How to Overcome Toronto Home Design and Furnishing Challenges in a Small Living Room

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October 9, 2015

Designing and furnishing a small space is always tricky business. But the living room in particular can be even more of a challenge because that’s probably the room where you spend most of your time, so you want to make sure it’s comfy.
Here are some ideas to help you overcome some of the typical challenges of designing and furnishing a small living room.
Limit Clutter With Double-Action Furniture
Storage can be a real issue in smaller spaces, so you’ll have to take measures to cut down on the clutter. A great way to do this is to find furniture pieces that also double as storage. A coffee table with shelving underneath, or an ottoman that opens up for storage are great options to house your belongings without taking up extra space with added storage pieces.
Use Vertical Space as Much as Possible
There’s no reason to leave your wall space near the ceilings vacant, especially in a small room. While wall space doesn’t exactly help with adding extra furniture pieces, it certainly can help create a sense of a bigger area by drawing the eye up. This can easily be done by filling the wall with art pieces or mirrors as far up as your wall goes to create an impression of a larger, grander room.
Use Wallpaper and Mirrors Wisely
If your living room is short on square footage, it can seem tight and gloomy. To rectify this scenario, create a sense of space and brightness by lining the walls with decorative and modern wallpaper and add mirrors generously. This will help increase light and depth to the space, especially if the mirrors are positioned across from windows to reflect natural light.
Use Less-Boxy Furniture
Furniture that is bulky can overpower a small room. In this case, you’d be better off filing the area with smaller-scale furniture that matches the size of the room. These days, it’s easier than ever to find more streamlined furniture pieces that don’t rely on bulk to add comfort. Look for pieces like love seats, small settees, and chaises that work well in your space.
Forego the Sofa Altogether
Just because you’re furnishing a living room doesn’t mean you are hard-pressed to add a sofa. There are no rules set in stone that dictate that living rooms need couches. If you’re super strapped for space in this room, forego the sofa altogether in favour of more delicate chairs. They still provide plenty of comfortable seating, but without all the space. Try adding three or four armchairs around a coffee table instead. Just in case, keep a few foldable chairs stashed away in case you need more seating space when entertaining guests.
Dealing with the challenges of decorating a small space can be a lot easier when the experts in Toronto home design come into the picture. Rather than wracking your brains trying to figure out how to adequately design and lay out this room, count on Hope Designs to help out instead!