28 Best Decorating Ideas for Small Apartment Living Room -

Small apartment living can be a lesson in clever design. Every piece of furniture, every splash of color, every organizational hack plays a crucial role in transforming a compact living room into a stylish and functional oasis.

If you’re searching for inspiration to elevate your small space, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve curated 28 of the best decorating ideas for small apartment living rooms, showcasing how to maximize both style and square footage.

From strategic furniture placement to the magic of mirrors and the power of a well-chosen color palette, these design tips will help you create a living room that feels both spacious and inviting.

Get ready to unlock the potential of your small space and discover how to live large, even in a cozy apartment.

1/28. Maximize Natural Light

Small apartment living room with large window, gray sofa, plants, and wood accents.

Urban living room features a large window that floods the space with natural light. A comfortable gray sofa, a patterned area rug, thriving indoor plants, and warm wood tones enhance the inviting atmosphere.

2/28. Light Hues

Small apartment living room with neutral colors, two sofas, fireplace, and modern lighting.

Neutral palette enhances this living room, featuring two sofas, a modern fireplace, and a stylish round coffee table. Abstract artwork and carefully chosen lighting fixtures contribute to the sophisticated ambiance.

3/28. Warm Textures

Small apartment living room with textured wall, sectional sofa, rug, and round coffee table.

Inviting living space showcases a textured accent wall, a plush area rug, and a comfortable sectional sofa. A mix of throw pillows, a round coffee table, and woven accents adds visual interest.

4/28. Choose the Minimalist Artwork

Small apartment living room with minimalist floral artwork, neutral sofa, and wood floors.

The modern apartment living room features a large, minimalist floral painting as a focal point. Clean lines, a neutral-toned sofa, simple coffee table and textured wall create a calming and stylish retreat.

5/28. Install a Modern TV Unit

Sleek living room centers around a custom built-in entertainment unit with ample storage. Soft neutral tones, an area rug, matching seating, and decorative accents create a cohesive and polished look.

6/28. Consider a Fireplace Feature

Small apartment living room with modern fireplace, sectional sofa, abstract art, and plant.

Contemporary design is warmed by a sleek, modern fireplace. Stylish abstract artwork, a comfortable sectional sofa, layered lighting, and a large indoor plant create an inviting and luxurious atmosphere.

7/28. Mount Your Television

Apartment living room with wall-mounted TV, sofa, accent chair, and patterned rug.

Well-designed room features a wall-mounted television above a streamlined media console. A comfortable sofa, accent chair, patterned area rug, and curated accessories enhance the modern aesthetic of the apartment.

8/28. Design a Custom TV Unit

Small apartment living room featuring a custom-designed TV unit with shelving and storage.

Living room is anchored by a floor-to-ceiling custom TV unit, providing ample storage and display space. A large window, light-colored sofa, patterned area rug and uniquely shaped coffee table enhance this space.

9/28. Try a Marble Feature Wall

Apartment living room with a marble feature wall, dark cabinets, and a modern sectional sofa.

Elegant apartment showcases a striking marble feature wall behind the television. Dark toned cabinets, a plush sectional, accent chair, ceiling fan and carefully selected decor complete the sophisticated and modern look.

10/28. Add Recessed Lighting

Apartment living room illuminated by recessed lighting, featuring a sectional and modern artwork.

Modern living room is illuminated by recessed lighting in the ceiling. This stylish space includes a large sectional sofa, an accent chair, a sleek media console, and captivating artwork, creating an inviting atmosphere.

11/28. Display Large Artwork

Bright apartment living room featuring a large floral painting, white sofas, and a textured rug.

Airy living room is anchored by a large, abstract floral painting. The light-colored sofas, textured area rug, modern coffee table, and floor lamp contribute to the room’s bright and sophisticated aesthetic.

12/28. Play With Textures

Apartment living room featuring a textured accent wall, abstract art, a sectional sofa, and a round coffee table.

Contemporary space mixes textures with a slatted wood accent wall, a large abstract painting, and a plush, patterned area rug. The sectional sofa, unique floor lamp, and round coffee table create a stylish seating area.

13/28. Go For Light Wood

Bright apartment living room with light wood floors, a textured rug, white sofa, and botanical artwork.

Airy apartment features light wood flooring and a matching coffee table. A plush, textured area rug, comfortable sofa, accent chair, and large-scale artwork create a welcoming and modern living space.

14/28. Design a Modern TV Room

Modern apartment living room with a wall-mounted TV, white media console, round coffee table, and sofa.

Minimalist living room features a wall-mounted television above a sleek, white media console. The large, round coffee table, comfortable sofa, textured rug, and tall indoor plant contribute to the room’s modern aesthetic.

15/28. Create a Cozy Corner

Apartment living room with high ceilings, built-in shelves, a sofa, a round coffee table, and artwork.

High-ceiling living room makes use of vertical space with a tall, built-in shelving unit. A comfortable sofa, round coffee table, textured area rug, and modern artwork contribute to the cozy yet sophisticated ambiance.

