House Beautiful March 1, 2025
Seller
It's time to stop assuming that small living rooms are bad or undesirable. Though a sprawling den might be a dream for some people, a compact living space can create a cozier and more intentional atmosphere for lazy-night-in enjoyment. As we enter the colder seasons and spend more time indoors, a small living room should be a place where you can relax and unwind—the trick is to keep the style highly curated so it doesn't look cluttered. If you're looking for inspiration to jumpstart your next room do-over or home reno, these 60 small living room ideas from designer spaces are a great place to look.
No matter the exact size of your space, there are plenty of small living room ideas to consider. Some trick the eye into making the space look bigger than it is by playing with furniture scale and paint colors, while others are designed more to help you embrace your small space without it feeling too busy or overwhelming. There's no need to let your limited square footage curtail your creativity.
Check out these 60 small living room ideas that show how to balance form and function for any design style. Get ready to transform your living room into a comfortable, stylish hangout spot that the whole family will love.
Sometimes, living rooms can feel—dare we say—too big to create the dream space you're looking for. If you want a cozy living room, especially as we enter fall, you might want to embrace one that's a smaller size so you can create the vibe you desire. The team at White Space Design Group put in a little gas fireplace and stove to keep things homey—something that would be harder to achieve if the room were larger.
In small living rooms, it's essential to find creative storage solutions and arrange furniture to avoid a cramped feel. In Liz Dutton's Ohio home, this is achieved by storing a stack of books neatly under the antique, low-to-the-ground coffee table and using a small side table for drinks. In a space with limited square footage, it's crucial not to overcrowd the walls or block walking paths. Unique solutions like these ensure a balanced and open layout.
With a small living room, you'll want to save as much floor space as you can to reduce clutter, and wall-mounting your TV might be a solution. Designer Rasheeda Gray mounted this large television flush to the wall, allowing her clients to have a screen as big as they wanted without forcing the room to feel tight.
In this small living room idea, designer Amanda Jacobs focused the design on human connection rather than the TV. She turned the two chairs on one side of the room toward the couch on the other so the client's family could all comfortably sit and converse.
When Ashley Gilbreath was designing this sun-drenched living room, she opted for furniture she knew would age gracefully. Investing in pieces that you know will get better with time can help make your small living room feel like the crown jewel of your home instead of a smaller-than-desired afterthought.
Minimalist design doesn't have to feel stark and sterile. Designer Brian Paquette created this elegant, Nordic-style living room for his clients, making sure it still felt warm without having too much unnecessary decor.
Rather than choosing a sofa with a traditional back, designer Lichelle Silvestry went for a daybed-style piece that wouldn't block half of this small Parisian living room from the other. Now, no matter where your guests are, you can turn to face them.
Rather than overwhelm the space with a large side table or console, Jayson Home's Devin Kirk kept a low profile in his family's Chicago apartment with a short wooden stool. Because the emphasis is on the marbled sectional, he needed to balance the proportions of the other items in the room. Mission stylishly accomplished.
Designer Sarah Solis wanted this Los Angeles family's den to feel restful but still be functional for homework time. Cue: a floating desk. Because the thin surface seemingly levitates, it takes up much less visual square footage than a clunky desk with legs might, making it perfect for this small space. The backless stool also keeps keep things looking streamlined.
Low, curved, or angled ceilings can make a living room seem smaller than it actually is. Working with it rather than against it, as designer Patrick Gallagher did here in his apartment in Rome's Palazzo Taverna, can have the opposite effect. He used subtle, diamond-patterned wallpaper to visually heighten the barrel-vaulted ceiling and create the illusion of more space.
In this small living room idea by Amity Worrel, beige is far from boring. The monochrome decorating palette (with pops of red) was inspired by old-fashioned European skiing chalets and keeps it from feeling too busy or cluttered. Plus, the warm tones imbue the room with the coziness you get only in small spaces.
Rather than adorn the walls of the living room in House Beautiful's 2023 Whole Home with eye-catching art (which we also love, don't get us wrong), Caitlin Wilson opted for delicate framed intaglios (reproductions of incised art made popular by travelers in the 18th and 19th centuries) from Statuette instead. Not only does the choice soften the room, but it also lets your eye settle on what's important: the people around you.
