Transform your small living room with these clever furniture choices! Discover space-saving solutions to maximize your space and create a stylish and functional living area.

Living Room Furniture
Lightweight post-modern and Scandinavian living room furniture pieces are good for maximizing space. Photo: Jaroslaw Ceborski, Unsplash

Small living rooms don’t have to feel cramped or cluttered. With the right furniture and design strategies, you can create a spacious and inviting atmosphere. Discover smart furniture ideas that will maximize your living room’s potential, from multi-functional pieces to clever storage solutions. Get ready to transform your small space into a comfortable and stylish haven.

Vertical Shelves

 

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Taking a cue from Marie Kondo, optimizing space is key in a small living room. The KonMari method founder advises against leaving any space unused. She recommends measuring available storage areas to purchase furniture that fits perfectly. These pieces may seem insignificant, but they prevent clutter and create a more spacious feel.

Kondo champions vertical storage to instantly elevate unused space. “If you can stand things up, it allows you to make the most of the height of your storage space,” she advises.

For more tips from Marie Kondo, read 4 Storage Hacks That Spark Joy, Inspired by Marie Kondo

Large Furniture

In an episode of Fixer Upper, Joanna Gaines shared her counterintuitive approach to small spaces. While many believe smaller furniture is the answer, Gaines suggests the opposite.

She recommends using a few large furniture pieces to create the illusion of a bigger space. Multiple small items can make the area feel cluttered, while strategically placed large pieces can anchor the room and make it feel more expansive.

For more home decor inspiration from Joanna Gaines, read 2024 Design Secrets from Designer Joanna Gaines

Accent Chairs & Curvy Sofa

Interior designer and stylist Nicki Bamford Bowes encourages creative thinking when furnishing small living rooms. She sees the sofa as a key piece for creating a cozy space. Instead of a typical small two-seater, she suggests utilizing nooks and crannies for comfortable seating arrangements.

In her Instagram post, she demonstrates this by placing an accent chair in an otherwise unused corner. She also favors corner sofas and curved designs near bay windows, showcasing how experimenting with shapes and larger pieces can make a dramatic difference.

Double-Duty Furniture

Not a Bobby Berk design, but the furniture resembles his ideology where the chair and bench can slide underneath the table
Not a Bobby Berk design, but the furniture resembles his ideology where the chair and bench can slide underneath the table Photo: Freepik

Bobby Berk advocates for furniture in a small space to do “double duty.

He highlights the numerous options for beds, sofas, ottomans, and coffee tables that double as storage.

For instance, stools can function as end tables and extra seating when needed. Similarly, dining chairs that slide under the table save space in the dining room. The key is to choose furniture with maximum utility to make your living space both stylish and efficient.

For more inspiration from Bobby Berk, check out how he transformed a neglected room into an organized and inspiring space.

 

 

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References

  1. Marie Kondo
  2. What You Need To Know When Decorating A Small Space
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About Don Vandervort
Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years as a remodeler and builder, Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. He appeared for 3 seasons on HGTV’s “The Fix,” served as MSN’s home expert for several years, and is featured as Yelp's home improvement expert. Don founded HomeTips in 1996. Read more about Don Vandervort