Furnishing small living rooms without making mistakes: functional solutions to enhance your living room with the right fixtures and fittings
A place to congregate and relax, the living room is arguably the heart of our homes and it is important that it is set up to be warm, welcoming and cozy for our families, friends and guests.
Unfortunately, not all of us live in a large house with a large living room. For most homeowners these days, having a small living room tends to be the reality. And if your living room is small, it is essential to avoid making some common furnishing errors that could make it look and feel less hospitable.
Below, we detail some of the most common design errors homeowners make, and how to avoid them:
1. Take accurate measurements
The first mistake many make is not taking into account the actual dimensions of their living rooms. Being aware of the space available - and measuring this accurately - is very useful for making/ordering custom-built furniture which will fit snugly into a small living room.
Choose to use only a few pieces of furniture - perhaps with multiple functions - that will suit the surrounding decor and serve your needs without making the living room feel crowded and cramped.
2. Pay attention to colors
To create a relaxing and welcoming environment, it's best to use neutral and/or soft colors in pastel shades for your fixtures and fittings in the living room; over-use of "eccentric" colors could easily make the available space appear even smaller. Use bright and vivid colors in moderation, perhaps just for creating individual accent elements that you want to be focal points.
3. Lighting
Lighting is another fundamental consideration for small living rooms, as luminosity (or lack thereof) can make a room seem larger or smaller. Make the most of the natural light that comes in from the windows and highlight the different corners of your living room using strategically installed light sources, ie. not just ceiling-mounted light fittings, but also wall sconces (up and down-lighters) and table or floor lamps.
4. Don't forget mirrors
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Often overlooked when furnishing living rooms, mirrors are invaluable when used in small rooms. Mirrors make the space look bigger and reflect the natural light, making any room feel more airy and bright. Hang up a large mirror on a wall - you will notice the difference instantly. Alternatively, make use of reflective surfaces, such as furniture with a glossy finishes to create the same effect.
5. Be careful when using dark colors
Just like with bright, vivid colors mentioned above, the use of dark colors should also be done in moderation. Dark colors can easily "overwhelm" your living room, making it feel smaller and oppressive. Choose light colors for the furnishings, decorative elements, the walls and the flooring. Of course, you can use dark colors judiciously to create accented elements you want to have as focal points in your living room.
Have you made any these mistakes furnishing your small living rooms?
