Big Ideas To Make The Most Of Small Living Room Space

With inflation on the rise, it’s only logical that the cost per square footage of living space is steadily increasing, especially in the Klang Valley area. Although a small space may not fit every person’s lifestyle, this has not stopped developers from scaling back the sizes of new houses and apartments. A newly developed apartment situated on putrajaya property these days is much smaller than the size of older apartments.

1. Decorate with mirrors

Mirrors are one of the most common décor elements for any space. Mirrors can be visual space enhancers. However, in smaller spaces, their use needs to be much more deliberate compared to how they are normally used in larger spaces. There’s only one mantra when it comes to mirrors and small spaces: the smaller the space, the larger the mirror.

The easiest trick is to hang a large mirror, or a couple of large mirrors, in a central location in your living room to create a focal point. This draws the eye into thinking that there is more space than what actually exists. You can get creative with your placement too. If your space lacks light, you can place

 them across from your windows. This helps reflect light around the room while giving the illusion of more windows.

2. Draw the eye upward

Every room has both a vertical dimension and a horizontal one. What you want to do is keep the eye focused on the vertical panes. Horizontal views only serve to make the eye feel more confined. Some easy tricks include decorating with vertical spaces in mind. For example, fill a vertical bookshelf with a menagerie of small to midsize décor pieces. This can be artwork, books, or even any quirky knick-knacks. What this does is that it helps guide the eyes to focus more vertically, inviting the eye to roam beyond the normal eye-level horizontal space.

Many other tricks exist in the design books. You can hang floor-to-ceiling drapes to give the perception of more height. Make sure that they are as close to the ceiling as possible in order to draw your eye upwards. Adding architecturalelements, such as ceiling beams or cornices, to your ceiling is another good idea. Also, don’t forget to play around with color. For example, adding an interesting pop of color to the spaces between ceiling beams can attract the eye upwards.

3. Stick to a neutral color palette

A neutral color palette is one of the most popular ideas for small spaces. Like mirrors, soft hues also tend to reflect light, illuminating the room better and imparting a brighter outlook to your space. Pick complimentary color hues for your walls, floor, ceiling and the upholstery on your furniture. Color palettes that incorporate colors such as off-white or beiges work very well to give small spaces the openness and brightness it sorely needs. They expand small spaces by appearing to push back the walls. These colors also work very well against warm wood tones in furniture and the classic off-white trim.

You might think neutral colors are boring, but they don’t have to be blah. Use a neutral color palette as a base for your space but add in pops of color through accents. This compromise helps maintain your bright and light space, but still keeps enough visual attraction.

4. Decorate with lightweight-looking furniture

The visuals are everything when it comes to small spaces. When you choose your furniture, consider the visualweight it adds to your space. What this means it that you need to take the perceived heaviness of a piece of furniture into account, for example, the size, color and design. Choose pieces that look lightweight. Steer clear of anything heavy and bulky looking, as these pieces will only seem to constrict your space more.

Opt for lighter and paler colors over darker ones. Darker colors not only add weight, but also draw in the eye more, distracting from the overall brightness of your space. Also remember to avoid pieces that are boxy and are close to the floor. Rather, look for those that have legs and have a bit of space underneath them. Another thing to consider is the material. For example, pieces made of glass will take up less

 visual space than wooden ones. All in all, make sure that the furniture you select does not obstruct your sight. The key is to maintain an open-looking space.

5. Keep furniture in scale

When space is tight, your furniture choices need to be deliberate and well thought-out. We can’t stress the importance of proportions enough. The furniture you choose for your space need to be in balance with the size of the space itself. Select furniture that won’t overpower the room or appear to dominate your space, so consider the look of the furniture itself. For example, a sofa with thinner arms and a tight upholstered back is a better choice than one with substantial arms and a fluffy multi-cushion back. You could even do without a couch completely. Pick out a smaller combination of seating, such as a loveseat or four arm chairs around a coffee table.

The same idea applies to other furniture. For instance, you wouldn’t want to take up valuable floor space by drowning your living room with a gigantic media center. Instead, go for a low media console that does not distract your eye.