Small Space, Plenty of Style: 9 Tips for Designing Your Apartment Living Room
When people think of decorating their living space, they often picture what things will be like when they finally own a home. They’re more focused on their future dream home and interior design trends than where they currently live.
The truth is, though, you can turn something as simple as an apartment living room into a unique space that has plenty of style.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know.
1. Let Plenty of Light In
Our brains naturally interpret a well-lit room as being a larger space– even if you compare it to a darker room of the same size. So, you’ll want to make sure that you have plenty of light from multiple sources.
If you don’t have the room (or the budget) for lamps, string lights and pendant lights are a simple addition that you can use to brighten up the area. You’ll need to find some alternative source of light, anyway, if you plan on using the room at night.
2. Declutter
One of the worst ways to treat a small space is by having tons of clutter everywhere. This becomes especially suffocating if it impedes where you can walk.
Since your eyes don’t have much area to look at in a small space, significant clutter (even if it’s stacked in a corner) can easily throw off the energy of a room. So, take the time to make it look a little less lived-in.
3. Vertical Space
One of the biggest issues about apartment living rooms is that there often isn’t enough space for most of the furniture or decorative items you’d like to add.
What you can do, though, is take advantage of the vertical space the room has in order to add more to it.
For example, shelves, bookcases, and vertical artwork can all help people perceive the room as being bigger than it actually is. If you choose to add curtains over your windows, install the rod just a bit underneath the ceiling.
This will also serve to create the illusion of extra space.
4. Area Rugs
This is an especially useful tactic for rooms that have tile flooring.
Area rugs add extra ‘depth’ to a living room and give your eye another object to interpret when looking around. While a circular or rectangular shape is often up to preference, it may be easier to (and more natural-looking) to use a rectangle area rug when decorating.
Even if you have carpet or hardwood flooring, this strategy is still effective for opening up the room.
5. Mirrors
The use of mirrors is one of the oldest methods of creating the illusion of space.
This is partly due to tricking your eyes into thinking the room is twice as big as it really is. But, mirrors also diffuse light around the room and can make your space far more illuminated.
Additionally, they’re also practical for taking pictures or making last-second adjustments to your appearance before heading out, so keep this utility in mind if you’re interested in getting one (or a few).
6. Add Plants and Flowers
A few small plants on a coffee table or a taller plant in the corner of the room will give the room more life and will help it feel less boxy and confining. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need to properly care for your plants in order for this to be a worthwhile endeavour.
Plants that are dead or withering will drastically reduce the pleasantness of the room.
If you don’t have the time to take care of them, fake plants are always an option– even if they don’t look that real.
7. Large Items Go on The Perimeter
Keeping larger items (even furniture) on the edge of the room will open up space in the middle of the area. While this may not seem like much in a small room, the extra visual depth and walking area will go a long way.
This tip is especially useful for those who already have furniture but aren’t sure how to arrange it.
8. Personalise
It’s important not to confuse ‘personalisation’ with ‘clutter.’ There’s a difference between decorative items like pillows and coffee table books and actual personal belongings like binders, shoes, etc.
Instead, opt for a small vase, mirror, etc. Especially on or near the walls.
Finally, hang up some artwork or photographs if you have any to help add character to your walls’ empty space.
You can find more info here on how to create a luxury living room.
9. Keep It Simple
As previously mentioned, clutter can be detrimental to the look and feel of your living room. So, trying to add too many different accents can have the opposite effect.
Imagine a living room with plants, chairs, couches, a coffee table, shelves, etc. It would have plenty of utility, but not much actual space.
Instead, choose just a handful of ways you want to accent your living room and then focus on the room’s arrangement. You can easily get away with a small table, a couch, a chair or two, and artwork on your walls.
Decorating Your Apartment Living Room Can Seem Difficult
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the above information about adding style to your apartment living room in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a space that both you and your guests will love.
Want to learn more about how to decorate your home? Make sure to check out the rest of our blog.
