When maximizing a small space, think simple. A room that has a lot of pieces of furniture and artwork can start to get crowded quickly. At this point, you have a living room that feels, looks, and is small. The trick to maximizing the space that you have is to think simple. Include the necessary items in this room such as a couch, maybe a television, maybe at least one coffee table. Do not overdo it. Furniture comes in all different shapes and sizes. For a small living room, do not get the overstuffed pillows to accent the overstuffed couch. Think simple. A standard couch with seating for three and possibly an accent chair are really enough. No room for the accent chair? Then a couch will have to do.
This is not to say that the walls have to be white and there should be no artwork or other knickknacks on display. If you want to paint your living rooms walls, keep to the brighter side of the color palette. Do not choose dark colors because they will only close the living room in and make it seem smaller. When choosing paintings to display, take your time and choose only a few. The artwork that you choose should also have lighter tones to further enhance the illusion of space while adding a decorative touch to the room.
Again, a cluttered wall will make the room seem smaller. When decorating a small living room, it is best to choose a few items that you really like and display those; likewise with knickknacks. Corner shelves are wonderful for small pieces that you'd like to display. They do not take a lot of room and you can display pieces on them with relatively little trouble. Do not, however, overload these shelves. This will still be clutter. Choose a few pieces that match the current decor and display those.
Usable items can be blended with the decor to enhance it as well as serve a practical purpose. Instead of having three or four remote controls placed randomly throughout the living room, buy a remote caddy in the shape of a boat to enhance the outdoor decor throughout the room. This is only one example, but usable items are often incorporated in decor if you shop in the right places. Craft stores or local craft sales are famous for carrying items that you might not find in the chain stores. Use this to your advantage. Remote control caddies are not all. You can find pitchers that are decorated several different ways that can act as vases for flowers that will enhance your decor among several other things.
A small living room is ripe for creative decorative solutions. They can be decorated to add space, enhance aesthetics, and promote usability. More than any of these, they are a cozy, intimate area in which a family can create strong bonds.
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