Category: Ideas by Room

If you’re like most people, the living room is probably where you spend the vast majority of your time. The only close contender is the bedroom (after all, we spend one-third of our lives sleeping!).

So why are stylish yet functional small living room ideas seemingly so hard to come by? One reason could be that the right design can make you overlook the fact that the room is small in the first place. It’s all an illusion.

Keep reading for tiny living room styling tips that will leave guests (and yourself) in awe of the space as a whole — not its physical size.

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1. Maximize Your Apartment Living Room’s Space

Search the home design world for advice about any small space and you’re sure to find suggestions like “knock down a wall” or “install floor-to-ceiling windows.” But these suggestions are of little use to renters (and anyone on a tight budget).

Not only do many apartments feature tiny living rooms but it’s also quite common for the space to double as a dining room, entryway, or even a master bedroom.

Do whatever you can to keep your small living room as bright and airy as possible. Most apartments feature white walls — if your apartment doesn’t, check your lease for painting guidelines. Use a light color palette throughout your decor.

2. Create a Cozy, Boho-Chic Small Living Room

Boho decor boasts a super-casual aesthetic that is surprisingly well suited to a small living room. And the bright, neutral color palette most common in Bohemian design is ideal for making any space feel larger.

There’s no need to worry about balancing a formal layout with the limited square footage. Bohemian living room furniture can take the form of a sofa, floor pouf, hammock, or daybed.

Try to adopt a strategy of controlled chaos in your Boho decor. While this style features a loose, maximalist approach to room design, you don’t want to crowd your tiny living area with too much clutter.

3. Stylish Contemporary Designs for Compact Spaces

Contemporary interior design tends to favor open-concept floor plans. But don’t let that scare you away from including some of the latest trends in your small living room.

Materials like polished stone and metal are very trendy in contemporary decor. These materials might overwhelm a tiny space in large quantities but work extremely well when used as accent decor.

Take advantage of the room’s vertical space with sleek window treatments, accent walls, and interesting light fixtures. These elements will add visual intrigue without taking up any extra floor space.

4. Charming Country and Cottage Decor

Minimal floor space and low ceilings aren’t a problem in cottage decor as long as you know how to give the room a warm and inviting atmosphere. In fact, this architectural style is largely defined by its use of tight, closed-off spaces.

White wall paint will make your small living room appear brighter and more spacious than it really is. Rather than plain drywall, though, consider covering your living room walls with shiplap, stucco, or a brick overlay.

A touch of clutter here and there won’t interfere with the cottage aesthetic. But it’s important to ensure everything in your living room has a place to call home (in other words, clutter with a purpose).

5. Farmhouse Style Ideas for Tiny Living Areas

Farmhouse decor is one of the largest design movements in recent memory. Yet we tend to see this trend adapted to open-concept spaces rather than the tight quarters typically found in historic farmhouses.

Neutral colors are integral to the farmhouse look. Be sure to add texture to the space with natural materials like reclaimed wood, wicker, burlap, and cast iron.

We can definitely learn a thing or two from the modern farmhouse aesthetic. In particular, taking a minimalist approach to wall decor and accent furniture will prevent your tiny living room from becoming overcrowded.

6. Industrial Vibes in Limited Living Room Space

Since industrial decor is inspired by 20th-century warehouses and factories, it’s hard to separate the trend from wide-open architecture. But what if you could use the industrial aesthetic to trick people into thinking your living room is bigger than it is?

The structured furniture and decor often seen in industrial design are perfect for bringing dimension to a room that doesn’t have much space to offer. Be sure to select pieces that are both angular and extremely simple.

You can also borrow industrial decor’s emphasis on decoration that serves a purpose. Swap out your existing ceiling fixture for a unique pendant light. Or invest in a coffee table that converts into a dining table or work desk.

7. Sleek Minimalist Designs

Don’t be ashamed if your solution to decorating a small living room is to keep things as minimal as possible. Yet what we often define as minimalist decor is instead just boring.

Yes, minimalist decor is simple. It is not, however, dull or uninspired. The secret to minimalist design is to curate items that have the greatest impact while taking up the least amount of visual and physical space.

Your living room should be made up (almost) entirely of functional items. The more useful the better — for example, select furniture with built-in storage compartments. If you can remove an item without impacting the space as a whole, you don’t need it!

