Make The Most Of A Small Living Room With These Decorating Tips
Cozy is in at this time of year, and that’s great news for anyone with a less than palatial living room. But if you’re keen to make the best use of your bijou front room there are lots of ways to create a sense of space. Here are a few top tips for creating a bright and spacious atmosphere.
Lose the clutter
Too much stuff can make even the most spacious rooms feel busy and cluttered, so if you suffer from a touch of the hoarding yourself now is the time to do something about it. If you can’t bear to tear yourself away from the well-loved items you’ve collected over the years but feel like you’re drowning in clutter, storage is your friend. Think floating shelves, floor to ceiling bookcases and carefully chosen cupboards to help put things in order and save your sanity.
Make the most of light
“Natural light is great for adding a sense of space, so make the most of it with large wall mirrors and other reflective surfaces” suggests Central London estate agent, LDG. Even if your windows are small you can still play with light- keep your curtains and blinds contemporary and simple and avoid frills at all costs. Full-length curtains are always a good choice because they create an illusion of space by drawing the eyes upwards, and if you want to go with a pattern vertical stripes can work wonders.
Use color wisely
You might love the idea of a rich, dark, jewel-colored living room, but the golden rule remains that bright and light is best. Think whites, light greys and beiges and soft pastel tones and avoid anything too heavy. And unless you want to feel like you’re living in a box, keep your ceilings white and well lit. “You can still add a splash of color with carefully chosen accessories, but wall to wall reds and purples will probably be a no-no if you want to create an illusion of space.” says Newington Green estate agent, M&M Property.
Create a focal point
If your living room feels cramped and small, you can make it feel bigger by drawing people’s eyes to a feature such as a big painting or a beautifully upholstered armchair placed at an angle. “This trick works particularly well if the rest of the room is neutral, so keep everything else to a minimum for a real wow factor when people enter the room” suggests Assetgrove.
Go with glass furniture
Nothing makes a room feel small like too much large, overpowering, dark furniture. Designers have long appreciated the value of clear glass furniture when it comes to adding a sense of space- it allows the eyes to roam freely around the room without barriers. Glass also works really well in other areas of the house- think glass shower doors and gleaming dressing tables for a touch of instant glamour that opens up the whole room.