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Small Space Living is hugely popular right now! With the tiny house movement, people downsizing, and families flocking to life in the city, small living rooms are a part of many of our lives. A few years ago we downsized from a 2100 square foot, 5 bedroom house, to a 1200 square foot, 2 bedroom condo in the city. From there we went to another small apartment and now we live between two homes: our cottage in Michigan and a small apartment in suburban Chicago. I have always loved small homes. In fact, until we purchased our cottage, it was my dream to build a very small, very well appointed, absolutely perfect dream home. I LOVE being able to plug my vacuum into a central outlet and vacuum the.entire.house.
You’d be surprised what you can do with a small living room- let these 20 small living rooms inspire your next redecorating weekend!
This small combination living room/ dining area offers plenty of seating for families or guests. The wide plank flooring, bright white walls and high ceilings make this space roomier and more open than it really is.
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This mid-century modern sofa is upholstered in a really great shade of charcoal that would look amazing against a white wall.
I love this mid-century modern walnut coffee table!
I love the way the frame wraps around the back of this navy blue velvet MCM side chair- so cool.
A love seat, instead of a full sized sofa, and comfy chair make this the perfect small space for a single person or married couple. There is plenty of room for two! I adore this gallery wall! None of the prints go together, and yet they all go together. This warms my eclectic heart!
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This gorgeous green velvet sofa is a perfect 59″ long for a small space.
Mango Wood and Metal Square Coffee Table
This next living room proves you don’t need a lot of space to be glamorous! The fluffy rug and ottoman, plus gorgeous fresh flowers, make this small room soft and inviting. The sectional sofa is perfect in this small space.
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This small grey sectional is great for added seating in a small space.
This white and gold coffee table is beautiful- especially when paired with these gorgeous gold side tables.
This cozy faux sheepskin shag rug is the perfect touch!
In small spaces, storage is critical! These golden poufs tuck nicely under the coffee table and can be pulled out for extra seating when needed.
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This Stuffed Handmade Metallic Leather Moroccan Pouf adds gorgeous flair to the room, and allows two extra seats for company.
This narrow living room utilizes all of its space perfectly. By keeping the furniture away from the walls, there is plenty of walking space to maneuver through to the built in bookcase. You can see the edge of a fireplace hearth on the left, and the sofa and chairs positioned to angle towards each other make a cozy, intimate space in front of the fire. The coffee table is large for the space, but it is positioned to be used by all guests and eliminates the need for end tables that would clog the walkways.
A small sofa, like the one below, and small profile accent chairs can fit perfectly in the smallest space.
I love the coordinating, but not matching, accent chairs in the photo. Get the look with this chair and this chair.
This room is stunning! The plaster crown molding and ceiling medallion painted a simple white add so much detail to this space. Ceiling height curtains play up the height of the ceilings and the striped rug draws your eye to the gorgeous French doors. The extra large coffee table shows that you can go big in a small space!
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The rug is hard to find in the US! There is a similar rug at Cost Plus World Market, or the original from Denmark.
These velvet curtains in blush pink are so luxurious!
This small space shares a wall with a staircase, which gives the room an open, airy feel. Mirrors on the wall (get the look: ornate mirror) reflect light to give this room a larger-than-reality look. The staggered tables help center the offset mirror over the sofa with the room.
Reflective materials (mirrors, chromes accented furniture, etc.) are a glam way to make a space feel larger because natural and indoor lighting will make everything sparkle. This room carries the chrome from the living room, to the island and blends it into the kitchen’s stainless steel appliances.
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Stainless and black counter stools
By keeping the furniture contained to the rug, this small space feels cozy and inviting. The rounded chairs eliminate harsh angles from the walkway and invite quiet conversation. Keeping the walls, cabinets, backsplash and furniture all in the same creamy family lets the spaces flow together, making both the kitchen and living areas seem larger.
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This casual slipcovered sofa is super cozy and will seat at least 5. Not bad for a small living room!
I would LOVE to have this much lighting in my living room! The windows are amazing. So much white and light colored furniture pieces, and the absence of a heavy rug, gives this small room a breezy feel.
This next room is just so much fun. It’s totally whimsical- and whimsically perfect! Vintage and antique furniture is usually much smaller than today’s deep and fluffy furniture options, making it perfect for small living rooms. The vintage settee and chair below got a fresh look with custom slipcovers and the patterned pillows add tons of character to this little living room.
This furniture setup makes great use of a bay window space, which can sometimes be difficult to work with. A loveseat and large armless accent chair make this space perfectly cozy.
Check out this article on Dwell to see how this guy turns a 350 square foot (now *that* is tiny!!!) into a comfortable space that meets his needs, and even allows for a full sized dining table, with some creative furniture ideas! Creative storage solutions go a longgggg way in this little studio.
Window treatments can make or break a room, so don’t skimp! The curtains in the traditional living room below show that by hanging the panels well above the window, and on the sides of the windows, rather than in front of the windows, you can create the illusion of much more space than you have. This beautiful small living room is a perfect example of “fake it til you make it”- and they’ve made it!
With perfect furniture placement, this small cottagey living room has room for two upholstered chairs, a secretary and a full size sofa! Warm, cozy and inviting are the first three words I think of when looking at this not-so-shabby shabby chic room.
If your entryway is in your living room, consider using furniture that is not as deep as traditional pieces. This narrow desk and skinny coffee table take up minimal space, allowing for a full size sofa. The narrow cabinet next to the door offers a surface for display, and also extra storage- which is always needed in small homes!
If your space is long and narrow, define it with a long and narrow area rug. This rug fits this space *perfectly* and clearly defines the space as the living space, while keeping the fireplace centered like it should be! Two chairs (<– *love* this one!) and a sofa offer ample seating in this tiny, but glamorous, living room.
Even though thoughts of farmhouses usually include a big, old house in the country, you can still give your small space a farmhouse feel with the right furniture and accent pieces. Don’t be afraid to fill your space with a large sectional- just be sure to find one with clean lines to help define your space. A table behind the sofa is a space-saver and the perfect place to set lamps and display awesome farmhouse decor finds, like the fabulous scale below!
This tiny space stays bright and airy with the help of large windows that extend the indoors outside, and furniture that blends into the walls. Cozy pillows and blankets, a light-colored reclaimed wood table, and minimal decor, help make this room feel spacious.
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Boho is back! And I. LOVE. IT. It makes me want to buy my 20-year-old daughter new apartment furniture because it is so colorful and fun, just like her. She could totally pull this look off. World Market has a new “Nomad” collection and it is fantastic! How fun are these bright colors? The blue velvet sofa is amazing and the bright green plants make everything pop. The sofa is a great example of how smaller (yet still full sized) furniture works perfectly in small spaces.
If your style is minimalist and your dwelling is small, you are in luck! Minimalist furniture is designed to be functional, but unobtrusive, so even large pieces will take up less space. Keeping the walls and floors neutral will also make your space feel larger.
There you have it- 20 awesome living rooms designed for your perfect small space. It would be hard for me to pick which one I like best!
If you are ready for more design ideas, check out these posts:
12 Cozy Farmhouse Living Rooms
20 Brilliant Living Room Design Ideas for Small Spaces
Sweet Dreams are Made of These – 10 Casually Cozy Bedrooms
8 Exceptional Guest Rooms + the Essentials You Need to Make Your Guests Feel At Home
Be sure to take a look at our Living Rooms for Everyday Life board on Pinterest. There are hundreds of pins from tons of awesome bloggers!
Happy decorating!
Allison
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