10 Ways to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger

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Make a small living room look bigger with these easy tips that don’t cost a thing! 

living room with gray sectional and dog looking out windows

Tiny living rooms don’t have to actually feel cramped and claustrophobic just because the square footage is lacking. Here are some solid tips to make your small living room feel and look bigger than ever before!


1. Choose lighter colors.

white living room with couch lamps

Lighter colors reflect light so when decorating make the bones of your room light. Don’t be afraid to use white either, as Erin Fetherston did in her gorgeous living room. You can still make your room feel cozy by playing with lush textures rather than tons of color. And to keep things feeling even more spacious, opt for lighter-colored furnishings and decor as well.

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


2. Show off the legs.

living room with blue and green rug beige sofa and glass coffee table

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


3. Use stripes to your advantage.

living room with black and white stripe rug and sectional l-shape couch

Stripes that run the longest part of your floor give 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 larger than life.

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!


4. Hang curtains high and wide.

before and after of curtains on window
Michelle Binette Design

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 over the top of it, as shown above.

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


5. Get rid of clutter.

open two story living room with wood panel walls and large windows and gray sectional sofa

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: Learn how to declutter your home in just 4 weeks or less with our FREE declutter challenge!


6. Hang your lighting to save floor space.

close up of cat sleeping on beige couch with gold light on wall
Hygge & West

Hanging lights, whether it be a wall sconce or ceiling light, will free up valuable real estate on your floor. You can also even try this light hack that Lina did with a battery operated wall sconce so you don’t have to deal with any wires when installing them!


6. Clear furniture for the win.

clear coffee table with pour over chemex brewer on top

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


8. Use floor mirrors to your advantage.

before and after of living room with tall floor mirror on white wall
@kristen.diane

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 huge statement in your room.

Shop all floor mirrors on Amazon!


9. Make use of your ceilings.

two well lit living room with sectional and hanging rattan chair
Jessica Helgerson Interior Design (left), @zoefeldmandesign (right)

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

Hip Tip: We think this is the best place to buy plants online.


10. Break the rules of tradition.

small living room with sectional leather ottoman and large leafy plant
Leclair Design

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!


You’re saving space, now go save money with these home deals!


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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Comments 2

  1. Anna Mollerstedt

    I would love to know the name of the sofa in the second picture. Love it!

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      I’m loving that one too! Unfortunately we don’t have details on that couch as that photo was taken of a model home.

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