In a study by Los Angeles–based designer Alexandra Loew, a small loveseat sits nestled against the windows. It was chosen to be proportionate to the family's small children, but it's cozy enough for adults to lounge on as well.
Pet ownership comes with a lot of accoutrements: feeding bowls, toys, scratching posts. But in the living room of Tammer Hijazi, cofounder and design director of Bower Studios, Cleo the cat gets free reign of the space, including the walls. A stack of Ikea Lack shelves creates a streamlined climbing system that doesn't intrude on the seating area below.
In photographer Bjorn Wallander's New York City studio apartment, no inch is wasted. Rather than take up valuable space with a bookshelf or display tables, he piles his beloved coffee table books and knick-knacks on every windowsill and open bit of floor, which gives the apartment a true artistic flair.
In a tight apartment, rooms often have to do double duty. Regan Baker exercised genius space planning when creating this library, which could just as easily function as a small living room slash dining room. Dining chairs like these could function as guest seating when a dinner party turns into a game night.
Just like in fashion, the right stripes can make a silhouette work to your advantage. If you're not into the circus stripe trend, take a note from Jeffrey Alan Marks instead. Horizontal wood paneling visually widens his California living room, making its small size a nonissue.
Storage is essential in a small living room. If you don't have enough floor space for a bookshelf, look to your walls as designer John Wooden did in this bungalow. These high-up shelves offer plenty of flat surface area without taking up any of the valuable square footage down below.
In a small space, lots of colors and patterns can feel dizzying. Instead of wallpapering the walls, opt for a ceiling design instead as Brooklinteriors designer Alicia Hassen did in this East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, apartment. It draws eyes up and leaves the rest of the space feeling wide open.
In this minimalist sitting area by Raji Radhakrishnan, a traditional coffee table was replaced with a low, bite-sized cocktail table. While it's not large enough to put your feet up (that's what the loveseat is for), it's perfect for a coffee and your current read.
Sometimes smaller spaces actually allow for bolder color and pattern experiments. In this small living room idea, Katie Rosenfeld worked in pairs. She used the same floral pattern on the sofa and drapes, corresponding (and wilder!) cheetah prints on the carpet and throw pillow, and then coupled the springy green paint with the striped ottoman. If you love this look but prefer something a touch more modern, use Rosenfeld's formula but swap the traditional fabric for an edgy one and modern photography or an abstract painting for the botanical prints.
David Frazier managed to carve out formal sitting and dining areas in his small New York City apartment. A statement pendant over the pedestal table helps separate the dining zone, and the stackable dining chairs can double as extra seating in the living room. Pops of dark yellow speak to the warm antique wood pieces and break up the neutral color scheme, while a dark curtain rod mounted high on the light-colored wall adds height to the space.
Ditch the sofa altogether if you'd rather use the living room as a place to catch up and chat with others as opposed to lounging horizontally. Four blue-painted rattan chairs are oriented toward each other for visits, but they're comfy enough to recline and stretch out on during life's quieter moments in this small living room by Avery Cox.
In a Parisian apartment by Lichelle Silvestry, luxe, warm, and texture-rich velvet seating further enhances the elaborate period elements. "I adore using materials that add character and authenticity to my interiors," Silvestry says. "It's a sensory feast."
In this small bungalow living room by Another Human, a contemporary linen-covered loveseat gets the bohemian treatment surrounded by granny-chic accents and '70s details. A surprising and rejuvenating shade of purple (Benjamin Moore Grape Ice) keeps things fresh and exciting.
Moroccan rug dealer Amber El-Amin worked around an odd overhang above the sofa in the small living room of her home in Virginia by hanging a plant from it. The greenery enlivens the nook and brings a touch of unexpected whimsy. She didn't forget about light here, either: The two vintage lamps are strategically placed to brighten the tonal and laid-back yet upscale space.
Located by the entry and kitchen in the Novogratz family's New York City townhouse, this bonus sitting room is a crash pad for any visiting kids or guests. It's also a great design formula for anyone who's looking to create a formal setup in a smaller space. Bring in colorful artwork, minimal decorative objects, and streamlined furniture—just the basics!—but in bright colors.
Old books and heirlooms instantly make a room feel more personal, and exposed shelving and/or glass-enclosed cabinets let them shine. In this living room by Oliver Thornton, they add character and speak to the layered warmth of the furnishings, even though the space isn't huge.
