10 Ways to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger

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Tiny Living Room

Dwelling in a small space?

Tiny living rooms don’t have to actually feel cramped and claustrophobic. Here are some solid tips to make your small living room feel and look bigger!


1. Choose lighter colors.

white living room with white walls beige couch soda with pillows and coffee table with decor

Light colors reflect light and make any space feel light and airy. It’s important when decorating a small space to make the bones of the room light and go for lighter colored furnishings and decor to keep things feeling spacious.

Hip Tip: Need the perfect neutral paint? Check out our 9 neutral paint colors that everyone loves!


2. Use stripes to your advantage.

black and white stripe rug in living room with large white sectional couch and red stool and bookshelves

Stripes that run the longest part of your floor gives the optical illusion that your space is longer and larger. Or go bold with vertical stripes on your walls. This will draw your eyes up and make your space feel bigger. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to use black and white to make an impact; even the subtlest of colors can make a big difference!

Hip Tip: Here are some of my favorite striped rugs:


3. Show off the legs.

pink tufted sofa on white plant wood floor with rug and window behind it

Choose furniture with legs so that it sits off the floor and gives you the illusion of more floor space.

Hip Tip: Here are some of my favorite sofas with legs:


4. Hang curtains high and wide.

side by side photos of pink and white curtains hanging over windows in living rooms

Windows are one attribute in a room that makes a room feel more open so it’s important to enhance them. To make your windows appear larger, hang long curtains higher than the window, close to the ceiling, and hang each panel on either side of the window as opposed to on top of it.

before and after of dark room with one window next to white room with curtains

Just look at what a difference some properly hung curtains can make in a small space! 😍


5. Get rid of clutter.

Small living room

Less is definitely more when it comes to tiny spaces. Small items that are populating will make a space seem cluttered and much smaller, take advantage of storage space for small items that don’t need to sit out and clean out the clutter!

Hip Tip: Declutter your home with these simple tricks.


6. Clear furniture for the win.

clear coffee table with silver candle sticks and pink vases and books

Using glass or clear acrylic furniture will create functional space, without looking like it’s actually taking up too much space.

Hip Tip: Check out some of my favorite translucent coffee tables:


7. Hang your lighting.

cat sleeping on beige sofa with blue and gray pillow and gold wall sconce on wall next to beach theme artwork

Hanging lights, whether it be a wall sconce or ceiling light, will free up valuable real estate on your floor.

Hip Tip: Here are some of my favorite wall sconces:


8. Use floor mirrors to your advantage.

before and after of living room with large floor mirror added to the space with leather brown couch sofa

Mirrors are known to make spaces feel bigger simply because they reflect whatever is in front of them. A large gorgeous floor mirror will make a statement in your room.

Hip Tip: Here are some floor mirrors I love:


9. Make use of your ceilings.

side by side photos of bright living room spaces hanging green plants and rattan chair from ceiling

Hanging plants and chairs not only free up floor space, but they also add a really fun element to your home. Both will also draw your eyes up and make your space seem taller.

Hip Tip: Here are some of my favorite hanging chairs:


10. Break the rules of tradition.

L-shaped gray sectional couch with pillows and throw with leather ottoman black frames and green plant

Who says you need to have certain furniture for it to be a living room? Just because most have a sofa, coffee table, accent chairs, side tables, etc, doesn’t mean your space is meant to have it all.

Style your space with what works and flows the best, and if that means you have a large ottoman for extra seating rather than a traditional coffee table, then just go with it!


How do you make a small space work for you?

Tell me in the comments!


Sara (sara@hip2behome.com) loves sharing decor that inspires people on a budget and finds joy in traveling to new places.  

You’re going to love these tried and true IKEA items!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


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