16/28. Balance Dark and Light

Apartment living room featuring dark cabinetry and drapes, a light sofa, a rug, and a modern chandelier.

Apartment living room effectively balances dark-toned cabinetry and drapes with a light-colored sofa, a plush area rug, and bright walls. The modern chandelier, along with strategically placed lighting, enhances this contrast.

17/28. Use a Large Area Rug

Large apartment living room with a textured area rug, two sofas, built-in shelves, and artwork.

Spacious living room is grounded by a large, textured area rug. The room features ample seating with two sofas, a large piece of artwork, a built-in shelving unit, and a round coffee table.

18/28. Mix Different Materials

Apartment living room featuring a marble and wood accent wall, a large rug, a sofa, and an armchair.

Modern living space combines a marble accent wall with vertical wood paneling. A large area rug, a round coffee table, comfortable seating, and well-placed lighting contribute to the sophisticated design scheme.

19/28. Add Pops of Color

Bright apartment living room with a yellow accent chair, a fireplace, a TV, a sofa, and a patterned rug.

Airy apartment living room balances a neutral palette with vibrant pops of yellow in the accent chair and artwork. A sleek fireplace, a wall-mounted TV, a patterned area rug and multiple plants enhance the space.

20/28. Hang Long Drapes

Apartment living room with floor-to-ceiling drapes, a large window, a neutral sofa, and a round coffee table.

Elegant living area is enhanced by floor-to-ceiling drapes that frame a large window, offering a view of greenery. The room features a neutral color scheme, a plush area rug, a modern sofa, and a round coffee table.

21/28. Use Dark Wood Tones

Apartment living room featuring dark wood floors, a built-in fireplace unit, a sofa, a rug, and large windows.

Sophisticated living room incorporates dark-toned wood flooring and a striking built-in unit with a fireplace. Large windows, a comfortable sofa, a plush rug, a modern light fixture, and nature-inspired artwork complete the design.

22/28. Try a Round Coffee Table

Inviting living room centers around a round coffee table that complements the soft curves of the armchairs and sofa. A patterned rug, a modern chandelier, and muted color palette create a relaxing atmosphere.

23/28. Create a Focal Point

Apartment living room with a textured accent wall, a mounted TV, a media console, and a round coffee table.

Well-designed living room draws the eye to a textured accent wall with a mounted television and a floating media console. The space is further enhanced by a round coffee table, sofa and stylish floor lamp.

24/28. Arrange Furniture Symmetrically

Apartment living room with symmetrical furniture arrangement, two sofas, a rug, a chandelier, and plants.

Living room achieves balance through a symmetrical furniture arrangement, featuring two sofas, an armchair, and a round coffee table. A patterned area rug, a modern chandelier, and tall indoor plants enhance the elegant space.

25/28. Install a Ceiling Fan

Apartment living room with a ceiling fan, a sectional sofa, an accent chair, a TV, and a media console.

Functional yet stylish living room includes a ceiling fan for optimal air circulation. The space is thoughtfully designed with a large sectional sofa, an accent chair, a mounted television, a media console, and a marble coffee table.

26/28. Incorporate a Fireplace

Luxurious living room is anchored by a grand fireplace with a marble surround. The sophisticated space also features a textured area rug, a comfortable sectional sofa, a round coffee table, and thoughtfully chosen artwork.

27/28. Choose a Sectional Sofa

Apartment living room with a large sectional sofa, a round coffee table, a patterned rug, and abstract art.

Well-appointed living room is furnished with a large, comfortable sectional sofa that maximizes seating. A round coffee table, a patterned area rug, a striking piece of abstract art and modern lighting complete the design.

28/28. Add a Bookshelf

Apartment living room with a built-in bookshelf, a sofa, armchairs, a square coffee table, a rug, and large windows.

Inviting living room features a built-in bookshelf, providing both storage and visual interest. A comfortable sofa and armchairs are arranged around a square coffee table, while a textured area rug and large windows enhance the space.

FAQs:

1. What is the best layout for a small apartment living room?

The best layout depends on the specific shape of your room, but generally, placing the sofa against the longest wall and using a mix of seating options (like armchairs or ottomans) works well.

2. How can I make my small living room look bigger?

Use light colors, mirrors, and multi-functional furniture. Maximize natural light and choose furniture with legs to create a sense of spaciousness.

3. What colors are best for small living rooms?

Light and neutral colors like white, beige, and light gray are ideal. They reflect light and create an airy feel. You can add pops of color with accessories.

4. What type of sofa is best for a small apartment living room?

Consider a small sectional, a loveseat, or a sofa with built-in storage. Choose a sofa with clean lines and avoid bulky designs.

5. How do I choose the right rug for a small living room?

A rug that’s too small can make the room feel cramped. Choose a rug large enough to anchor the main seating area, ideally with at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs on the rug.