By HIDAYAH SARUDIN hidayah@mystar.com.my
MANY small living room ideas aim to make the area look more spacious than it is. Such ideas can create the impression of a roomier space.
These ideas usually revolve around decorating the space in a way that maximises light and space, while keeping in mind the use of colours, scales and weight. Below are foolproof ideas on making the most space out of small living rooms!
- Bring in large mirrors
One of the most common small living room ideas is to hang large mirrors in the central location to create an illusion that enlarges the room. Designers often resort to this strategy in small spaces to make the room feel spacious.
To reflect the light and add a friendly atmosphere, place it behind a light source such as a candle or pendant lamp. If possible, put the mirror across from your window so that it reflects the view and illuminates the other window.
- Draw the eyes upward
Rooms have both vertical and horizontal dimensions. If your living room has a high ceiling, use the extra space by decorating it attractively to draw the attention upwards. Often, floor-to-ceiling curtains offer a stylish way to achieve this goal.
Another idea is to fill a vertical space with small to medium-sized furniture. This technique will make the room feel bigger than it is, as it invites the eyes to roam beyond the horizontal area of the place.
- Play with neutral colours
One of the most popular small living room ideas is the use of neutral colours on the walls, floors, ceilings and furniture upholstery. The white or beige palette will make the space seem larger.
Soft tones also tend to illuminate the room by reflecting light and give out an effect of instant sophistication besides creating a calming environment.
- Go for furniture with lightweight appearance
When buying furniture for small living room, pay attention to the visual weight. Choose lightweight furniture, as the bulky ones tend to make the space look small and cluttered.
- Get creative with storage spaces
Choose furniture with built-in storage to free up more space in your living room. Instead of being out in the open and cluttering the space, items such as books, toys and stationeries will be well-hidden.
Using wooden boards or storage box as a coffee table would also work well. You can try to use small chests or a small drawer instead of the console table to increase storage options.
- Fill a corner
It might not make sense, but if you have a small living room and significant furniture, sometimes going with the idea of filling the corner with the significant furniture will make the living room look bigger. Why?
Because it helps the room feel tidy and less cluttered.
- Try a backless sofa
Sometimes the best position for a sofa is not near the wall but instead, in the middle of the room unless your sofa is quite small. Having the sofa in the middle of the room can make the space look bigger.
Another alternative is the backless sofa and if you want to use it in a larger room someday, it can act as a divider between the two seats.
- Add green plants
Like wallpaper and mirrors, plants are great for increasing the depth of a small living room. Green grass that is stretched out to the corners can trick the eyes to perceive that there is more space than there really is. It is recommended to place the plants at corners or behind the chairs.
- Keep a stash of spare seats
It may not be possible to have as many seating as you want in a tiny space. Leaving the extra unused seats will clutter the small space.
One way to get around this setback is to store several folding chairs in the closet where you can pull them out when guests are coming over.
- Skip the sofa altogether
Who says living rooms must have a sofa? Well, try something new.
In a tight space, try to circle a few of armchairs around the coffee table. This will make your small living room look classy, bigger and cosy.
Sometimes, small spaces are not that bad. All you need to do is tweak here and there to create the illusion of a bigger space.
