10 Low-key Genius Ways to Decorate a Small Living Room

We’ve all been there (some of still), in that tiny apartment (trying to make the best out of a small living space). It can be super annoying, but somehow also strangely freeing because an apartment is an apartment. When you can afford you own living space no matter how small it is, you can’t help but feel happy and grateful!

As a resident in my own tiny apartment, I know what a pain it can be to decorate a small space. Figuring out where to put everything, and how to make it look good. The living room was particularly stressful for me. Figuring out what type of couch would fit and look good in my space. Finding things like coffee tables, rugs, curtains, art becomes twice as stressful when you gotta take into account space…

It can be a little overwhelming. But honestly you can totally make the process a lot more enjoyable if you look at interior decorating as a fun challenge. And the living room is definitely one of the more fun rooms to put together. This post is all about giving you some tips on how to put together a stylish living room when you have limited space and are on a budget.

10 Low-Key Genius Ways to Decorate a Small Living Room

1. Pick the Right Sofa

This tip is for if you are totally starting from scratch. You just moved into your small apartment and need a couch ASAP. You want a couch that is not going to totally swallow up all your space. In most cases you want to get a love seat style couch and if you need extra seating options then you can get a couple of side chairs (not the plush full armchairs, but the cool skinny-arm chairs that honestly look a lot more chic). If that is not a look you want to go for then sometimes you can get away with an L-shaped couch.

L-shaped sofa arrangements that work for a small living room:

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Most small apartments have an open plan so L-shaped sofas are a great way to demarcate a space as the living area to the other areas of the house.

Straight sofa and Armchair Arrangement:

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The love-seat style sofa and armchair arrangement makes a space feel more open and less crowded (than with the L-shaped couch arrangement) while still offering extra seating options as well. But the perfect armchairs that really achieve this effect are usually the thin-arm armchairs.

2. Rug size is Actually Important

So you’ve gotten the matter of the couches out of the way. The next big thing to look at when it comes to decorating a small living room space is your rug. A rug is a big part of your living room decor as we all know. A good rug will make your space feel bigger and cozier. Most of the time a great rug for a small space will have minimal print or pattern, will be light in color and should be at least as long as the length of you couch. You’ll know you’ve made a good choice when the front feet of all your chairs (as in all sofas and arm chairs) in the living room can comfortably have the rug under them.

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Obviously the the bigger the rug the pricier they can become but sometimes it’s totally worth it. A big rug (that covers the legs of your furniture) will totally make your space feel bigger and cozier.

3. Glass Coffee Tables are a Must-Have

When it comes to picking out a coffee table, some great options for a tiny living room are tables that either have a glass top or are completely glass/acrylic. There is something about a completely clear or a glass top table that makes it feel as if it is taking up less space. They also make a space feel that much move luxe.

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4. You NEED a Flexible TV Wall Mount

The type of tv mount you pick is super important if you’re hanging it up in a small space. You want a mount that is flexible and able to move around. Sometimes when you have a small living room, you gotta hang your TV in some pretty unconventional places so a flexible TV mount will help make things so much easier. And even if you do have a pretty conventional or regular setup then a flexible mount will help you adjust your TV angles so that you can watch at your desired height or angle. It’s just always awkward sometimes when your sofa feels too close to the television and there is nothing you can do about it.

5. Floor Length Curtains or Nothing

This goes without saying but curtains are such an important part of a living space. You want long floor length curtains that will add dimension to you space. Long curtains give off an elongating effect. They make your walls look taller and your ceilings seem higher which obviously cannot be a bad thing when it comes to small apartments.

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6. You Gotta Have Floating Shelves

Floating sheaves are a godsend when it comes to small Iiving rooms. If you don’t have the floor space to add actual shelves then floating shelves are a must. Obviously they are great if you need that little bit of extra storage space but honestly they are amazing for adding little bits of extra decor to your living room. Adding a few aesthetic bits and bops to your floating shelves will make your space feel cozier, more chic, more styled…

7. You Should be About That Plant Life

This might be a bit unconventional but plant life is actually quite amazing for small loving areas. Now it doesn’t matter if you’re actually a plant girly or not, a few potted plants here and there (doesn’t matter if they’re real or fake, honestly who’s gonna know anyways?) do a lot to bring life and energy to a space.

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8. Fairy Lights Are a Vibe

Fairy lights get so much hate because they can seem tacky in certain situations but in a small living room room situation, the right fairy lights can make the space seem warm and cozy or cool and bright depending on the aesthetic you are going for. You can install fairy lights and they will add a fun, cozy ambiance to a room for an affordable price.

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9. Nested Coffee Tables Are Actually Quite Cute

Aside from acrylic or glass coffee tables, another option to consider are those nested coffee tables. They seem cheesy in theory but they can totally be so cute as well depending on what you pick. They can be a total space save if you think about it. You just pull the mini table from the big one when you need more table space and then just return it when you are done.

10. Mirrors Will Make a Space Feel Bigger

This is a well known decorating hack but one I’ll still face about. When it comes to decorating small spaces, mirrors are a great way to make a room feel bigger than it is. Mirrors can be a part of your rooms decor with how stylish they have become nowadays. You could get some wall mounted mirrors, they’re always an interesting way to add dimension to a room without sacrificing floor space. Or you could get a big floor mirror, they give so much character to a room.

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All in all decorating a small apartment can be stressful but it doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. When it comes to decorating a small diving room in particular there are so many opportunities you can take to create a cozy livable space for yourself. This post explored a few of the tips and tricks that could really help you to decorate your living room in a cozy yet stylish way. But there are literally so many other little tricks you can apply. After all, interior decorating is about doing what works for you and for your space.

A few honorable decorating tips for you living-room:

1. Depending on your living needs, you could get the two in one coffee table, the one that doubles as storage once you lift up the top. It’s a great place to store extra magazines, books, snacks, loose cords that kind of thing. And if you’re really pressed for space, or just want to maximize on functionality then there are even some coffee tables that can double as desks so that you can expand your living room into a mini office.
2. If you have art that you want to hang up, the best place in a small living-room is right above the couch. This placement is aesthetic and cool and makes a space seem thought out and organized.
3. This goes without saying but decorating your space with light or neutral colors definitely plays a big part in making your living room feel spacious. Using a lot of dark colors in a smaller space would make it feel cluttered and claustrophobic.