If you're feeling stuck and uninspired, a room-spanning rug or piece of artwork can be a great jumping-off point for the rest of the color scheme. Everything in this small living room by Tamsin Johnson is inspired by the gorgeous Art Deco rug, from the plaster color-blocked paint to the masculine leather sofas. A Lucite table keeps a lower visual profile while speaking to the mirrored ceiling (another small space trick).
This simple living room by Robert McKinley Studio incorporates tons of texture, from the rug to the sofa to the greenery. The mix of materials makes it feel casual while still being fresh and stylish.
A reupholstered ottoman can play the role of a coffee table, footrest, and even extra seating. (It's also a great option for anyone who has small children or pets since the edges are soft.) The upholstery allows for extra pattern play if you choose something fun, like this triangle print in a sitting room by Les Ensembliers.
Lean on Lucite and acrylic furniture when a space is starting to feel visually chaotic. Thanks to their transparency, you can count on them to disappear into the background. The waterfall coffee table in this small living room by Ashley Whittaker is a prime example.
Mirroring all your walls to bounce light might sound like a tall order, but what about just hanging a few separate wall-spanning mirrors and then painting the frames in one color to make them look cohesive? The green monochrome situation in this small living room idea by Benjamin Dhong is also inspiring us to layer tonal colors.
Bring on the cozy vibes with plenty of soft fabrics—even applied to the walls! An patterned ottoman, lush velvet sectional, room-spanning rug, fun armchair, and upholstered walls bring this small living room by Nick Olsen to life—it's all the convincing we need.
In a bohemian living room, pretty much anything goes—but if you need some guidance, apply this formula: daybed plus side chair plus armchair plus floor pillows plus a couple of stools equals a space made for lounging. In this case, Commune Design also incorporated a statement rug and task lighting.
Eliza Crater Harris, the great-great-granddaughter of Sister Parish, didn't let limited square footage stop her from incorporating plenty of personality-packed patterns in her New York City apartment. Ceiling-high curtains elongate the room to make it feel larger, and clean-lined furniture prevents the room from feeling too full.
Leaning into the smallness of a space can actually be what makes it feel genuinely cozy and inviting. Keep seating close together and intimate, and pile on textiles and rugs in neutral tones, as Tamsin Johnson did here. Then utilize your walls for everything else, from task lighting to colorful artwork.
If you're short on space, you might have the urge to fill it up with furniture. But sometimes less is more, especially in small living rooms that can quickly become overcrowded. Instead of a large sectional, which can look bulky, float two smaller sofas across from each other with a two-tier coffee table in between, as David Mann did here.
Eclectic, organic spaces like this one by Leanne Ford call for quirky seating arrangements and out-of-the-box furniture. Two small stools are painted white for a softer, cohesive, and personalized look in lieu of coffee tables, cushions are piled on top of a ledge as a makeshift sofa, and a swing hangs from the low ceiling.
Area rugs separate the different zones in this studio apartment by Peter Frank. There's also plenty of accent seating on deck but out of the pathways when not in use, a small space strategy that always delivers.
Choose lighting that can be attached to the walls or hung from above to save floor space, as Tamsin Johnson did in this small living room idea. Swing-arm sconces also bring dimension to the walls, an ideal situation for small living rooms.
This living room triples as an open kitchen and small dining room, so Heidi Caillier stuck with an edited selection of just a few items in the lounge area: a sofa, coffee table, and chair. Semi-sheer curtains to let light pour in throughout the entire room. Even if you don't have large windows and tons of sunlight, choose lighter shades to maximize the light you do have.
City apartment dwellings give "small" a whole new meaning. But Shari Francis has plenty of tricks up her sleeve to outsmart limiting floor plans. Tip number one: Separate an alcove bedroom from an adjoining living room with a sliding barn door to enhance privacy and give yourself dedicated spaces for different activities. (It's a relatively DIY project, and there are plenty of cool, affordable options on Etsy.) Tip number two: A smaller sofa is better than a bulky one that takes up the entire room, and one armchair is better than two if it means keeping a pathway clear—plus, asymmetry is chic.
The carefully collected yet laid-back vibe in Elizabeth Georgantas's Nantucket living room is the perfect setup for a small space. An upcycled trunk stands in for a coffee table and provides hidden storage for extra throws and loose gadgets, and a small sofa is an appropriate scale for the proportions of the room.
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