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Small apartment decorating can feel like an impossible task — like you have too many puzzle pieces to squeeze into one space. How do you add personality without overwhelming the room? How do you find enough storage space without keeping bulky drawers on every square inch?
Just like everything else, there are advantages and disadvantages to living in a small space.
The pros?
Hullooooo, it takes two seconds to clean!
The cons?
Well, you can move from one end of the room to the other in two seconds. (And that just doesn’t leave a lot of elbow room for everything you love.)
Luckily, there are some super simple design tricks you can follow in order to maximize your space. Follow these top design tips for a stylish (though small!) apartment living room.
*This post is all about small apartment decorating tricks.*
Tip 1: Paint Walls White
White walls add instant airiness — no matter how big a space is.
White is a reflector of all colors, meaning it *literally* gives the illusion of expanding space.
Cool, huh?
Light bounces off white walls and generally makes the whole thing feel more bright. Plus, white walls can help disguise hard corners and edges of the room, making it feel more open.
Renting an apartment and not allowed to paint? Don’t worry, there are plenty of tricks that will still work for you! Keep on reading.
Tip 2: Put a Spotlight On Lighting
Inevitably, small spaces simply feel more cramped and dark. This is often due to small or nonexistent windows — and that’s not something you can quickly fix! Enter: excellent lightning.
In other words, you have to fake it until you make it.
(Coincidentally, that is also my mantra when it comes to most things 😉
Make up for any lack of natural light by adding plenty of lighting sources yourself. Consider hanging lamps, sconces, wall-mounted lighting and even ceiling fixtures if you can swing it.
BONUS TIP: Use lightbulbs with brighter wattage for a super quick solution!
Love this modern farmhouse/industrialized look:
This one is so chic:
Obsesssssssseessssed with this hanging light:
OK OK last one I swear! But I looooove the copper look of these hanging lights:
Tip 3: Take Time With Textures
It’s not just WHAT you put in your space … it’s what those things are made of!
Materials like glass, acrylic, plexiglass and Lucite are all fantastic options for pieces that will either reflect light or subtly disappear visually. It will lighten the visual load, so to speak.
Although a glass-topped coffee table may seem like one more thing to clean, it allows the light to pass through it — and that helps the space seem less crowded. Plus, the right coffee table can center your living room and take your apartment decorating to the next level!
See how this acrylic coffee table kinda just blends in??
Additionally, consider your flooring and rugs — texture and material matter there too! (More on rugs in just a bit…)
Paying attention to the actual material of your pieces not only visually simplifies the room, but it can also add a cohesive look.
Tip 4: Use Bright Pops of Color
While white walls can help open up a space, the whole scheme doesn’t need to be neutral. Incorporating bright pops of color through art, throw pillows, or vases is an excellent way to add energy to a room without overpowering it.
BONUS TIP: When you have a generally white palette, it’s easy to change out smaller things (like throw pillows) to get a whole new vibe — and without spending a ton of money on new decor!
Tip 5: Keep the Floor Clutter-Free
This is apartment decorating 101.
DO NOT SKIP THIS ONE.
You have to have somewhere to sit … and have somewhere to set your drink… and somewhere to set a book. You simply have to have *some* things on the floor.
BUT, to the best of your ability, eliminate things on the floor. I’m not talking about piles of laundry or yesterday’s mail. I’m talking about the number of pieces that literally touch the floor.
Limit floor lamps, flower pots/vases, and too many “storage” bins and baskets.
Even if those items are cute and decorative, they can weigh down a space when they’re placed on the floor.
(NOTE: This doesn’t mean you should never have vases or shelves … it simply means finding new ways to display them. More on that below!)
Instead, try things like wall lights instead of floor lamps and floating shelves instead of more side tables.
Tip 6: Don’t Fear Floating Shelves!
Speaking of floating shelves …
They are a fantastic solution to the spatially challenged 😉
When floor space comes at a premium, move as many items as possible up and away from it.
Floating shelves are ideal for stacking books, displaying photos, hanging plants from, and so much more.
You can opt for bolder, thicker shelves if you want them to make a statement, or find shelves that virtually disappear. Get creative with your placement!
SHOP ACRYLIC SHELVES ON AMAZON
You might also like: 11 GENIUS SMALL BATHROOM ORGANIZATION HACKS YOU NEED TO TRY IF YOU LIVE IN AN APARTMENT
Tip 7: Make More Space with Mirrors
If ya don’t have it, reflect it 😉
(That’s what they say, right??)
There’s a reason why “smoke and mirrors” is a thing — mirrors can give the illusion of more space!
Mirrors instantly reflect light and make a space look bigger, and are a great way to maximize what natural light you do get in your apartment living room. Go for a large mirror on a focus wall, or use various small mirrors in a gallery wall. Both are cute!
BONUS TIP: Pay attention to what “image” the mirror creates. Meaning, note what the mirror is reflecting, because it will become a piece of art in its own way. Make sure the wall opposite the mirror is well thought out and decorated.
And these boho-inspired small ones are less than $8 I think??
Tip 8: Go Up.
Think vertical thoughts when you’re in a small space.
This makes sense. If you can’t go wide … go high!
Incorporate things like floor-to-ceiling shelving, tall, skinny plants, and even ceiling-scraping window treatments (more on that idea below).
Not only is this a practical tip, it also helps draw the eye up, which helps distract from the small-ness of the room.
Tip 9: Find Pieces that are Functional
Multi-purpose pieces are your best friend when you live in a teeny-tiny space.
