Small living room interior design ideas and modern layouts
The decoration and design of a small living room is very different from a cosmetic renovation in a more spacious room. It is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the objects, their location differently. However, there are minimalist styles that can reduce the number of fittings. Different ways of arranging a room will allow you to create your own ideal layout that matches the specific requirements of the home owner.
Key Design Features of a Small Living Room
When carrying out repairs in a small apartment, it is necessary to take into account each free meter and not to forget about the possible combination of two rooms.The choice of the option of dividing the space and the design of the rooms directly depends on the characteristics of the room and the desires of the owner.
Main recommendations
The most important thing when planning a living room is a clear definition of the purpose of this room. If it is to be used as a place to receive guests, a table and comfortable chairs are necessary. If it plays the role of a place to relax, attention should be paid to the sofa and TV. Having examined the room from this angle, you need to choose the accessories.
Placement of furniture according to layout
Once the furniture has been selected, proceed to design the appearance of the room. It directly depends on the layout.
Edge
For a square living room, it is easier to choose a design, because you can arrange the furniture both along the walls and in the middle of the room. An ideal option is a sofa, in front of which a TV weighs, and on the side there is a cabinet or shelves. You can complement such a space with a coffee table or a miniature armchair.
Rectangular
It is convenient to arrange everything you need for reading a book in a rectangular room. You can place a chair next to the window. A sofa is placed against the wall, and in front of a television and a bookcase. It is also recommended to use a floor lamp in such a room, placing it between the armchair and the sofa.
Corner
With this arrangement, it is better to place a few armchairs around the TV corner. Alternatively, you can replace the screen with an image that will appear on the wall thanks to the projector.
With a balcony
In order not to interfere with the opening of the balcony door, it is better to place the sofa along the opposite wall. It is also better to place the TV so that sunlight from the window falls on it.To increase the space, it is recommended to transfer the chair to the loggia.
Visual increase in space
One of the main challenges when designing a small living room is the visual increase in space. To this end, use the methods that allow budgeting and planning.
Minimize the number of small parts
Due to the fact that they are trying to store a large number of souvenirs in the living room, they need to complement the decor with a table or shelves. The attention of whoever enters the room is focused on small details, which makes the already small living room seem completely filled.
Use small rectangular rugs
This trick is suitable for rectangular rooms. Carpets visually stretch the space, and this effect can be maintained with the help of a window located opposite the door. This will create a hallway effect.
Vertical structures
To visually increase the distance from the floor to the ceiling, you can use vertical structures. For this purpose, paints, fabric or yarn products and mirrors are suitable. Due to the reflection, a double expansion effect will appear.
Shaded effect
When decorating the walls, it is necessary to create a transition from a saturated shade to a paler one. This effect works when you go from a dark bottom to a light top.
Competent choice of curtains
To visually expand the space, light is needed, so decorating the window with beige or pastel curtains will contribute to this effect. It is recommended to choose a light transparent tulle, then the feeling of weighing down will not appear, and the sun's rays will better penetrate the airy fabric.
color solution
Using different colors in the design of the living room, you can achieve this or that effect.
white
The bright room looks bigger than it actually is. It is also better to decorate in white the rooms that are most often used during the day and in the evening. Then you can save on lamps and electricity.
Gray tones
Using light gray is an alternative to an all-white design that will take a lot of cleaning effort. However, dark tones will make an already small living room less spacious.
brown
The soft brown color combined with beige accents will allow you to decorate the living room in warm colors. This design solution is recommended when the room is cool.
Blue
Using different shades of blue will create associations with the sea or the ocean. It will be a great addition to the hallway effect in a rectangular room.
Green
This color is especially often recommended for creating an ombre effect, since the owner can choose one of the shades or even combine several of them to create a transition from rich to pale. In addition, green is more suitable for the living room, as it promotes relaxation.
Mauve
A pale purple tint is recommended for rooms where it is hot or stuffy. A cool color will make dry weather more bearable.
Lighting organization
To create a visually large room, it is recommended to use several lamps distributed over the entire ceiling area. However, to create a cozy atmosphere of relaxation in the evening, a floor lamp or a wall lamp is much better.
interesting ideas
Designing a small living room requires imagination. For advice, you can turn to experienced professionals.
Pastel or beige palette
Thanks to the warm and dull colors, it will turn out to create a cozy relaxation room.In such a room, you can mark the center with a dark coffee table. However, do not use dark details when decorating walls or windows.