8. Modern Living Room Ideas for Small Spaces

No, modern and minimalist are not synonyms. While these two trends do overlap, modern design ideas offer more room for creativity and self-expression.

Every modern room design starts off with the same base. Pick out a simple color scheme that offers opportunities for contrast. White, black, and grey are extremely popular wall colors in modern design.

Despite the nondescript name, modern decor is actually well-defined by history. If you need inspiration when picking out new living room furniture or artwork, reference examples of mid-century modern designers and their most famous work!

9. RV Living: Compact and Functional Room Designs

Designing a small living room is one thing. Adapting those same principles to an RV or trailer camper is another challenge altogether.

Even more so than in a traditional home, creating a thoughtful RV living room is largely about defining the space without interior walls. Seemingly simple details like an area rug or the direction your sofa faces can play a huge role in this task.

Multi-purpose furniture is an excellent investment. Keep an eye out for a stylish sleeper sofa or convertible coffee table for your RV living space. Avoid blocking the windows of your RV with oversized living room furniture — you need all of the natural light you can get!

10. Rustic Touches for Cozy Small Living Rooms

When you think of rustic design, what comes to mind? Is it a Northwoods cabin? A midwest farmhouse? Or maybe a French Country estate? Well, all of these answers are correct!

The sheer breadth of rustic decor means that nearly anyone can find inspiration in the trend. But it’s important to narrow down your goal aesthetic before jumping into the design process.

Invest in compact versions of your favorite rustic furniture to outfit your tiny living room. As long as you account for the scale of your living room design, you can still incorporate classic pieces like a live-edge coffee table or fur rug without taking up too much floor space.

11. Scandinavian Style: Bright and Airy Small Spaces

It’s easy to recognize the modern influence within the Scandinavian design movement. But Scandinavian decor’s emphasis on organic shapes and textures can add charm to even the smallest living rooms.

Along with elements made of materials like wood, stone, and dried grass, Scandinavian decor is mostly defined by its use of very bright light. Natural lighting is always best but you can also supplement your tiny living room design with various fixtures.

Although Scandinavian spaces are very practical, they achieve this quality without sacrificing comfort. Your finished living room design should not be cold and sterile but warm and inviting.

12. Fitting a Christmas Tree in a Small Living Room

To place a Christmas tree in a small living room, choose a slim or half-tree design to save space.

Position the tree in a corner or beside furniture where it won’t obstruct movement. If floor space is minimal, consider a tabletop tree or a wall-mounted flat tree.

Opt for a tree with a smaller base or use a tree skirt to conceal a larger base, making the tree appear less bulky.

Finally, rearrange furniture temporarily if necessary to accommodate the tree while maintaining a comfortable and accessible living area.

13. Create a Multi-Purpose Small Space Living Room

When your entire house is tight on space, how do you design a living room that meets its full potential without impeding the rest of your home’s interior?

Multi-use spaces are incredibly common in modern-day homes. There’s a good chance your living room also doubles as an office, playroom, or family dining area.

Rather than treat all of these functions as separate elements, it’s important to choose furniture and decor that meets your entire list of needs.

If your small living room connects to other areas in your home, be sure to step back and look at the big picture. Using a single color palette throughout your home’s adjoining rooms will give the illusion of greater square footage.

14. Choose the Right Sofa for Small Spaces

No matter the room, shoving the largest furniture possible into a small space is never the best approach. And when it comes to small living room ideas, the sofa is the most frequent culprit.

Few households need as much seating as an extra-long sofa or sectional provides. In many cases, a loveseat offers the perfect amount of room to kick back and relax without eating up a ton of floor space.

Of course, many furniture pieces bring more to the table than meets the eye. Look for a compact sofa featuring a chaise lounge extension or reclining seats for maximum comfort.

15. Studio Apartment Living Room

Empty studio apartments can look and feel deceptively large. Once you get some furniture inside, however, it quickly becomes clear how challenging designing — not to mention living in — such a small space can be.

Studio apartments are, by their nature, one undivided space. But you can use furniture in place of an interior wall to differentiate your living area from the rest of your apartment.

Speaking of creating a dedicated living area, you’ll need to decide if your apartment will have one at all. If not, you’ll want to invest in furniture and decor suitable for a bedroom, dining, or office as well (such as a daybed instead of a traditional sofa).

