Home Design & Decorating Small Spaces

17 Small Living Room Layouts That Can Make Any Room Seem Larger

By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Published on 08/14/24
small living room layout ideas

Fantastic Frank

With the right layout, a small living room can be a cozy and functional gathering place for family and friends that rivals a larger one. From choosing a focal point to arranging dual-purpose furniture to making use of vertical space, there are a variety of easy ways to make a small living room work. 

Check out these small living room layout ideas and design tips for inspiration.

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How to Arrange Furniture in a Small Living Room

  • Decide on a focal point that fits with how you use the space. This can be the fireplace, a TV wall with built-ins, or the sofa wall.
  • Lay down an area rug that is big enough to fit your main seating area, be it a sofa, a loveseat, or a pair of armchairs. 
  • Arrange seating around your focal point. Consider floating furniture to define zones and make it easy to circulate around the space. Define individual zones for watching TV or create a conversation area depending on your lifestyle.
  • Choose a coffee table that fits the space. A round table is often a good choice in a small living room to create flow. Dual-purpose furniture like an ottoman with hidden storage or a sofa table behind the couch that can help divide space or serve as a remote workstation will make your small living room more functional.
  • 01 of 17

    Anchor With an Area Rug

    small living room dining room layout

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    Anchor a small living room in an open-plan space with an area rug. Desiree Burns Interiors chose a solid rug in a pale hue that complements light wood flooring, adding soft texture rather than pattern or color to the living room portion of the space.

  • 02 of 17

    Build Out an Accent Wall

    small coastal living room layout

    Maite Granda

    In a smaller space, concentrating art and decor objects primarily on a single wall will create a cozy feel that isn't cluttered. Interior designer Maite Granda chose a straightforward layout in this compact space, with a sofa facing the fireplace wall, a single armchair in one corner, and a floor pouf the other to provide extra seating without cramping the space.

  • 03 of 17

    Float the Sofa

    small apartment living room layout

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    Define a small apartment living room that shares space with a dining table by floating the sofa in the middle of the room. Desiree Burns Interiors split this space by placing the sofa with its back to the dining area to optimize the layout and visually divide the room.

  • 04 of 17

    Design Around the TV

    small living room layout with tv

    Laura Brophy Interiors

    If you don't want a giant flat screen to dominate your small living room, decorate around the TV with an accent wall. Laura Brophy Interiors built a modern TV wall with closed cabinets to hide cables and wires, a decorative wall accent, and built-in cubbies for display.

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  • 05 of 17

    Preserve Flow

    small living room layout ideas

    Kate Marker Interiors

    A pouf or an ottoman with rounded corners is a multifunctional piece of furniture that can take the place of a coffee table in a small room. Kate Marker Interiors topped it with a tray to house a small selection of decor items and allow you to put down a mug or a glass.

    Choose Multifunctional Furniture

    Choose an ottoman with hidden storage for blankets, toys, or other small items to help maintain a clutter-free look in a smaller living room.

  • 06 of 17

    Use the Corners

    small living room layout with corner sectional

    Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    Optimize space in a small living room by utilizing the corners. This can mean placing a tripod floor lamp in the corner that will balance the light and fill the empty space without crowding the room. Or it can mean placing an L-shaped sectional in the corner of a small living room to maximize seating options, like this space from Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design.

  • 07 of 17

    Downsize Furniture

    small living room furniture layout

    Neva Interior Design / Photo by Picthouse - Patrick Manclière

    Keep a small living room feeling light and airy with small-scale furniture that doesn't overwhelm. While this living room from Neva Interior Design has enough space for a corner sectional, a jewel-toned velvet love seat and a spare rattan armchair is plenty of seating for someone living independently or a couple.

    Source Vintage Pieces

    Vintage pieces such as midcentury modern tables and chairs are often smaller in scale than more contemporary furniture options, making them ideal for living rooms with limited space.

