Many folks these days are hard pressed for the amount of space in a home. Many apartments and homes are being built with smaller spaces and living quarters. Because of this, the approach to small living room arrangements is that much more important to maximize space utility. It may be a first home, the only space planned to ever be lived in, or a final home for a space downgrade. In any of these cases, the arrangement strategy should be done with due care to make the most of the living room. This post will aim to provide some insight on dealing with a small living room and applicable arrangements.
Defining a Small Living Room by Dimension
A small living room can be considered any living room space that is comprised of 250 square feet or less. To visualize this space a comparison, it’s an area that may accommodate roughly 2 to 4 people. That means that the furniture options and arrangements may be limited.
As the space moves to less than 250 square feet, the arrangements will become more challenging. Smaller dimensions will mean that furniture selections will be limited to what can fit in the space while still allowing for people to comfortably enjoy the living area.
Now, let’s dive into the particulars based on actual space.
Small Living Room Arrangements at 250 Square Feet
A living room space of about 250 square feet can still be utilized in an effective manner. The area can be established as a small sitting room arrangement with the use of some dual-purpose furniture pieces and strategic placement of furniture.
The first option that may be used is a chair-table. A chair-table is a furniture piece that can serve as a chair or a table, interchangeably, and it’s an item that can be used via a collapsible backrest. When the chair option’s not in use, the backrest can be either hinged down or taken off for the bottom half to be used as a table.
The next item that can be factored in is a monk bench. This may be an item that’s not too commonly known, but it is an effective item to make a small space versatile. With limited space, a foldable monk bench would be the most ideal option. These tend to be small in design and can be folded down to be moved out of the way to allow for more space in the living room
With these two items in mind, small living room arrangement ideas for a sitting room can now be effectively strategized to accommodate hosting needs. Both the chair-table and folding monk bench can be taken out when guests are over. When the hosting is done, the two pieces can be folded or broken down to be stored elsewhere or placed in a different part of the living room for its alternate use.
Small Living Room Arrangements at 150 Square Feet
Moving along, there are some living rooms that are 150 square feet or maybe even less. For these instances, using small living room arrangements with a TV as the focal point will be pretty much the only option. Although, a space can be arranged without a TV if that’s preferred option, but the TV will be used as the focal point for the sake of this approach.
It can be safely said that 150 square feet is a limited amount of space; therefore, the first step will be to find the right placement of the TV. Windows tend to make the space feel more open, so the TV should be set on or near a wall that is next to the wall with the window.
Once the TV positioning has been determined, the space will be best served with roughly three more pieces of furniture. In this case, multi-use furniture will be HIGHLY advised. One great option is a love seat with a built-in reclining seat, if one can be found. This can be paired with an ottoman that has a storage compartment. The last item could be a small, round coffee table with a second tier for additional storage.
With this build out, the space can be enjoyed with a nice 43-inch TV and a cup of coffee or tea in tote. The coffee table option will give way as a place to rest you drink or small plate while enjoying a show or movie.
A space this small will need a great deal of creativity to build out, so more inspiration can be found in this post on living room arrangement ideas.
Some Key Consideration for Small Living Room Arrangement Ideas
The process for brainstorming a living room furniture arrangement should be done in an abstract manner. Look at the entire space to see how furniture items can be nestled in various spots. The large pieces, such as sofas or couches, take priority placement.
Smaller seating options, such as chairs, can be held out last. This way some proper storage can be planned out which will make the space tidier and more livable.
And, if a TV has to be the focal point, the choice of furniture items should be made with greater scrutiny. A small space will come with the tradeoff of what can actually be used in a functional manner. Also, this article can help with setting the TV as a focal point.
Closing Thoughts for Small Living Rooms
Sofa arrangement in small living rooms may be a challenge at times, but the creative mind can make a tight space very usable and enjoyable. All it takes to finding success with small living room arrangements is a well-positioned intent on how to use the space. If the intent is to entertain, the multi-purpose furniture items will work best. If the goal is to simply get by with the limited space, a TV as the focal point is most-likely going to be the best option. No matter what the situation, the most important thing is to enjoy the living room arrangement.