Clever small living room ideas demand sheer creativity. You may have one tiny lounge area. But creative ideas can make the most out of it. People think creative designs are costly. But I think otherwise.  

I have several living room layout ideas for a complete makeover of your dream room for less than $500. I see hundreds of ideas for designing living rooms every day. But abstract ideas cannot make it happen.  

We need a tapestry of suitable ideas to design an ideal small living room. Remember, a tiny space can easily seem dirty and cluttered. So, it would help if you were careful about what you place there. I feel that we can impose better checks on color, decor, and the choice of furniture in a small living room.  

At VoiceOfAction, we believe that small actions can incite significant changes. So, we won’t stick to extravagant gourmet designs. Instead, our focus will be quick hacks and easy DIY ideas to make your living room stand out.  

Why small living room ideas matter 

Many of us have small apartment living rooms. That explains why we cannot list or suggest expensive furniture for our dorms. That’s why I have curated a selection of the best and most pocket-friendly ideas in the blog.  

Currently, 38% of renters have only shared apartments with over 5 units. You can’t expect anything more than small living rooms from apartment units. Meanwhile, most Americans live in single-family houses. Small living room again!  

Best small living room ideas for that elevation and style! 

I took inspiration from many of the latest living room trends. But I rely on the classic hacks, too. Above all, using every little bit of space in your room is non-negotiable. Now, let’s start building small living room ideas. 

Don’t stuff things in your living room.  

A cluttered living room lacks luster. But many of us don’t have the time to clean up the mess we create daily. But that’s not the only mess I want to talk about.  

Often, I find people stuffing show pieces or furniture in excess. They don’t understand how it makes your living room murky and clogged. The same goes for anything excess you stock in your small living room.  

Do what you may, but strictly avoid big furniture in there. I will give you an idea of how to accommodate minimalist furniture in your dorm: 

• Applying cushions on every upholstered piece of furniture is not one of the best minimalist living room ideas. So, avoid it.  

• You can avoid sofas with bulky backrests. Instead, sofas with a lean and slim backrest will fit much better in your small room.  

• The same goes for the chairs you want to buy. However, I suggest avoiding chairs if there is a sofa already.  

Kelly Collins, creative head at Swyft, said- “If the room is small, keep only what you think you will need. Keep it simple and avoid overcrowding.” 

• I won’t recommend gallery walls for small rectangular living rooms. Instead, a single portrait on the longer wall is nuanced.  

Simple and FREE Hacks to make your room seem spacious! 

Do you know how living room color ideas fit into your small living room ideas? Most people are not aware of that. They feel that any color palette is okay for any room dimension. But that’s not the reality.  

For safety, you can try all pastel shades. Last year, I applied the green pastel shade in my living room (8×12 only). So, I can tell you what makes the main difference.  

Firstly, lighter shades reflect more light, giving the impression that the walls are farther away. Secondly, lighter pastel shades complement all kinds of lights equally. So, both warm and white lights go well with pastel walls.  

In my room, Sage Green walls clicked quite well. Now, my room feels lighter and airier. If I find any other unique cozy living room ideas, I will update them here.  

Don’t buy storage; get a STORAGE Sofa.  

The living room decor is incomplete without a sofa. But interestingly, sofas are becoming lightweight and leaner every year. That’s better for your living room layout.  

You get extra space. At the same time, modern sofas are more functional, too. For instance, most sofas come with added storage space. You can’t expect storage to be as spacious as a cabinet.  

But sofas still offer compartmentalized storage space that you can use. 3-sitting sofas have at least two compartments for storage. The third storage is an optimum space for bedding, spare groceries, and more you won’t use anytime soon.  

Here are the three sofa models I suggest for a small dorm: 

1. The L-shaped Reagnan storage sofa with a combined bed 

1. It costs around $400 to $500.  

2. Make sure it is the only main piece of furniture in your dorm 

3. Choose a color that contrasts with the wall’s color.  

2. Harlow storage sofa (can be converted into a double bed) 

4. Priced under $400 

5. The Scandi look is suitable for a lean living room  

6. You can pair it with an ottoman of a matching color 

3. A foldable biggie sofa  

7. A biggie is more comfortable than you can think 

8. Price starts from $1500 

9. The corner design makes it a perfect lounge furniture  

(** Please make an infographic for this section. Add images of the three kinds of sofas and put the data as an infographic below the respective image) 

Interior design elements for better small living room ideas  

Our living room may be small. But a well-designed layout with innovative styling can make it attractive. But it would help if you had these MUST FOLLOW tips for that: 

Try Open Floors 

Without the partition walls, your living room may seem much more significant. Many new homes try this hack now. An open living space also includes the kitchen space. Small apartments can ooze out ample space by using this hack.  

You can accommodate the same space as your living room if you have a separate office. That will leverage enough space for you to create a better visual projection. It will never make you feel you are missing the EXTRA space! 

Are the proportions of your room correct?? 

Your small living room’s proportions, angle, and scale matter more than you think. For example, I may want to stack up an L-shaped Reagnan storage sofa aligned to the perimeter of my small living room. What will happen then? 

Instead of placing it centrally, I put it along the perimeter. As a result, I now have the space to put a petite ottoman or a small center table. Similarly, you can also think of wall cabinets or angular shelves in the small living room.  

An angular shelf is the best for displaying your showpieces. It can also contain books, skincare, and utilities like mobile and charger. At the same time, the wall cabinet will also save a lot of space.  

Other ways of better accommodation of small living rooms  

Small living room ideas falling short? Don’t drag it. Just focus on one thigh. You need to create as much space as possible. First, you can try creative options like inbuilt wall storage, display racks, and using ottomans as shoe cabinets.  

You may also install corner cabinets or wall caddies to store other utility stuff. But REMEMBER what I always say to you. Don’t clutter the space with unnecessary things. The rest will fall into place easily.  

SECRET Hacks to make the small living rooms stand out  

The dimensions and look-and-feel is everything. We know the living room is not big. Now, we can’t keep up with the size by wishing only. The prices of apartments in New York are hiking faster than Barry Allen! Trust me.  

The middle class cannot afford a classic studio apartment. So, we need to include quick hacks to enjoy the essence of elegance and chic decor that long studio living rooms have. Just try these ideas: 

• Go with light-colored or preferably white walls  

• Place your furniture to match the room’s architecture  

• Don’t leave your ceiling bland. Always paint it vibrantly 

• Always buy multi-purpose furniture like a sofa with storage or an ottoman with shoe storage space  

• Prefer concealed storage spaces like a wall cabinet 

• Align your furniture with the corners 

• Have an area or room rug to create an illusion that the floor extends farther from where it ends  

Unleash your Creative Muse!! 

You can now create ambitious designs out of your small living room ideas. But that may not be easy if you don’t know these quick hacks.  

I don’t suggest spending loads on gourmet furniture or interior designers. Instead, you can follow the design principles I described above. My small living room is an open space where I accommodate my workstation and kitchen space.  

You can try that, too. But REMEMBER, you must go by the flow. You cannot experiment with abstract ideas here. Starting from placements to color, everything must be very methodical and tactical.  

I leave the rest to your CREATIVE MUSE.  

But you can always come up with any doubts or ask me for exclusive ideas. Just leave a comment below!! 

Also read

• Dorm room furniture That Will Give You Diva Feel!
• Small dorm room ideas: Revamp your space within $100
• These 2 Minutes Dorm Room Storage Ideas Can Change Your Life!!!