  • 08 of 17

    Use Vertical Wall Space

    small living room with custom built-in shelving

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    A custom built-in, large bookshelf, or DIY bookshelves that run from floor to ceiling will draw the eye upward to make your room feel taller and more expansive. Desiree Burns Interiors painted the built-ins green to coordinate with the couch in this small living room, filling them with light-colored decor objects that turns a small side wall into a showpiece.

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  • 09 of 17

    Face the Fireplace

    small living room furniture layout

    Desiree Burns Interiors

    A living room fireplace wall creates an instant focal point. Desiree Burns Interiors oriented the seating area with the sofa facing the fireplace. A swivel armchair adds additional seating without blocking flow in the open-plan layout.

    Choose Swivel Chairs

    Swivel chairs will add flexibility in a small living room, allowing you to pivot between a conversation area and a TV wall, for example, without getting up or rearranging furniture.

  • 10 of 17

    Perfect an Open-Plan Layout

    small open-plan living room layout

    Brexton Cole Interiors

    Create an anchor point in a small open-concept living room with a hybrid TV and fireplace wall. Brexton Cole Interiors painted the horizontal shiplap fireplace wall in this small living room in dark navy that helps the flat screen fade into the background when not in use.

  • 11 of 17

    Try a Tiered Side Table

    small open plan apartment living room layout

    Forbes + Masters

    Choose a tiered side table to accompany a floating sofa in a small living room. Forbes + Masters chose a contemporary piece with stone oval surfaces and a metal base that visually defines the living room from the kitchen and dining in this open-concept condominium living room.

  • 12 of 17

    Try Low Modular Furniture

    small living room modular furniture layout

    Alvin Wayne

    Modular furniture is an adaptable solution for spaces both small and large. In this New York City apartment from interior designer Alvin Wayne, the low-slung furniture makes the space feel larger and the ceilings taller.

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  • 13 of 17

    Define With a Floor Lamp

    small living room layout furniture placement

    Erin Williamson Design

    Place a large arc lamp in the corner of a small living room that will project out over the seating area to add a sculptural element while adding plenty of lighting after dark. Erin Williamson Design anchored this airy living room with a brightly colored and patterned rug to define it from the adjacent dining space.

  • 14 of 17

    Divide With a Console Table

    small living room layout ideas

    John McClain Design

    In a small open-concept living room, define the seating area by turning the sofa back to the rest of the space. John McClain Design created even more separation by placing a console table and a pair of floor lamps behind the sofa to add display space and lighting without the need for end tables and lamps that would impede circulation.

  • 15 of 17

    Choose Dual-Purpose Pieces

    apartment living room layout ideas

    Forbes + Masters

    Add stealth storage or extra functionality to a small living room with dual-purpose furniture and decor. This can mean something as simple as a vintage trunk that doubles as a coffee table, a sofa bed for occasional guests, or a mobile bar cart stocked with glassware, bottles, and decor objects, like this space from Forbes + Masters.

  • 16 of 17

    Hang Lighting on the Wall

    apartment living room ideas

    Tina Ramchandani Creative

    Hang a large sculptural sconce on the wall of your small living room to add style and save space. Tina Ramchandani Creative chose a double-armed industrial-style sconce in this NYC living room for a sleek feel.

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  • 17 of 17

    Swap the Couch for a Daybed

    small apartment living room layout ideas

    Fantastic Frank

    In a small apartment living room, swap the sofa for a daybed, like this Scandinavian space from Fantastic Frank. Let it double as a bedroom in a tiny studio apartment, or use it as a place to host visiting friends if you live in a one-bedroom.

How do you style a living room with lots of furniture? 

Resist the urge to push everything up against the walls. Float furniture such as the sofa when possible for an airy feel, or create a large conversation area by arranging armchairs around a circular coffee table. Set up individual zones such as a sofa opposite a TV wall and a pair of armchairs and a coffee table on a side wall.

How do you make a small living room look good?

Edit furniture and decor to the essentials to make your small living room comfortable to use. Anchor the seating area with a large area rug. Utilize vertical space with built-ins, sconces, and wall art and decor.