How do I decorate a small living room?

Size the sofa to the wall, pick pieces on legs, use one large rug, keep a clear path and decorate vertically. Light colours and a mirror across from the window help the room feel bigger.

What is the 2/3 rule for a sofa?

Choose a sofa about two thirds the length of the wall it sits against, and a coffee table about two thirds the length of the sofa. The proportions look balanced and leave room to move.

What is the 3-5-7 rule for decorating?

Group decorative objects in odd numbers, 3, 5 or 7, at varied heights. Odd groups look relaxed and deliberate, which keeps shelves and tables in a small room from looking cluttered.

How do I make a small living room look bigger?

Show more floor with furniture on legs, hang curtains high and wide, add a large mirror, keep colours light and limit the number of pieces.

Can I plan my living room layout before buying furniture?

Yes. Draw the room to scale in home design software and place furniture at true size. ArchiMaster 3D runs on a Windows PC and has a 10-day free trial.

Small Living Room Ideas: Layouts That Fit and Feel Bigger

01Size the sofa with the 2/3 rule

A sofa about two thirds the length of the wall behind it looks right and leaves room for a side table or a lamp. A loveseat and a chair often fit better than one big sectional.

02Keep a clear path

Leave about 30 to 36 inches for the main route through the room and around 18 inches between the sofa and the coffee table.

03Choose fewer, larger pieces on legs

Furniture with visible legs shows more floor, and a few well-sized pieces look calmer than many small ones.

04Use one big rug

A rug large enough for at least the front legs of every seat ties the group together; a small rug floating in the middle makes the room look smaller.

05Plan around the TV

Put the TV on the wall facing the main seat, not beside a window where glare hits it, and mount it or use a low unit to keep the wall clear.

06Decorate vertically

Tall shelves and curtains hung high and wide draw the eye up and make the ceiling and windows look bigger.

07Bounce the light

A large mirror across from the window and three layers of light, overhead, lamps and accent, make a small room feel open in the evening too.

08Try the layout in 3D

Draw the room with its doors, windows and radiators, then drop real furniture in at true size. ArchiMaster 3D shows the room in 3D before you order anything.

Common questions

How do I decorate a small living room?: Size the sofa to the wall, pick pieces on legs, use one large rug, keep a clear path and decorate vertically. Light colours and a mirror across from the window help the room feel bigger.
What is the 2/3 rule for a sofa?: Choose a sofa about two thirds the length of the wall it sits against, and a coffee table about two thirds the length of the sofa. The proportions look balanced and leave room to move.
What is the 3-5-7 rule for decorating?: Group decorative objects in odd numbers, 3, 5 or 7, at varied heights. Odd groups look relaxed and deliberate, which keeps shelves and tables in a small room from looking cluttered.
How do I make a small living room look bigger?: Show more floor with furniture on legs, hang curtains high and wide, add a large mirror, keep colours light and limit the number of pieces.
Can I plan my living room layout before buying furniture?: Yes. Draw the room to scale in home design software and place furniture at true size. ArchiMaster 3D runs on a Windows PC and has a 10-day free trial.

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