Sneaky styling tricks to make a small living room appear larger

The living room is the space where one typically unwinds after a long and tiring day. However, the soaring prices of real estate translates to a crunch in square footage. Imaging securing a penang apartment for a good deal. However, the square footage of the apartment leaves much to be desired. Smaller spaces tend to be easily turn cramped and cluttered. A clear space means a clear mind. We’re providing you some design ideas and tips on how to make your living room appear larger than it is. There’s no doubt that even the smallest living room can be made to look like palace where you can find that zen you need in life.

Do go light on window treatments. Heavy drapery and bulky shutters only serve to make a room appear smaller, no matter how beautiful those plantation shutters look. Darkness just accentuates the cramped feeling in a small room. Think about keeping curtains light to help maximize light and keep your place bright. You can also opt for sheet curtains to maximize the amount of light you get in your living room.

Smaller spaces benefit well from some visual trickery. Hanging your curtains close to the ceiling and well above the window can impart a lot of airiness and height in your smaller living room. Raising the eye up to the ceiling gives an illusion of depth and grandeur. In other words, they help vertically elongate the room.

When you’re dealing with limited space, you really need to consider every piece of furniture you put in your space. To help you with this endeavor of scaling down, choose multifunctional furniture. Think about sofas with hidden storage beneath seats, or even sofas than can be turned into sofa bed. Maybe even opt for a dining table that can do double-duty as a work-desk. The key is that everything should have more than one purpose.

Use an ottoman or two in place of a traditional coffee table or side table. Place a tray on top of them when you need an extra surface. You can also take advantage of their multifunctionality by calling them into use as extra seating.

Go for a larger rug to make the room feel a big bigger. Sometimes, bolder is always better. Consider a bold brilliant blue rug, or even one in an eye-catching pattern. However, do keep in mind that the size of the pattern should be in scale to the size of the room. A small rug will make your room look choppy and disjointed. A large rug doesn’t visually break up the floor and makes the room look larger

If you are more of a traditional person that insists on having a coffee table, go for smaller pieces in place of one large coffee table. Why don't you replace your large knee-knocker table with two smaller drum tables that can be easily moved wherever you need them. In this case, two is better than one.

Although the norm is to keep small rooms light and bright, you can also go the opposite way. In a small room that doesn’t get a lot of light, you can accentuate these personalities by painting the walls a dark and dramatic color. This creates a sophisticated backdrop for your lighter colored furniture. Take advantage of these negative aspects and turn them into positives. Imagine your smaller room as a dramatic jewel box. Small and sophisticated, but not too dark.

Sometimes, clutter (i.e. small little things in small spaces) can visually tighten things up. To combat that, think about an extra-large sofa or arm chairs. Sometimes, bigger means better, especially as you would be forced to reduce the number of furniture pieces in your living room. This can be a win-win situation. A bigger scale also translates to more comfort.

Just because your living room is small, doesn’t mean it has to be bland. If you think you’re only stuck with bland and boring beiges, you’re wrong. Consider adding a few bold statement pieces in a mix of patterns and colors. Going big, bright and bold can sometimes make your smaller space feel larger. Not only do these pieces add a visual point of focus, they also make your living room more cheerful and playful.

Table lamb or standing lamps can sometimes hog precious floor space. Instead, you can consider going for lighting that can be attached to walls or hung from above to save valuable surface space. You can even splurge on dimmers for your ceiling-mounted fixtures to add a bit more depth to the living room. Also think about letting in as much natural light as possible during the day.

Another great tip is to keep furniture central in the room. This means keeping furniture that is pushed against the walls to a minimum. Although you might be tempted to push everything to the wall to create more space in the middle of the room, floating furniture will create space beyond the furniture, which adds volume to your living room.

Rather than bulky bookshelves or cabinets, install some wall-mounted helving. This helps you free up some floor space, while also adding some flexible surface area for your knick-knacks.

Mirrors can actually help open up constricted spaces. They can reflect various areas of your living room, and this gives the illusion of space multiplied. They trick the eye into thinking there is more space than there actually is. A good tip is to place wall mirrors in a good location, perhaps somewhere they can reflect an attractive view.

When your space is smaller, you really need to be more strategic about your furniture choices. Low, long pieces of furniture or seating can keep your space from feeling cramped and crowded. These keep your wall space open and gives the illusion of more space. Tall, hulking pieces of furniture will end up dwarfing your room. However, if you must opt for a tall furniture item, choose one that is thin depth-wise.