5 mistakes to avoid in a small living room

Would you like your living room to be 50 percent larger than it is? It’s not easy to work in a small space. After all, decorating a small room requires big decisions about furniture, lighting, and color palettes, and often you may not end up making the right choices.

Enter our design experts. Below are all the common mistakes to avoid in a small living room and ways to make the space appear larger, brighter and more useful.

1. Overcrowding in the room

One of the biggest mistakes you can make in a small room is adding too much without leaving room to breathe. There may be many small living room furniture ideas that you want to implement in the space, but adding them all can hinder the flow of the room.

“Crowding a small space is a common mistake people make, so pay special attention to the space your furniture takes up,” says Nadia Watts, founder of Nadia Watts Interior Design. ‘Use fewer elements with greater impact to create flow. Keeping the furniture arrangement simple will allow your eyes to rest and you to relax. Less is more in a small space.’

2. Not choosing the right furniture

A small living room with curved furniture.

(Image credit: Oculis Project)

Speaking of living room furniture, it’s also important to choose the right size and shape of pieces, and maybe not in the way you might think.

“A small room does not necessarily equal small furniture,” says Nadia. ‘Less is more when it comes to small spaces. Resist the temptation to use too many small elements; Instead, choose large, high-quality pieces to make your small space appear larger and more sophisticated. Use round furniture to aid flow, try to avoid too many squares and rectangles and choose ovals and circles instead. Round edges create easier flow and visual softness. Avoiding hard edges makes your space feel more serene.

Additionally, to increase space and storage, consider a multifunctional design. “Use flexible seating, such as ottomans and benches hidden under a coffee table, or dining chairs that can double as lounge chairs when you have company,” says Nadia. Choose coffee tables that have storage within them. Or sofa beds that allow the room to serve many functions.’

“Less furniture and more built-ins will help make the room appear larger, maximizing extra space,” says Jane Lockhart, founder of Jane Lockhart Design.

round coffee table

Plank+Beam Classic Round Coffee Table

A white L-shaped sofa

Deseo 3-Piece L-Shaped Sofa

A round ottoman with storage.

Sonam Round Velvet Ottoman with Storage

3. Not paying attention to the proper lighting scheme

A small living room with many hanging lights.

(Image credit: ONI Studio. Design: Furora Studio)

A good lighting scheme for a small living room can be transformative, and small rooms also deserve layered and well-thought-out levels of lights and lamps. A well-lit living room will not only feel cozier, but it will also make the room appear larger. Think ceiling lights (or several, as seen in this project from Furora Studio), table lamps, and even pretty recessed shelf lighting.

“People tend to avoid adding adequate light in a small space,” says Jane. ‘Even if the space is small, lighting is still needed for different functions within the room. It’s good to have a bright light on the ceiling. It is also useful to have lamps. Various types of lighting serve different functions in the room.’

A small table lamp

Small Ribbed Glass Table Lamp

A long hanging lamp

CLAXY modern pendant lamps

a light bar

LED lights under cabinets and shelves

4. Only opt for light and bright colors

A small living room with walls in dark and yellow tones.

(Image credit: sdelaemremont)

Designers agree that your living room color scheme should be a personal choice, but most people think that small spaces can only have very light wall colors. But in reality, this room can be as dark and moody as you want, depending on the aesthetic you want to create and the different uses you want to give it.

“Color in small spaces is a hotly debated topic: dark versus light, high contrast versus low, bold versus neutral,” says Nadia. ‘My advice is to choose something you absolutely like. Whatever color you choose will envelop you and that color will dictate the rest of the design, so choose a shade that brings you joy.’

“Also, use color and finish on the ceiling in your small space,” adds Nadia. ‘Paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls to make the ceiling appear higher. Or keep it consistent by painting the ceiling the same color as the walls. Avoiding visual interruptions from color changes will help your space feel larger and airier.

a dark yellow

dark blue paint

A dark green palette

shelving

(Image credit: Nune)

“If you have few square meters, take advantage of the vertical space,” suggests Nadia. “Hang curtains high, add tall built-in storage and floating shelves.”

If you’re redesigning a modern living room, consider a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit that offers storage and doubles as a display unit for your collectibles. You can also opt for hidden storage on the walls, so that your room looks tidy.

1. Overcrowding in the room

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