5 Elements That Give the Impression of a Compact Living Room
The main living area is a crucial part of any household. It's where people gather for afternoon chats over tea or evening drinks, where families unwind at the end of the day, and where engaging conversations take place. Not every home has a spacious living area, but even the largest can feel limited due to poor interior design choices.
Whether it's a confined space plan or oversized furniture, a living room can suddenly feel confined and cramped. Fortunately, there are strategies to avoid this consequence, making your living room appear larger, brighter, and more airy—despite any lack of square footage. Read on for expert insights from interior designers.
- Prudence Bailey, founder and principal designer of Prudence Home & Design
- Elly Poston, founder and principal designer of Elly Poston Interiors
Over-Decorating
It's simple to have an excess of good items, and this is particularly true with decor. Everyone loves their carefully selected candles, artworks, and collected objects—but they don't always need to fill a living room all at once. "Not every wall requires art, and it doesn't need to be in the center," states interior designer Elly Poston. "Give the eye and brain some space to rest!"
Declutter your tables as well. "Simplify your surfaces by clearing coffee tables of excessive decor," recommends interior designer Prudence Bailey. "Stick to a few meaningful or large decor pieces instead." Poston also suggests perusing design magazines or books for inspiration on how to curate a collection rather than just pile it on. "I promise there's endless inspiration," she says. "Be your best editor! Less is usually more."
Incorrect Lighting
Lighting is crucial in a living room—incorrect lighting can quickly make it feel confined. "The light's color should be warm and soft," emphasizes Bailey. "Bright, cold-toned (blue-white) lighting can make a room feel sterile, clinical, and uncomfortable, visually reducing the space."
According to Poston, overhead lighting is another error to avoid, as it can similarly make a room feel smaller and harsher. Instead, both interior designers suggest a more layered approach to illumination. "To enlarge a room, layer your lighting by combining ceiling lights, floor lamps, table lamps, and wall sconces to eliminate dark corners," explains Bailey. Lastly, always include dimmers to control brightness and set the mood.
Oversized Furniture
Large living rooms can accommodate a generous sectional or a substantial lounge chair, but most will struggle to balance out these expansive proportions. "Living and designing houses in Virginia often involves older, historic homes—most of which have smaller-scaled rooms," admits Poston. "I can hardly think of any home shops that carry furniture that's appropriately scaled for a smaller living room."
The solution? "Avoid overstuffed sofas, large tables, and chairs," suggests Bailey. "Select sofas and chairs with legs, which create a sensation of openness by allowing light to pass through." Sometimes, browsing a second-hand store for something vintage can be an excellent option as well. "Buy vintage upholstery furniture and restore it," recommends Poston. "The proportions are usually perfect, and the fabrication quality is usually superior to the frames produced today."
Small Rugs
Every living room requires a rug, both for aesthetic reasons and to help manage sound flow, but the size and choice will significantly impact your overall layout. "Rugs should fill the room appropriately, allowing most—or all—of the furniture to sit comfortably on top of it," advises Poston. "For many of our projects, this means custom cutting less expensive goods, like sisal, and layering more expensive rugs on top. A small rug is always an eyesore!"
Dark Colors
A living room painted in a deep, rich hue can be stunning—but be mindful of how much you use and what you pair it with. "Certain color palettes and choices can make your living room appear smaller or more confined due to how they absorb light, impact perception, or visually close off the space," warns Bailey. "I love to balance light and dark in small rooms."
If your heart is set on a dramatic dark gray or an earthy brown, then it's possible to use it, but perhaps do so more sparingly—especially if your space is modest to begin with. "You can use them on a feature wall, ceiling, furniture accents, or decor, and balance them with lighter tones elsewhere," adds Bailey. "For example, a dark ceiling and light walls will make the room's height appear taller, as dark colors tend to make things recede."
Although Martha Stewart offers numerous home design decor ideas, it's crucial to consider the size and layout of your living room. Over-decorating with too many items or using incorrect lighting can make a space feel confined and smaller. Instead, opt for warm and soft lighting, and use a layered approach with various types of lighting sources. Additionally, avoid oversized furniture that may make a small living room feel even more cramped. Choose pieces with legs to allow light to pass through and consider custom-cutting rugs to fill the space properly.