Bright decor elements
When decorating a room in a monochrome style, you can use bright or contrasting details. They will attract attention, and if you place them in different corners, the space will visually become wider.
Small pattern wallpaper
The small pattern on the wallpaper will wave. The room will look even smaller if you use similar materials for wall decoration. It is better to give preference to plain wallpaper with hanging pictures.
Mirrors
Thanks to several mirrors, located on one or opposite walls, you can create the effect of expanding the space. Reflective details will create the illusion of a spacious living room.
Compact furniture
Miniature fittings are an excellent design solution for arranging a small room. A large amount of space will be freed up, but if a large family lives in the house, then such furniture will not be enough.
optical illusions
Creating optical illusions with patterns on the walls is an unusual way to visually enlarge a room. However, with a long stay in the living room, a headache may occur, and fatigue, on the contrary, will only intensify.
Lines inside
It is recommended to use parallel lines on the floor and walls to lengthen the room. They are placed at an equal distance from each other, due to which the room will look like an elongated pipe.
Glass coffee table
Everything in the living room takes up a large space, however, to visually solve this problem, it is recommended to use transparent things. A glass coffee table is an alternative to the usual wooden table. It will look original without taking up much space.
color accents
In the living room with plain wallpaper, you can arrange bright decor elements or furniture made of materials of rich colors. This will allow you to emphasize accents and dilute uniformity.
secret area
To increase the free space in the room, you can use a niche in the wall for a sofa or armchairs. Due to the fact that massive furniture will not be visible, the living room will look more spacious.
Chimney
Arrangement of a fireplace in a small living room requires material costs, but such a detail will create comfort and a cozy atmosphere. Then the miniature room will appear as a paradise for relaxation.
clock on the wall
In a small room, it is better to use a wall clock, since it does not require placement on the shelf, freeing up space for other things.
Zoning
Dividing the room into zones will help separate the seating area from the office or reading area.
Overview of Popular Contemporary Styles
Modern designers offer their customers several popular styles.
Attic
The severity of the lines and the accuracy of the borders - all this characterizes the design of the room in the loft style. Using such a design, you can create a living room designed for work, business negotiations or meetings with friends.
Provence
The original and slightly pretentious Provencal style is an opportunity to make a living room that resembles the bedrooms of the best houses in England in the 19th century.
Eco-style
The predominance of natural and environmentally friendly materials will have a positive effect on human well-being.
monochrome
Muted colors, shades of gray and simple furniture without elegance - all this is suitable for people who do not need comfort, but rather want a budget and modest option.
Classic
Solid color furniture, beige or pastel wallpaper will allow you to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. These patterns can be easily animated by adding decorative objects in rich colors.
Scandinavian
The black and white color scheme will help you stand out from the typical living rooms of other homes. At the same time, this option is preferable for premises in which it is often stuffy.
Advanced technology
Dark colors and large-scale furniture are not suitable for a small living room. Such a solution will only visually reduce the space.
Japanese
The imitation of Japanese bedrooms is an original idea. In addition, the Land of the Rising Sun is distinguished by its miniature rooms.
Combination options
The combination of two rooms is a common phenomenon in small apartments.
With balcony or loggia
When decorating the interior, you should pay attention to the source of natural light. You can also transfer some elements to the glazed loggia.
With a hallway or hallway
When combining a living room with a hallway, it is better to give preference to dark furniture. Then the room will turn into a meeting room or a relaxation room for frequent communication with friends.
With kitchen
With this combination, it is better to use a cabinet or a table with a TV, as a separation between two zones. You can also use the difference in color or style to create more separation between rooms.
Design features in Khrushchev
When designing a small living room in Khrushchev, it is worth remembering the small size of the windows and the need for artificial lighting. Also, don't clutter an already small space with shelves or cabinets if they're not going to be used to store anything of value.
Tips and tricks from experienced designers
Before buying furniture and wallpaper, it is best to plan a few options on paper. You should not dwell on a design solution, because the next idea may be more original.
Examples of out-of-the-box design solutions
When decorating a living room, it is recommended to rely on the placement of furniture in the homes of celebrities. The fan will then feel close to the idol. Decorating a small living room is not an easy task. However, if you put the time and effort into it, you can find the perfect design for a specific living environment.