40 Space-Saving Small Living Room Ideas | Wayfair (2024)

Storage space can be a valuable commodity in a small living room, but storage furniture can be bulky and difficult to place. Functional furniture with hidden storage is the perfect solution to this issue. Look for lift-top coffee tables, storage ottomans, or storage sofas with inner compartments or side pockets.

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If you have limited space throughout your home – not just in the living room – comfortably accommodating overnight guests can be a challenge. Think ahead and opt for a convertible sofa that can double as a bed if need be. Whether it is a futon, a sofa bed, a convertible sofa, or a convertible chair, a couch that can turn into a bed at a moment's notice is always a great piece to have around.

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If additional storage furniture is a necessity for you, think of vertical decor for small living rooms. Tall, narrow storage units – like blanket ladders, leaning shelves, or corner shelves – take up a minimal amount of floor space while maximizing vertical storage.

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Instead of a conventional end table, go with a set of nesting end tables. Not only are they stylish and unique, but they are amazing space-savers. With these, you don't have to worry about how to design a small living room, simply spread them out when you need more surface area and tuck them into each other when you don't.

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Mirrors are some of the best tools for making a small living room space look and feel larger and brighter. Full-length mirrors can act as illusory doors while windowpane wall mirrors can act as illusory windows. Mirrored furniture – especially bulky furniture – is a wonderful alternative to solid furniture that might look and feel heavy in your space.

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The best way to keep a space from feeling dark and cramped is to embrace light colors on the walls and floors. This will help make a compact living room design appear and feel brighter and more spacious. Look for light-colored or white low-pile rugs, throws, and floor pillows.

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Wall shelves aren’t just for decorating – they’re also for storage. Choose a wall shelf with many compartments like the one above to store your accents, books, or other small items that need a home out of the way in your small living room. Choose a shelf with a color and finish that fits your aesthetic.

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One of the best small living room ideas that optimizes space and storage is an accent cabinet. These pieces double as space-savers and another stylish addition to your room since they offer both storage and design. Hide belongings inside the cabinet and use the flat surface of the top to display pictures of your family or accent pieces for extra decoration.

Bookcases may seem like bulky items to have in a small living room, but they can actually help conserve space by organizing your belongings vertically. Style books, bookends, picture frames, vases, baskets, and more to create a cohesive look in your space and remove clutter from your end tables.

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TV stands offer a lot for small living rooms. Not only do they allow you to place your TV safely on a sturdy surface, but they also contain cabinet and shelf space for items such as movies, game-player consoles, and decorative objects. With their cabinet drawers, you can easily hide away items that could be an eye-sore in your living room while organizing your items at the same time.

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Utility carts are unique small living room ideas that pack a lot of purpose and functionality in one portable piece. Use the tiers of the cart to house items such as books, remotes, or other small objects that you want to travel with you from room to room. Not only do utility carts save space with their smaller size, but their wheels also give you the option to easily move the cart out of the way or to another location.

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Room dividers may not seem like an obvious small living room idea, but they’re more useful for conserving space than you think. Room dividers help to break a room in two, which can be very beneficial for open-concept or studio spaces, as well as in smaller living rooms to tuck bulky items out of sight. Plus, some room dividers contain storage options such as shelves so you can have another location to keep some of your smaller items.

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Stay comfortable in your living room without consuming too much space thanks to a loveseat. Loveseat sofas offer plush seating for you and your guests without being as bulky as a sectional or a large couch.

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Lighting is essential to any living room, so free up your tables and floors by substituting lamps for wall lighting. Wall lighting mounts to your living room walls to be out of the way while still serving its purpose with brightening up your living room area.

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Create the illusion that your small living room is larger than it is with blinds instead of curtains. Freeing up the sides of your windows gives the impression that your room is a light and airy space, since the sunshine is able to seep through more easily instead of being blocked by your drapes. To really maximize your illusion, choose a lighter shade of blinds, since dark shades can appear heavy.

Utilize your vertical space without compromising on decor with accent shelves. Keep your floor and furniture as clutter-free as possible with accent shelves you can place as high as you need to optimize your walls and organize capabilities.

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Nobody puts sofas in the corner… unless you’re working with a smaller space. Open up your floor and create a larger visual effect by placing your sofa in the corner. The perfect sofa to choose for this method is a small sofa and chaise. These mini sectionals are great decor for small living rooms because they can fit in the corner perfectly to save space and provide a comfortable place to relax.

One of the best small living room ideas you can opt for is drawing attention to your eclectic collection of wall decor. Showcase your aesthetic and personality with statement pieces such as vibrant wall decor or art that starts up conversation. Place your art high on the walls to draw the eye up and make your room seem bigger.

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Ditch the paint and plaster decorative wallpaper on one living room wall to liven your area and make an eye-catching statement. Compliment your room’s colors and aesthetic with a matching pattern that creates the illusion that your room is bigger than it is.

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Does your living room double up as a guest bedroom? If so, add a daybed to your small living room ideas. It is a fantastic substitute for a sofa that can serve double duty as a place to entertain during the day and sleep at night. Daybeds are a lot smaller than a traditional bed, which means living room space won’t be compromised and your guests will have a place to sleep when night comes.

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The right area rug can define the seating area and open up the space. Make sure to measure the dimensions of the seating area and record the measurements so you can refer back to them while shopping. As a rule of thumb, it's best to choose a rug that's large enough for the front two legs of your sofa and chairs to sit on. To make your tiny living room design appear even larger, opt for a light area rug for a bright foundation.

