The 15 Best Small Living Room Ideas on a Budget
This post will show you the 15 best small living room ideas on a budget.
As homes move towards apartments, small condos, town houses, and tiny homes, the living spaces are smaller, in many cases, than they were years ago. The size of the space doesn’t need to determine the enjoyment of it though, with some great small living room ideas they can be a comfortable, productive, and well used room of any home.
This post showed you 15 Best Small Living Room Ideas On A Budget.
1.Plants
Adding plants can brighten almost any room and by bringing in a connection with the outside you create the feeling of open space. The create a feeling of airiness, growth, and opens the small living room to seem bigger than it is. Where it may feel natural to add small plants, large plants can be a great choice by tricking the mind into thinking that if such large and healthy plants can thrive in the space that it must be larger than expected, full of natural light, and support life and growth.
2.Limit Furniture
Furniture makes a room, and determined the feel of the space, the emotions that will arise, and the comfort of the living room especially. While it can work to include large pieces of furniture, the key to the success of that design is to limit the amount of furniture pieces that are in the room to leave a large footprint open on the floor. Include seating, flat surfaces to set things down on, an area rug to mark the sections, and other necessary pieces.
3.Use Small Furniture
Trade out a large coffee table for small side tables, large chairs with sleek, low profile seats, and bookcases with floating shelves. Select furniture that has thin legs, or no legs, swap large coffee tables for ottomans and poufs that also add seating, or use one large piece for a focus and smaller items around it. Bringing balance to a room is key to comfort and style and can be accomplished in many different ways.
4.Add Storage
Find ways to add storage that are not obstructive or intrusive. Floating shelves that are placed higher than usual will add height to the room, furniture that open to storage will hide blankets, pillows, or other items, or use end tables that are small shelving units or cupboards. Shadow boxes provide a way to place things on walls without creating a footprint on the floor or limiting space.
5.Use the Vertical Space
When the space that is available on the floor is limited, then using the vertical space is the only way to expand the area. Above low furniture or low profile storage pieces is an ideal space for floating shelves. These create storage space that will bring balance to the room, use the vertical space up to the ceiling, and allow for placement of small items, books, and sentimental items.
6.Create a Portrait Wall
Bring focus to one wall with a portrait wall. These can be created with only people that you know, with people that you look up to, or even just images that you find enjoyable and that cause you to feel something. Not only does this add personality to the room, it draws the eye and creates a focal point.
7.Natural Lighting
Small spaces can feel open and airy where there are windows, natural lightening, and when possible a breeze right from outside will help to connect the room to the outdoors. Use sheer curtains or open the blinds to allow the light to flow into the room and limit the use of lamps and artificial lighting.
8.Neutral Colors
Surround yourself with neutral colors that are reminiscent of time outside, that create a sense of calm and peace in the room. There are many neutral color palettes to choose from and by selecting the one that feels the best to you, you will be able to create a space that you enjoy spending time in and that will help you to feel calm and comfortable in your apartment or home.
9.Use Patterns
Adding patterns to the room can help to create interest, brighten the room, and add dimension to the space. This is a great way to show some personality and to create contrast in both color and pattern. Selecting one pattern to use throughout brings cohesion and ensures the space matches, while adding small pieces of more than one pattern may build interest and help to move the eye around the room, increasing the energy and helping the flow.
10.Seating Areas
Create spaces that encourage conversation and comfortable seating. This will increase the time that you and others will spend in the room and facing seating areas together will improve the flow of conversation, moving the focus to where it is being directed. A seating area can be designed for watching television and movies, can be grouped around a table or coffee table for board and card games, or they can be designed to have a couch or chairs facing each other for conversation.
11.Multipurpose furniture
When space is limited the use of furniture that performs more than one function can be the key to successful design and productivity in the room. Benches with included storage can double as seating, couches with lift up storage sections or pull out beds can be low profile and take up little space while offering additional uses and space for guests to stay. Coffee tables that have lift tops can double as desks or workspaces, or even somewhere to enjoy a meal.
12.Area Rugs for Zoning
A well placed area rug can set a section of the room apart from the rest, creating a small area for a specific task. Under a desk it creates a work area, under a coffee table or couch it forms a conversation and seating space, and when placed in other areas it will show the area that is in use at that moment.
13.Use windowsills
Windowsills are often large enough for a small plant, a few decor pieces, a herb garden, or other smaller items. When not used they leave empty space by the window, which can cause the room to feel open and uncluttered but by adding a few ideal pieces it will hold the items as well as add to the feel of the space and allow natural light to flow in.
14.Mood Lighting
Avoid harsh overhead lights and include lamps, lava lamps, LED lights that change color or add to the mood of the room. There are several ways to add table lamps for reading, standing lamps for crafting, backlights being the TV to add to the viewing experience.
15.Address the Walls
Adding a fresh color of paint or a new row of wallpaper can bring color, pattern, or tie the room together. Use a light color to make the room feel larger or add a dark wall or a darker color on the walls to make it feel small and cozy. Throw blankets and cushions can add contrast or tie the room together with the wall colors.
Recap
With so many great ideas for small living rooms there is sure to be some that work for everyone. To make the most of the space use storage, make it comfortable, and pay attention to details.
