Living in a small space does not mean you have to compromise on style, especially when creating a cozy, living room oasis. With thoughtful design and clever solutions, your small living room can become a beautiful and functional haven, perfect for both lounging and entertaining family and friends. ⁤

Continue below for some inspiring ideas to transform your small living room into a stylish, functional, and welcoming space. Underneath each of the images, you will find further details about the projects along with a link to the trades responsible for designing each of these stunning living rooms.

Tell Us: Which one of these small living room ideas do you find most inspiring? Let us know in the Comments below, we love reading your feedback!

1. Modular Furniture.

This beautiful Migliore Sectional Sofa from Expand Furniture provides a wonderful modular option for your living room decor. This unique piece is fantastic for small spaces, as it can be completely reconfigured for various seating options. The sofa is constructed with modules that can be taken apart and arranged to best meet the needs of your space. It can be reconfigured into a separate chaise lounge or the ottoman can also play double-duty as a footstool and coffee table, perfect for your small space needs. The chaise is also reversible, creating a whole new look in your living room. This wonderful sofa also comes in three fabric colorways, a gorgeous Dark Navy Blue Microfiber (pictured above), Iron Grey, and Genuine Leather in a Brown Terracotta. (via Expand Furniture)

2. Bright Open Living.

This 715-square-foot eco home on San Juan Island, Washington, features a cozy living area with idyllic water views. Open shelves house a collection of books, perfect for bookworms! A freestanding wood stove adds to the inviting atmosphere. The large window creates an open and airy feel, with natural light and expansive views making the room more spacious and connected to the outdoors. (via Prentiss Balance Wickline Architects)

3. Flexible Layout.

This charming living room of a home in Laguna Beach, California features easily movable furniture to allow for flexible layouts to adapt to different needs and occasions. A brick-clad fireplace with a painting on the mantel by artist Dedrick Brandes Stuber. The fireplace screen was custom-made by a forge in Santa Barbara, CA. The coffee table was found at a local consignment shop. It’s an old wooden chest on an iron stand. The sofa is from Juxtaposition Home. On the walls, the paneling is called “Laguna paneling” and is sold through a local lumber yard. The walls are painted in Cottage White DEW 318 – Dunn-Edwards Paints. In the windows, the Budget Woven Wood Shades (Malay Oak 87) are from Blinds.com. (via Collins Design & Development)

4. Art Gallery Wall.

A charming 1940s bungalow in Costa Mesa, California was completely transformed, offering just 800 square feet of living space! The custom frames on the wall are from Gorman Framing in Orange County, adding visual interest and helping to define this compact space. The chair is by Dwell Studio, it is the Hans armchair upholstered with a custom leather. The fabric on the custom ottoman is by Templeton and purchased through the Jasper Showroom on Melrose in West Hollywood. The sofa is the Taraval Sofa from Crate & Barrel. Grounding this space is a one-of-a-kind hand-knotted area rug sourced from Rug Resources. (via Brittany Stiles Design)

5. Add Layers For Warmth.

A 90’s townhome makeover in Minneapolis, Minnesota features this small-space living room with black and white trim and warm gray walls. The wall paint color is Agreeable Gray from Sherwin Williams. It has a warm undertone that sometimes looks gray and other times leans cool beige according to the light quality. It’s perfect when you want a “fresh” color that still works well with warm wood tones. The coffee table is the Dillwyn Coffee table from Wayfair. It also has matching end tables. The ‘Surya Brunswick’ area rug was purchased from HomeGoods, while the window treatments are from Target. (via First Impression Design)

6. Crisp White Walls.

In Tybee Island, Georgia this beach house is decked out with a West Coast bohemian vibe. The living room walls are painted in Sherwin Williams – Extra White 7006, making this area feel more spacious. The chairs are CR Laine – Brooklyn Swivel Chair with Lenno-Indigo linen fabric. The pillows are Schumacher. The side table is an 18″ Vermont Wood Stump from Farmhouse Pottery. The Celadon coffee table is from Miles Redd. The vintage seagrass rug and runner from Design Materials Inc. have a basket-weave linen trim in Mocha. The Asher + Rye ladder is accented with a throw blanket (Distant Echo), also from Asher + Rye. (via Rethink Design Studio)