For almost a century, open floor plans were the be-all-end-all of contemporary homeownership. While much of society is returning to smaller, more private living spaces, these vast layouts certainly aren’t going anywhere!

Home design magazines and HGTV can make an open-concept space seem like the secret to decorating on “easy mode.” Once you actually begin curating your home’s furniture and decor, however, it becomes clear that the opposite is true.

Before you take a sledgehammer to your interior walls, check out these open floor plan ideas to ensure you’re setting out on the right track.

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1. Maximizing Space and Style in Open Floor Plans

Open floor plans are incredibly popular in newer apartment buildings. After all, there’s no better way to make limited square footage appear bright and roomy.

Decor like room-dividing curtains or screens can split up an open-concept floor plan. But this can have the unintended effect of making your apartment feel smaller than it is.

Maintain a similar color scheme throughout your apartment for visual harmony. Arrange furniture in clumps — as if there are interior walls — to create separate living areas. You can also use area rugs to define sections of your apartment.

2. Optimizing Open Floor Plans for Basements

Open floor plans are the standard for contemporary finished basements. This is especially true if your basement serves as a casual family room, rec room, or home bar area.

There tends to be little issue with using fewer walls in a basement remodel and letting the entire space flow together as one. Using an open layout in a basement tends to reap all of the benefits with few (if any) of the drawbacks.

An open-concept basement can help distract from common concerns like low ceilings or lack of natural light. Still, it doesn’t hurt to set aside one or two small spaces for a closed laundry room or private office.

3. Balancing Scale and Style in Open Floor Design

One of the key factors in interior design is scale. Open floor plans tend to need larger, more dramatic decor elements to balance out the sheer size of the space. This applies to furniture as well as details like light fixtures, artwork, and window treatments.

You can still break up the space without walls. Something as simple as the direction your sofa faces can differentiate the living area from your dining room. Area rugs can also trick the mind into seeing separate rooms when there are none.

Color scheme can be a limiting factor in open floor plan design. While the entire space should share a common palette, don’t be afraid to add coordinating accent hues throughout.

4. Modern Farmhouse Flair in Open Floor Plans

Farmhouse decor largely defined the past decade. And one strategy countless homeowners have used — and continue to use — to make their farmhouse-inspired homes feel more contemporary is to pair the trend with an open floor plan.

It might seem counterintuitive but farmhouse design often benefits from making the room feel smaller than it is. By starting with a wide-open space, you can achieve this look without sacrificing physical square footage.

Take advantage of all vertical space. Hanging light fixtures or exposed rafters are great options. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace surround can also help draw the eye up.

5. Strategic Furniture Arrangement in Open Concept Living

Without the presence of interior walls, furniture arrangement is incredibly important. How you place your furniture throughout the space will define the space as a whole.

Most open-concept homes place the living room directly adjacent to the kitchen or dining area. Yet you should still face your sofa away from the kitchen to maintain some distinction between the two spaces.

If you’re struggling to put together a plan, look for “anchor” furniture within each space to build around. Such pieces could include an entertainment center, coffee table, kitchen island, or dining table.

6. Illuminating Open Concept Homes with Smart Lighting

Open-concept homes are popular in part because they are so bright and airy. But choosing the wrong lighting solution could leave your home feeling dim.

To light any large space, one fixture will rarely suffice. Select a single fixture to serve as the primary light source for each living area. Supplement the rest of the space with subtle recessed lighting or wall sconces.

You don’t need to install the same lighting fixtures throughout your entire open floor plan. But each fixture should feature the same general style and finish. This will ensure the space looks cohesive without forcing you to use the same fixtures for your kitchen and family room.

7. Contemporary Styling for Open Floor Plans

The open floor plan was gaining popularity throughout much of the modern design era. It’s common to see mid-century modern furniture or Scandinavian-inspired decor in an open-concept space.

Because these elements fit together so well, much of the planning is already done for you! Select furniture that is proportional to the space as a whole. A sofa that is too large or a dining room table that is too small will stick out like sore thumbs.

Also, don’t let all of that extra elbow room tempt you. Modern interior design is closely related to minimalism. Avoid filling the space with decor that adds nothing but visual (or physical) clutter. Everything should serve a purpose.

8. Rustic Charm in Open-Concept Interiors

Despite being outshone by the farmhouse trend in recent years, rustic interior design is a versatile style for any living space. It also pairs well with open-concept homes, as the materials used in rustic decor can make the average space feel cramped.