You need pieces that really pull their weight. Use unconventional storage solutions, such as an ottoman that opens up or a couch with storage drawers underneath.
This applies to the big things, such as this:
…And the small things! This is so smart:
Tip 10: Hold Off Hanging Curtains
Natural light does WONDERS for a small space, and can be the key to an airy, open feel. Why cover that up?
Curtains or heavy drapery can quite quickly dim that light and make things feel heavier. Small apartments sometimes benefit from naked windows!
Tip 11: …And If You Do, Do Floor-to-Ceiling Draperies
OK, so if you are dead-set on hanging curtains, go for it!
Drapery can make a room feel more luxurious and warm — but make sure you do it properly to avoid that heavy feeling mentioned in the above paragraph.
Curtains — when properly hung — can actually visually add height to your living room.
The key here is to hang them juuuuust below where your wall meets your ceiling, and then have them long enough to barely graze the top of your floor.
These curtains have more than 23,000 fantastic reviews!
Tip 12: Don’t Overcrowd!
Let your furniture have some elbow room.
One of the most common mistakes is over-decorating a room that simply doesn’t have the proper space for it. This leads to a look that is more crowded and less comfortable.
Give your furniture space to breathe, do MUCH LESS than you think when styling those knickknacks on the bookshelves, and for the love, that’s probably enough throw pillows on the couch, don’t ya think?! 😉
Tip 13: Fewer, Larger Pieces May Be Better
Depending on your exact space and your style, it may make sense to draw focus to a couple of bigger stand-out pieces.
For example, maybe you have a really long, bright couch and a big piece of art on the opposite wall.
Just because you have a small apartment, you don’t necessarily have to use a itty bitty love seat and a small chair. Go big if you’d like, just do fewer pieces total. And don’t use big pieces that compete with one another — you want them to complement each other and work in harmony.
Tip 14: Lean Into Linear
Here’s a fun design tip: Go geometric!
By implementing various linear or geographic elements, you can manipulate where the eye is drawn.
And in your case, you want it drawn to length and height, right?
This applies to art, rugs, furniture shape, and more! Even if you’re not into the more modern prints, you can still “think linear” with your decor.
Tip 15: Find Folding Pieces When Possible
This tip will likely only work for you if you have the right space and layout, but if you do, you could really make more out of your space!
Consider bigger folding pieces like dining tables and desks for things that you want or would like to have every now and then for entertaining, but that you don’t necessarily need 100% of the time.
Go big into the folding function with a Murphy bed/desk space (perfect if you need a daily workspace but also frequently have visitors!), or think small with things like TV dinner tables (which can obviously be used for more than TV dinners — arts and crafts, temporary side table during a party, portable work station, etc.).
Want more small apartment tips? Read this: How to Make the Most of Your Small Bedroom
Tip 16: The Right Rug Makes the Difference
Although it seems like it wouldn’t impact your space much since it’s half-buried underneath furniture, rugs actually DO play a critical role in how big your room feels.
Perhaps against your instincts, go for a bigger rug. Tiny rugs can make a room look tiny. Instead, you want a floor covering that’s big enough for most of your furniture to rest on, or even one that reaches wall to wall.
BONUS TIP: If you particularly love a certain pattern but it doesn’t come big enough, you can always layer a small rug over a large one. It instantly creates interest and depth!
Tip 17: Cohesive is Key
Lastly, when you have a small space, there must be a cohesive overall feeling.
Cohesive does NOT mean plain.
And it does NOT mean monochromatic.
In a small space, cohesive simply means sticking to a color palette — whatever that may be for you. It can be hard to look at your room and items with tough love, but you must. If something sticks out like a sore thumb, it’s got to go.
Whether you’re going for a dark and moody living room or a light, bright beachy one, choose your palette with careful consideration. It’ll help keep the room feeling intentional vs. scattered and stuffed.
RELATED READ: 13 (Lazy) Kitchen Hacks Every Busy Girl Should Know
In conclusion…
Hopefully you caught a few apartment decorating tricks and tips to help you during your season in a small living room!.
The main things to remember are this:
- Don’t overcrowd your room — with furniture, knick knacks, and things that touch the floor.
- Go light and bright — and that applies to lighting, textures, & color.
- Head high. Utilize vertical space to the best of your ability.
- Make every piece of furniture earn its keep. Find things that work double-duty!
- Whichever direction you choose, run with it. Cohesive is key.
If you made it this far in the post, you deserve another bonus tip!
The trick I use when decorating a new apartment is to TAKE MY TIME.
It can be SO, SO tempting to rush out to Home Goods and buy everything in your color scheme.
Do not do this.
Instead, live in your space for a bit. See where you tend to sit, and where it makes sense to place a wine glass. Discover where you find yourself glancing. Find out what you constantly reach for.
I know you likely just want this thing DONE so that you can wash your hands of it, but working with intention offers much better results in the long run.
Plus, it’s so satisfying to stumble upon a piece you really, truly love vs. simply buying something to fill up a blank wall. Pinky promise.
The most important thing to remember is that this is YOUR space, and it should reflect your personality. These apartment decorating hacks are simply intended to help your personality shine through in its brightest light.
Not sure what your design style is? Read this post before you decorate your living room! ⬇️
6 PINTEREST-WORTHY APARTMENT DECORATING DESIGN STYLES
Have any more design hacks or apartment decorating tips for small spaces? Drop them in the comments below!
Save this idea for later — pin it to your Apartment Decor board on Pinterest!