7. Statement Lighting.

A striking chandelier or pendant light can draw the eye upward and add a touch of elegance to your small living room. The hanging pendant light in this Palo Alto bungalow was imported from Morocco by Tazi Designs. The sofa is a collector’s item, the George Nelson Sling sofa. It was also made in a 3-seater version as the loveseat version is rarer and harder to find. The coffee table is a vintage piece. You can find something similar by searching the internet for “vintage amoeba coffee table”.  (via Kimball Starr Interior Design)

8. Open Floor Plan.

A dated beach house on Fripp Island, South Carolina was transformed into a coastal retreat brimming with southern charm and vibrant personality. The renovation focused on opening up the main living space, seamlessly combining the living room with a delightful kitchen and dining area. This new open plan floods the entire space with natural light, creating a larger, more cohesive feel. Nautical touches infuse the interior with charisma and understated elegance. Dark hardwood floors provide a striking contrast against soft white walls, harmonizing beautifully with the dark window sashes and mullions. (via Kustom Home Design)

9. Use Light Colors.

Light colors like white, cream, and pastel shades reflect natural light, making the room feel brighter and more spacious.  This West Village, New York condo went from drab to fab, updated with new furniture selections and decorative elements to create a bright and happy pastel home. (via Tara Benet Design)

10. Compact Seating.

Choose smaller-scale furniture, such as loveseats, armless chairs, or slipper chairs, to avoid overwhelming the room. This small 1,365-square-foot townhouse features a clean palette and an open living space for entertaining. A collection of artwork is featured on the wall above the sofa. Embracing a timeless black and white color palette lends this space a modern loft/ art gallery feel. The result is clean and modern without feeling cold. (via JMP Interiors)

11. Bold Accents.

Incorporate bold accents such as a sofa (like the beautiful green sofa inspired by nature in this living room), colorful pillows, throws, artwork, or a statement rug to add personality and interest without cluttering your space. Grounding this inviting living room of a home in San Francisco is a handmade felt area rug sourced from the Peace Industry. (via Alison Damonte Design)

12. Curtains and Drapes.

Built in 1901, this Portland, Oregon home was reimagined with a mix of old and new pieces. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore -Thornton Sage 464, while the ceilings are Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45. Fabricut – Belfast Linen in a light mint green fabric was used for the window treatments and coordinated with the wall color to help make the room seem more expansive. Hanging the curtains close to the ceiling and extending them to the floor helps to create the illusion of taller windows and higher ceilings.

A custom upholstered deep chocolate brown linen fabric on a Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sits so beautifully amongst the light colors in the living room. The chairs are upholstered in a fabric from the Hickory Chair Co. The ottoman was designed by Century Furniture with custom upholstery. The floor lamps are antique pieces. The area rug is from Kush Rugs. (via Studio Garrison)

13. Large Wall Decor.

One or two large pieces of wall decor or artwork can make a small room feel grander without overwhelming the space. The wall decor is a salvaged window frame from an old barn in New England. The walls are painted in a custom color called ‘Sea Glass’ from the designer’s paint company — Quiet Home Paints. A similar wall paint color is Beach Glass 1564 by Benjamin Moore. The Moravian star on the sideboard was sourced from Campo de’ Fiori. (via Lisa Teague Upcoast Design)

14. Built-In Seating.

Custom built-ins can maximize your living quarters without taking up additional floor space. Consider built-in shelving around doorways or windows. In this 1,450-square-foot home in East Austin, Texas, the architects have completely maximized the interiors. The living room features built-in window seating to enhance the living space. See the rest of this fabulous home here: Small energy-efficient farmhouse in Austin designed for a bachelor. (via Rauser Design)

15. Add Some Greenery.

Add a touch of nature with indoor plants. Even a small plant can breathe life into the room and make it feel more vibrant and welcoming. (via ReVision Design/Remodeling)

16. Eye-Catching Artwork.

This inviting living room in a mid-century condo in New Orleans’ warehouse district features an abstract piece of art that ties together the room’s color palette. A striking teal Womb Chair anchors the space with its mid-century vibe. A walnut media console and a minimalist floor lamp complete the stylish setup. To address the abundant natural light streaming through the large windows, new draperies with a light geometric pattern were added, tempering the hot Louisiana sun while enhancing the room’s aesthetic. (via Susan Currie Design)