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If your space is lacking in storage and seating, ottomans are an excellent addition to small living rooms. Storage ottomans feature a hollow interior where you can keep all of your living room essentials. They add the perfect spot to store extra throw blankets, TV accessories, or books. Plus, you can arrange the ottomans to add seating for friends and family.

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Remember to add mirrors to your small living room decorating ideas. They reflect natural light and make your space appear larger, they're the perfect addition to a gallery wall. Add a small wall mirror in a similar size to the picture frames for a subtle shine, or choose a large wall mirror to star as the focal point of your gallery wall.

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Picture ledges are an excellent spot to show off your art collection and elevate your small living room at the same time! Even better, picture ledges allow you to easily swap out your decor as often as you'd like. Simply top the ledge with your favorite framed prints, plants, or decor, and you're all set!

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To improve the flow of your living room, look for furniture pieces with rounded edges. Not only do rounded silhouettes soften the room, they also help you maximize small spaces. Curved edges take up less space than sharp angles and can make your living room feel larger than it is. Opt for a coffee table with curved edges or a pair of round ottomans to boost the flow.

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A cohesive color palette can make a small living room feel more harmonious. One easy way to create a color palette is to choose a few colors and use different shades of that color. Start with a base of neutral tones and incorporate shades like soothing blues or warm yellows to establish an inviting ambience. In the photo above, we love how the blue settee and blue accent chair pair with the yellow lamp and mustard yellow throw pillows.

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Tall ceilings often make a room feel spacious, so try furnishing your space with low-profile furniture. Low-profile furniture sits closer to the ground and takes up less vertical space, which makes it a popular trick for making your ceilings appear taller. Go for a low-slung loveseat to ground the space, and pair it with a coffee table in a similar height.

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A small living room idea we love is using a variety of patterns. While patterns can sometimes make a space feel too cluttered, small living rooms are the perfect opportunity to pile on cozy prints. To avoid clashing patterns, look for a similar motif in different sizes. For example, the small floral pattern of the wallpaper pairs well with the large floral pattern of the rug in the photo above.

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If your decorating style leans toward minimalism, a "less is more" approach can make your small living room feel clean and bright. Focus on streamlined furniture and pared-down decor to eliminate both physical and visual clutter. Clean lines and a minimal color palette ensure your space feels calm and cool.

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Large furniture can overwhelm a small space and make it feel even smaller. Instead, look for furniture that is proportional to the size of the room. Scale-down large pieces like sofas in favor of small accent chairs for more seating. For an extra spacious feel, look for furniture with cut-outs or in light upholstery, which can help brighten the room.

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Just because your space is small doesn't mean your decor has to be! Add large or oversized wall art to your decor for small living rooms as it can give your space a grand feeling. Try hanging an oversized piece of wall art for a modern gallery-like appeal, or lean an oversized piece of wall decor behind your sofa to add the right amount of laid-back boho style.

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With limited space, it's important to choose seating that can accommodate plenty of people. Pick furniture that provides flexible seating that you can move easily. Opt for armchairs you can rearrange for a cozy night at home or an evening spent entertaining. Tuck an ottoman or pouf beneath the coffee table that you can pull it out to kick your feet up or to add an extra seat at a gathering.

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Add double-duty storage to your small living room with a tall shelf. Similar to a room divider, you can use a tall shelf to create separate zones in your living room (like a seating area and a home office) and add extra storage space at the same time! Top the shelves with baskets to organize items and conceal any clutter.

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Create a super cozy living room with an electric fireplace. To maximize your living room storage, choose a fireplace with built-in storage for even more functionality. A combination of shelves and cabinets provide plenty of room to store books or show off decor while the fireplace adds the perfect ambience. If you're tight on space, opt for a fireplace that is designed to fit neatly in a corner.

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Floating TV stands are an excellent option to add to your list of small living room ideas, especially if you want to conserve floor space. These wall-mounted TV stands keep all of your cable boxes and streaming devices stored away and the floor beneath free from tangled cables. Plus, the minimal design adds a stylish touch to your living room aesthetic.

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Another easy way to make your small space seem larger is to pick see-through pieces. Glass coffee tables or console tables provide the surface space you need with a transparent silhouette that doesn't disrupt the sight lines. Look for a small console table with a thin metal frame and a glass top for a streamlined look, or pick a barely-there glass coffee table to complete your seating area.

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Make a small living room feel lighter and more spacious by hanging your curtains higher than you might normally hang them. This allows more natural light in while making the windows appear larger than they are. Simply hang the curtain rod between 4" and 8" above the top of the window frame.

When decorating a small living room, simple light fixtures can help you avoid clutter overhead. A fixture that is too large can overwhelm the space and distract from other focal points, such as your artwork or sofa. Instead, look for a light fixture that feels open and minimal. Stick with a sleek candle-style chandelier to update a classic silhouette, or try a pendant light with a geometric metal frame for some modern flair.

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Storage is a key element when finding furniture for small spaces. Because cube storage comes in a variety of sizes, it's easy to add the right amount of storage to suit your needs. Pick a cube storage unit with nine cubbies to make space for all of your books or board games, or stick with a simple cube to stash your favorite titles.

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Whether you're studying or working from home, a wall-mounted desk can add an extra workspace to your living room. Floating desks are securely attached to the wall and can fold up to save space when not in use. The compact size and foldable design make them ideal for small living rooms.

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