Many people these days, or in any era really, find themselves living in small spaces. Living quarters with limited space makes designing a task that is tight as the space itself. Creating a near perfect living room layout for a small living room can be both exciting and challenging. Tossing in specific features and you’ll have even more constraints to consider.
In any case, there are plenty of ways to make your small living room layout both functional and stylish. Let’s explore some ideas and tips to help you make the most of your cozy living room.
Basic Ideas for a Small Living Room Layout
When looking for small living room layout ideas, there are three basic ways you can go about planning your room. You can go bare bones with a minimalist style, take a dual-purpose angle, or open up vertically.
Barebones: Going Minimalist
The first approach you can implement to make the most with a compact design for your living room layout is to scale down. This means you’ll take a minimalist approach. There are a few key design points you’ll need to keep in mind with this option.
Your furniture selections will need to be small or have a “slim” design. The best option will be loveseats. They offer seating for two while taking up less space. You may be able add in some armless chairs, but care must be taken to not over crowd the space. Table top space can be achieved with one small table end and a compact coffee table.
It is imperative that your selection for furniture stick to the slim style. A skinny fit living room will be the way to game the minimalist approach.
Finding Angles: Exploring the Duality of the Room
A highly effective approach for a small living room is to use multi-functional furniture. This approach allows some flexibility in terms of the design you want to achieve, and you don’t necessarily need to be concerned with crowding to a certain degree.
Let’s say you want your small living room to be designed with a TV living room layout feel. Start off by incorporating a slim TV cabinet. The aim will be to use a cabinet that has drawer features. This will boost your storage space. If you find one with fold out options, your space will gain table top versatility.
Round it all out by adding some storage ottomans. This will be your best friend when it comes to managing clutter, especially if you have children. Also, a coffee table with a lift top will help you make the most of space for storing books, keys, or any everyday items you would like to tuck way.
Draw Up Attention: Line up Vertically
The third basic approach it to build out vertically. This option will keep your eyes orientated towards the upper portion of the room. The plus side of this option is that it’ll give the room an open feel.
This approach will utilize the actual walls to build out the room. A couple of mounted shelves will give you some table top space for everyday items, but you can go with floating cabinets if you don’t want to make any alterations to your walls. It may be an apartment you’re renting, so plan these out as you see fit.
As for TV’s, you’ll need to implement a wall mount. It is highly advised to use an adjustable mount so you may move the TV to views that will best serve the room based on the specific needs. Top it all off with some well place mirrors. A few mirrors will automatically draw eye upwards, and this is what you’ll want when you set up tight seating areas.
Stepping up the Design Game for a Small Living Room Layout
Moving along, if you are looking to really step it up, designing a living room layout will involve more than just arranging furniture. You’ll want to create a space that reflects your style while meeting basic room needs. One the three approaches mentioned above will help you meet the basic needs, so here we’ll cover a few tips to step up you design.
When it comes to small apartment living room layout ideas, identifying the focal point of the room may present a minor road block. It’s important to note that the focal point will serve as the anchor for design. Take a careful look at your living room, and arrange your furniture around this focal point to create a cohesive and balanced look.
The focal point will lead in to how you consider the flow of the room and how people will move through the space. It will be best to establish clear pathways so furniture doesn’t obstruct movement. You can use area rugs to define different “zones” within the room. It can help a great deal with maintaining order. If you do not go with any rug selections, arrange the room based on the sizing of furniture to ensure the room stay tidy.
Now let’s shift to specific design orientated elements. You can add a personal touch to the space. Sofas can be fitted with throw pillows, and the choice of colors can be used to make your design statements. Warm colors, such as dark greens and browns, work well year around. But, you may use a more eccentric approach with pinks and bright greens. Add in artwork or plants to make the space feel inviting and comfy.
Another great design tip is to use light colors and mirrors to create the illusion of wider space. A light-colored accent wall and brighter color furniture can make a room feel open. Moreover, strategically placed mirrors can reflect light and give the impression of a larger area.
These few tips will open your mind to the variety of options you can use for your living room layout. A small space should not be a hinderance. Also, don’t forget to keep the layout simple and uncluttered to avoid overwhelming the space.
Building the Best Living Room Layout
Setting up the best living room layout is all about designing the space to fit your personal lifestyle and preferences. There should never be any impediment to this at all as long as you put in the effort. Whether you prefer a cozy and intimate space or an open-air feel, the key is to create a layout that best works for you.
You’ll want to begin by considering your intent with the room. Is entertain going to occur often? Is the space for watching TV? Or, is reading more important? These are just a couple of questions you can ask yourself to make a determination. Once define the rooms use, you can start planning your small living room layout ideas.
For example, you intended use may be to entertain and host. If this is the case, a sofa bed can provide seating during the day and a sleeping area for guests at night. You can really maximize the space by adding nesting tables so they can be tucked away while not in use when guests plan to stay over. Also, wall-mounted shelves and cabinets can help keep the floor space clear, making the room feel larger.
On the other hand, you may not want to host many guests at all. If this is the case, you most certainly want to work in some well build slim TV cabinets to max your storage space. Furthermore, your color selection can be limited to gray tones with very plain designs to maximize your savings when spending on home décor.
Most of all, don’t be afraid to experiment with different arrangements and setups until you find the one that just feels right. Remember, the best living room layout will always be the one that makes you feel comfortable and happy in your space.
Rounding Out on a Small Living Room Layout
Designing a great looking and functional living room layout involves a mix of creativity and practicality. There are plenty of ways to create a beautiful and functional living room when you are limited on space. The importance of fully assessing the entire space can not be stressed enough. It will generate the most benefit when due care is taken.
By considering your needs and experimenting with different arrangements, you can find the perfect layout for your home. Mix it up with color schemes, and take your space creating furniture to the maximum space it can give you. After all, it is your living room, so live the best life you can in that space.
For more similar ideas to get your space in order, check out this article covering narrow spaces. A few more different angles for good organization could never hurt.