.
An apartment-sized sofa, slim-profile sectional with clean arms, or sofas with raised legs will create visual airiness. This will address a cramp space.
Using multifunctional furniture can cut through an awkward living room’s layout. For example, storage ottomans and nesting coffee tables can be place in oddly cut out spaces.
With the careful use of some multi use furniture, the weird areas of a living room can be mitigated for good clean lines.
What’s more, an open space needs to make sure good divider elements are in place. Instead of building a new wall, add in some mounted items to define the space.
Wall-mounted shelves can define where a kitchen ends and a living room begins.
2. “I Don’t Know Where to Start”
Dwellers Mental Block: Blank canvas paralysis.
Sometimes an empty room can seem like a desert landscape. When this happens to a dweller, the starting point can become convoluted.
It’s almost as if all the stating points are competing against each other.
Living Room Furnishing Ideas and Solutions to Break Paralysis
One great way to break the blank canvas paralysis is by starting with the largest piece first.
Living room décor usually centers around the sofa. Therefore, the paralysis can be broken once the right sofa is selected. How is this done?
Examine the following tips to find the right furnishing starting point:
- Assess the room’s size and determine how much sofa coverage is needed
- Examine natural light and factor in the angles
- Take stock of the current lifestyle. Pets? Kids? Guests?
Everything else should support the anchoring sofa. Then, the following simple furnishing formula may apply: Sofa + Coffee table + Accent chair (optional) + Lighting fixtures + TV = Basic Living Room Furnishings
3. “I Need Storage, But I Don’t Want It to Look Cluttered”
The Storage Conundrum: Limited closet space, visible mess.
This is one pain point for many home and apartment dwellers. The mentality surrounding this situation is usually the main culprit. A good organizational approach is key.
Storage Solution Design: Achieve Storage and Style
Closed storage items are the best friend and ideal solution to this situation. Furthermore, cabinets are a great option to add style.
Fixtures with doors will hide visual noise effectively. Also, media units with concealed compartments can serve a dual purpose.
When factoring in overall design style, a vertical storage approach works wonders. Tall bookcases maximize wall height, and apartments with high ceilings can achieve storage and drama in one swoop.
Another great idea is to use furniture with hidden compartments to pull off the “disappearing” trick.
Ottomans, benches with compartments, and even side tables all offer storage compartment options. All of these can be incorporated with style.
Intentionality is key when styling vertically.
Follow the rule of thirds:
- 1/3 books or “shelf items”
- 1/3 decorative items
- 1/3 empty space
This prevents visual overload and creates a small living furniture (minimized) feel.
4. “My Living Room Feels Cold or Impersonal”
Cold Feelings: New construction homes and rentals lack character.
Living area design is all about creating a nice, robust character. Unfortunately, most new homes and apartments these days lack features that have character.
Some well-formulated design ideas and approaches can solve this.
Design Solution: Build Character
The easiest way to start some character building in a living area is through lighting. This can be achieved with layered lighting. It is a critical move to avoid relying solely on overhead lighting, especially from a single point.
Add lighting in the only effective way to do so, with three layers:
- Floor lamps – shine across space
- Table lamps – cover a given area, such as part of a couch or a certain corner
- Wall sconces – can be low to mid-level – movable lights work wonders
Warm lighting will instantly soften a space. Also, a proper lighting setup will balance with other character-building items
Adding texture under the right lighting will have a compound character effect. Also, it should not just be based on color.
Incorporate texture with some of the following ideas:
- Throw blankets – two different colors can really mix up a living room’s feel
- Textured cushions – these can endure more use over time and create a visual change
- Woven baskets – one of the throws can be a woven blanket, this will be a real game changer
- Area rugs – allows color from the floor up while cutting living room traffic lines
Texture aims to create warmth without clutter. A good balance of these living room furnishing ideas can help reach that goal.
Furthermore, art can be used strategically. Large-scale artwork makes a bigger impact than many small pieces, but small pieces can be carefully incorporated to balance the room out.
In Closing for Living Room Furnishing Ideas
As a new homeowner or apartment dweller, the goal for a living room doesn’t need to be a setup that is social media-ready and staged. It will be quite the opposite. It needs to meet the living needs of the dwellers.
The living room furnishing ideas should focus on solving problems—storage, layout, lighting, and flexibility. Style can naturally follow once the typical problems are solved.
It does not matter if it’s a small space. Good furnishing ideas for a living room certainly still apply. The key to getting this done is breaking past any blank canvas anxiety and tackling the clutter fatigue.
Start from the most practical angle possible. Layer personality with lighting to build character, and edit ideas as the process grows. Never forget that a living room should evolve with the inhabitant and not cause overwhelm.
For more help with design tips or idea formulation, try this article on living room ideas or this post on living room decor ideas.