Many homeowners evoke a cabin aesthetic using taxidermy or live-edge wood furniture. Others turn to the French Country design movement for a more feminine aesthetic.

You can pull inspiration for your rustic living room or kitchen from a number of sources. But they all share common elements like neutral colors, natural materials (i.e., wood, fur, stone, and leather), and a warm atmosphere.

9. Creating Warmth with Wood in Open-Concept Spaces

While open-concept homes offer plenty of benefits, there are some inherent challenges to designing such a vast space. If you find yourself struggling to breathe warmth into your open floor plan, you’re certainly not alone.

Wooden elements like built-in furniture, support beams, hardwood flooring, rafters, and wall trim are all excellent additions to a large open space. They can even be used strategically to visually break up your floor plan without physical walls.

For a clean appearance, avoid using a variety of wood finishes in your home design. This can be a challenge when it comes to matching furniture pieces to existing wood elements in your home — select a finish that is easy to replicate.

Do you feel like your home never has enough space to meet your needs? Nearly everyone knows the importance of having adequate storage to free up extra space. But you shouldn’t overlook the versatility of multi-purpose furniture either.

A daybed is the ideal blending of a casual sofa and a guest bed.

It can be an easy way to supplement the existing seating in a spare room or common area. And you’ll always have an extra bed ready to accommodate guests (or two, if you invest in a trundle frame!).

Check out the daybed ideas below to learn how to bring this classic piece of furniture into the modern design era.

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1. Maximize Space with Built-In Daybeds

Nothing says “thoughtful, multi-purpose design” like built-in furniture. While built-in bookcases have seen a resurgence in contemporary design, let’s not ignore the stylish practicality of a built-in daybed.

A built-in daybed is a perfect addition to any home office, guest room, playroom, or space-conscious living space. During the day, it serves as a reading nook or loveseat. At night, it instantly transforms into a functional sleeping surface.

This style of daybed tends to have a vintage aesthetic, especially when installed in front of a large window or bookshelf. Take this into account when choosing the finishing touches for your new furniture (such as bolsters or decorative throw pillows).

2. Create Your Own DIY Daybed

Building a traditional bed from scratch isn’t easy. If you’re looking to practice your woodworking skills on a piece of furniture, try starting with a DIY daybed instead.

The lovely thing about building a DIY daybed frame is that the entire thing is extremely simple. For example, you can construct a basic daybed out of nothing more than a wooden pallet and a mattress. Even beginner DIYers can tackle this project with confidence.

Another great option is to convert an existing piece of furniture into a DIY daybed. You can do this with a repurposed bench, storage crates, or stacks of pallet wood. As long as the finished piece can safely support its intended user, nearly any material will do.

3. Elegant Metal Daybed Designs

Unlike wooden and upholstered daybed ideas, metal frames tend to come with a more traditional shape and overall styling. These pieces work great in any bedroom with a farmhouse or cottage aesthetic.

Left bare, a metal bed frame may look cold and uninviting. Soften your daybed with plush pillows and cozy blankets. You can also use your bedding’s color palette to convey some much-needed warmth.

One thing to consider is that metal daybeds are not as comfortable or supportive as other styles (at least when used for seating). If you want to use your daybed as an everyday sofa in your living room, be sure to arrange plenty of dense cushions for back support.

4. Stylish Modern Daybeds for Contemporary Spaces

Many homeowners overlook the versatility of this furniture because they believe all daybeds are out of fashion. On the contrary, modern-style daybeds are incredibly trendy and available from many popular retailers.

Modern daybed frames do not feature ornate metalwork or frilly bed skirts. Instead, they’re sleek and easy to fit into nearly any existing room design.

Look for an upholstered daybed frame with simple legs and a neutral color scheme. You can also create a DIY mid-century modern daybed with a cloth-covered bench or roomy sofa. Don’t overpower your contemporary design with too many accessories — all you need is a bolster pillow and a coordinating throw blanket.

5. Versatile Daybeds for Multipurpose Rooms

Outside of dorms or studio apartments, relatively few households use a daybed as everyday furniture. However, a daybed is a great option for adding a guest bed to a spare room or home office.

