In the past year, people have slowly begun to realize the importance of a well-designed home. This led to the boom in home remodelling and renovation, where people looked to improve their homes to accommodate remote work and education. However, people live in different spaces of different sizes, and what might work for a two-story house won’t work for a small studio apartment. Whether you own one or the other, use these pointers to transform your living room and make your most lived-in space look and feel comfortable, no matter how big or small it is.
Establish Your Focal Point
When it comes to decorating small spaces, especially high-traffic ones like your living room, it’s best to take a strategic approach. Every room needs a focal point meant to tie the whole room together and make it look more appealing. This central element can be anything- furniture, artwork, a TV, a fireplace, or even windows and walls.
To make a small room look more spacious, however, you may want to consider playing around with lighter colours like white, off-white, and beige. This technique is especially effective if your room lets a lot of natural light in.
Don’t Stick to Conventional Design
Having a small space doesn’t mean sticking to design conventions. In fact, it means quite the opposite. While you may need to keep the foundations of design in mind, there are various ways to get creative with your space, whether through the layout or the use of creative pieces.
For instance, if your living space is long and narrow, consider leaving behind the traditional long sofa and placing them back-to-back. Not only will you have a more spacious-looking living room by allowing more seating space, but you can also have a unique room layout. Fortunately, you can find different sofas online that can cater to your space and style needs.
Draw Attention to Different Parts of the Room
While it may seem counterproductive to have different parts of your room draw attention when design traditions often call for a focal point, some spaces can make this technique work. This is done by placing different lights at different heights to bring your attention to different things, making them bigger and more interesting. Consider creating a gallery wall full of your favourite photos or artwork, adding differently-sized mirrors, or even bold accents. You can also use larger items like bookshelves to help balance out the different parts of the room.
Let Your Furniture Stand on Its Own
When it comes to maximizing the space of a room, people often think about pushing bigger pieces of furniture against walls to create a bigger space in the middle of the room. However, this has the opposite effect. A better technique to apply is floating your furniture, where you leave space behind certain pieces of furniture to make a room look wider than it is.
Bring the Cafe Home
Coffee tables aren’t the best places to have a meal. If you live alone or with one other person, you don’t necessarily need a large dining table to fulfil your needs. Some living spaces may not have extra space for a dining room, and if you’re a fan of cafes, why not bring it home with you? Consider a cafe-style seating arrangement by adding a decently sized round table with two chairs that allow you to have your meals in peace without taking up too much space.
Repurpose Your Furniture
Multi-purpose furniture is a great addition to smaller spaces, but they are often more expensive than regular furniture. If your budget doesn’t allow for these types of furniture, different items can serve another purpose in your home. For instance, a console table can quickly turn into a stylish desk with time and effort.
Embrace Natural Light
Natural light is one of the best light sources a home can have, and if you’re lucky to have a lot of natural light in your living room, don’t block it out by adding dark curtains. Instead, choose thinner and lighter curtains or blinds that can let sunlight in. This way, it makes your living area feel more airy and open rather than confined.
When you have limited space, you may also feel limited by what you can do to improve it. However, don’t allow this to stop you from making your space your own. Sometimes, keeping it simple and cosy is the best way to enhance your space, but keep in mind that simple doesn’t necessarily mean bland. Use these tips to your advantage and transform your small living space into a room you’ll love being in.
