Small Living Room Ideas: Design Inspiration For Compact Spaces

Oct 31, 2023

The best ideas from country homes

Small living rooms can be the most charming spot in a home, and since they require a bit of ingenuity and some creative compromises, they can often be full of character. But balancing seating space and storage with the desire to design something welcoming and family friendly can present a real challenge.

The success of a small living room – as with any small space – lies in the application of multiple and concerted design tricks, rather than a single solution. Here, this can mean choosing loveseats or daybeds over larger sofas, integrating your storage and decorative displays, choosing antique furniture for its compact proportions, as well as a consideration of flow, and how the eye travels around the room.

Here, we look at some of the homes we've been welcomed into, sharing inspiration and ideas for decorating small living rooms.

Loveseats are a neat solution for smaller living rooms – they can typically fit two people, although it’s a prerequisite that you are comfortable in each other’s personal space. One of the joys of a loveseat is that extra attention is usually paid to design elements that promote comfort, like deep cushions and sumptuous fabrics.

Read more: 28 best loveseats for snuggling up or saving space

This tiny living room won't allow for a sofa, so the homeowners have made a smart choice in the set of armchairs and shared side table – creating a comfortable spot that is flooded with natural light and benefits from the adjacent view.

Investing in bespoke display units will give you more control over the depth of your shelves or cubbies. This is a particularly lovely example because of the varying heights of the shelves – a lack of uniformity like this can be really charming and interesting to look at. We love the framed print taking up its own spot in the middle.

Read more: How to style and display accessories in your home

If you only have space for a small armchair, shop around for something with a deep seat and low arms – what it lacks in size will be made up for in comfort.

Shop now: Country Living Quinton Accent Chair at DFS

Even the smallest of living rooms can accommodate a tiny home office. It's wise in this instance to shop for vintage or antique tables to serve as a desk, as they can often have smaller proportions. The windowsill and adjacent bookcase are sufficient storage too.

Read more: 20 small desks perfect for bijou home offices

Another sofa alternative if a loveseat is too small. A daybed can be generously sized, but has a slightly smaller footprint than a sofa because it will sit flush to your wall. They are exceptionally comfortable too, as this handsome boy can attest to.

Read more: 13 creative ways to use fabric around the home

Runners are great in narrow hallways, but they can also be a neat zoning device living rooms. They work most effectively to delineate small pockets like reading corners – this is a nice example of a runner drawing the eye towards the view beyond.

Shop now: Country Living Arniston Navy Runner at Carpetright

If you can't build out, build up. Using the full height of a small living room is one of the most under-utilised design tricks. We love this bespoke shelving unit that combines storage and display, and the clever cherry red wall acts like a backdrop for accessories.

Low-slung furniture is a great choice if you have heavy cottage ceilings. Having sink-in sofas, low units and drawing the eye downward with patterned or colourful rugs makes a room feel casual with a design nod to the 1970s.

Read more: How to decorate the space above a sofa

One for truly compact living rooms. A sweet window seat invites plenty of soft furnishings, and the joy here is that you can create extra storage underneath.

Read more: The dos and don'ts of styling an accent chair

Painting a small living room room – including the ceiling – in an all-over uniform colour blurs its edges and boundaries giving the impression of space. This is particularly effective if you paint woodwork, doorframes, and radiators to match.

Read more: 7 common painting mistakes and easy tips to avoid them

Multi-functional furniture is a gift in small spaces. Storage footstools can double up as coffee tables or an extra seat in a pinch.

Shop now: Country Living Charlbury Pinstripe Storage Footstool

This homeowner has chosen pieces that are appropriately narrow for a small living room. The ottoman doubles up as a a coffee table, and even the fireplace has been recruited for decorative display.

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