17. Reclaimed Furniture.

A lovingly restored waterfront cottage in Providence, Rhode Island features this shabby-chic style living space. The furniture is composed of reclaimed materials to create a cozy spot to lounge, curl up with a good book, sip your favorite coffee, or stare out at the breathtaking water views. (via Moore House Design) 

18. White & Airy.

A post-and-beam ranch-style house built in 1959 is nestled into the rolling hills of Ventura County, California. Rehabbed living spaces include this intimate living space, part of an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. The 30-inch-tall barrel chairs are the focal point of this space. Horizontal ticking stripes on the chairs and slats on the coffee table help to create the illusion of width. A few sprigs of greenery set into pottery vases on the mantel draw the eye upwards. To create an open and airy feel in this space, the walls, ceiling, and trim were all painted in the same hue — Glidden’s base paint in semigloss. (via Heather Bullard)

19. Vertical Storage.

Maximize vertical space in your living room with tall bookshelves, wall-mounted storage units, and floating shelves. This draws the eye upward, making the room feel larger. (via Nina Williams Interiors)

20. Embrace Minimalism.

Keep it simple by focusing on essential furniture pieces and decor. Minimalist design can make a small living room feel more open and airy. The designer went for a less is more approach for this small apartment. Space was maximized in the living area through the use of a rug with optical widening properties along with a gallery wall wrapped around the seating area. Ottomans can provide additional seating options when armchairs are too large for the space. (via Wilkinson Brochier Interior Design)

21. Multi-Functional Furniture.

This inviting living room maximizes space with the small storage nook, adorned with firewood, folded blankets, and textiles in varying textures and hues along with a stack of books. The pillows and throws on the midcentury sofa were kept natural so that the nook would be the main focal point in this space. An X bench is used as a multi-purpose piece of furniture — a coffee table, a footstool, and for additional seating. Grounding this space is a vintage Moroccan rug spotted on eBay. (via Heather Bullard)

22. Accent Wall.

An accent wall makes a small living room feel more dynamic and visually interesting. The large piece of artwork on the wall helps to create a focal point and adds personality. A modern sofa fills this space, making it feel warm and inviting. See the rest of this spectacular home here: Small contemporary condo features stylish details in Toronto. (via Jonathan Baron Interiors)

23. Serene Color Palette.

Opt for a light color palette to make your small living room feel more spacious and airy. The serene wall paint color is Benjamin-Moore- Sea Salt. The stone around the fireplace surround is a granite, Newport Dark with a flamed surface purchased at Gault, Inc. in Westport, CT. The ottoman was sourced from World Market. (via The Pratley Company)

24. Windows For Natural Light.

An abundance of windows brings in natural light and helps to make a small living room feel more spacious and open. Behind the sofa is an Arco lamp from Flos. On the wall in front of the large white sectional is a massive modular bookshelf, from Poliform that features gray cubbies to help break up the white. See the rest of this amazing home tour: Modern Central Park Condo in Manhattan: One Beacon Court.(via Tara Benet Design)

25. Sophisticated Styling.

Though the living room boasted high ceilings, the space was narrow, so the homeowner’s sectional was ditched in place of a sleek leather sofa with a smaller footprint. The dark gray living room paint was replaced with a white wall paint color to make the apartment feel larger. Chrome accents were introduced for a sleek, contemporary design, while leather furnishings add a masculine feel to this home refresh. (via Décor Aid)

26. Bright And Organic.

This cozy living room space of a home in San Anselmo, California features a small sofa and easily movable furnishings. This playful space features a coffee table with a paper roller sourced from a children’s toy company, Melissa and Doug. The walls are painted in Big Chill by Sherwin Williams. (via Rachel Madden Interiors)

27. Give It a Refresh.

A 750-square-foot top-floor apartment was revitalized from a cramped two-bedroom into a sunlit sanctuary, featuring a second-floor home office reclaimed from an old storage loft. The addition of multiple skylights and a large picture window bathes the living area in natural light, creating an airy and inviting atmosphere. (via Baxter Projects)