Need somewhere to sit while working on your laptop? Use the daybed as a comfy sofa. Have a guest staying the night? Quickly convert the daybed to a fully functional sleeping surface.

The beauty of using a daybed in place of a regular double bed is that it can adapt to meet the needs of the room at any given moment. Extra features like storage drawers or a pull-out trundle can make your multipurpose room even more versatile.

6. Enhance Outdoor Areas with Daybeds

There really is no better way to cozy up an outdoor space than with a daybed. You can set up a daybed under a backyard pergola, inside a covered porch, or alongside a swimming pool.

An outdoor bed is the perfect place to curl up with a book, chat with friends, or cool off after a long day in the garden. Some outdoor bed frames even feature built-in shade coverage to protect sleepy sunbathers from overexposure.

Be sure to invest in a daybed design specifically built for outdoor use. You’ll also want to select outdoor-safe bedding to adorn your new patio furniture.

7. Bohemian Charm: Rattan and Bamboo Daybeds

There’s nothing wrong with leaning into the vintage look of many daybed ideas. If your home decor borrows inspiration from boho or 1970s design, we suggest finding yourself a nice rattan daybed frame.

You can purchase a brand new rattan-style daybed or refurbish a used frame. While newer bed frames tend to be more durable, nothing can replace the charm of authentic, lived-on furniture!

Rattan furniture looks right at home on a patio or terrace. You can give your backyard some Bohemian flair with a rattan daybed or wicker chaise lounge. (Remember to invest in synthetic furniture — natural rattan and bamboo won’t stand up to the elements!)

8. Daybeds with Storage Solutions

One of the greatest benefits of including a daybed in your home design is the sheer versatility. But you can make your guest room even more functional by investing in a bed frame with built-in storage (or a second mattress!).

A trundle bed is a hidden mattress built into another piece of furniture like a regular bed, daybed, or sofa. While a trundle fits perfectly underneath when not in use, it easily pulls out to accommodate guests at a moment’s notice.

Even if you have no need for a trundle, consider buying a daybed with a storage compartment or pull-out drawer hidden underneath. You can always cover the extra storage with a bed skirt for a more polished look.

9. Relaxing Swing Daybeds for Your Home

What if you could combine the charm of a porch swing with the warmth of a bed? Swinging daybeds are ideal for any outdoor space where practicality and comfort are equal priorities.

Just like a traditional daybed you’d find in a living room or spare bedroom, this furniture can be used in several ways. There’s no need to choose between having an outdoor space built exclusively for entertaining or for relaxing!

Fill your swing daybed with a variety of bolsters and pillows for maximum comfort. As always, choose a mattress cover and cushions that can stand up to both rain and shine.

10. Luxurious Upholstered Daybeds

We tend to associate dual-purpose furniture with cheap or transient design. But that doesn’t need to be the case.

If you want your guest room to have a luxurious aesthetic, consider investing in an upholstered daybed or trundle. While many upholstered daybeds have a feminine appearance, you can also choose from textiles like suede or leather for a more masculine look.

On top of looking stylish, an upholstered twin daybed is about as close to a “real” sofa as one can get. There’s zero need to pile tons of pillows on top to hide the frame underneath. Guests won’t even notice that your living room seating doubles as a bed.

11. Vintage Daybeds for a Classic Touch

Daybeds pair well with vintage decor. Whether your home is inspired by the Victorian Era or mid-century modern design, skip the double bed and go with a stylish daybed instead.

Are you struggling to find a daybed that fits your vintage aesthetic? With a little DIY handiwork, you can easily convert an antique sofa into a fully functional daybed frame.

Ideally, you should look for a vintage sofa that will fit a traditional twin mattress. But you can always order a custom mattress pad in a pinch. Either way, just swap out the original cushions for your mattress and you’re good to go!

12. Sturdy and Chic Wood Daybeds

Contemporary furniture designers are catching on to the demand for highly functional yet stylish pieces. You won’t have to go far to find a classy wood daybed that suits your spare bedroom or home office space.

Wooden daybeds often borrow trends from traditional bed frames. Right now, ornately carved panels and light stains are incredibly popular. But you’ll also find many timeless styles featuring clean lines and rich hardwood.

One thing is true: You’ll have a hard time finding a sturdier material. Even basic plywood offers a supportive mattress platform that will last for years. So if you’re searching for a daybed frame that will stand up to daily use, look no further than solid wood.