Every room, even small ones, requires a focal point; but finding one takes some finesse.
Clutter can block out visual lines and overwhelm a small room, so to reduce this feeling of congestion try grouping items in odd numbers. Double-duty furnishings like pouf ottomans that double as extra seating while simultaneously holding blankets is another good solution.
Focus on Focal Points
When decorating small spaces, it’s essential to create one or two focal points with furniture arrangement. These could be stunning small living room fireplace ideas, picture windows with breathtaking views or unique decorative details you want to highlight.
Focal points can be defined with statement pieces like this stunning blown glass plate or by grouping together items like framed photos and candles in clusters rather than scattering them across a tabletop. Doing this will create more of an unified aesthetic and prevent over-styling from taking over your interior design efforts.
Reflective surfaces such as mirrors can also add depth and width, providing the appearance of more depth and width in rooms with limited natural lighting. You’ll find an extensive selection of stylish mirrors at Urban Outfitters that may suit your decor perfectly.
Avoid Over-Styling
Furniture might tempt us to fill every inch of space with furnishings, but too much stuff can block visual lines and make a room seem cramped. Instead, aim for creating small vignettes instead of filling every square foot of space with clutter.
Target two feet of breathing room between coffee table, sofa and chairs to ease movement around the room and prevent people from accidentally running into one another as they make their way around it. This will also prevent anyone from accidentally bumping into each other when walking across it.
For an streamlined aesthetic, try choosing light colors and selecting materials that visually lighten the wall colors. Instead of choosing plush velvets and damasks as well as plusher velvets or damasks for upholstery fabric choices, linen, cottons or sheers work much better to keep the room airy and open; adding glass, acrylic or mirror-topped coffee tables helps bounce light around and give off a sense of spaciousness in order to create an impression of cleanliness in a room that feels put-together and collected.
Go Lean on Legs
One of the best furniture tips for small spaces is making full use of vertical space. Instead of filling every inch of usable floor space with furniture, try using walls and ceilings as decoration pieces or storage. Hanging shelves above sofas is one great way to save space while still displaying decorative items.
At the same time, try opting for lighter fabrics like linen and cotton with tailored edges over bulkier draperies or plush materials in order to achieve an airier, streamlined appearance. This will create more space.
Go Big on Rugs
Rugs can often make or break an entire room. When purchasing one, keep this in mind when making your selection: think of it like purchasing art: the rug must balance furniture groupings similarly to how a frame encases paintings; additionally it needs to anchor larger pieces such as sofas or chairs in the room.
Cyrus Loloi, principal at Loloi Rugs, recommends purchasing a rug large enough to support all front feet of furniture in the grouping while still leaving space around its perimeter. This helps avoid that “half on, half off” look that some may find distracting.
Use a rug in a lighter hue to reflect more light around the room, helping make a long narrow space feel larger. Furthermore, adding clear acrylic or glass coffee tables will only heighten its sense of brightness further. Don’t leave alcoves or nooks unutilized either; these spaces could provide storage or extra seating which makes the room more welcoming.
