15 Best Apartment Living Room Ideas to Improve Your Small Space

The apartment living room ideas you choose to design your space should reflect your personality and be somewhere you enjoy being. Finding the right aesthetic, furniture, and organization can be tricky if you don’t naturally have an eye for interior design. 

There are many ideas you can implement that will help you create a space you’ll enjoy lounging in, watching movies, and spending time with guests. 

Designing Small Apartment Living Room Expert Tips 

• Clean your small living space – it’s easier to rearrange new furniture when you’ve cleared out the clutter. 
• Repaint – giving your apartment living room a new color or wall texture can change its overall personality and tone. 
• Upgrade – if you have an out-of-date couch, TV, or another piece of furniture, consider replacing it with a new, more modern version. 
• Enhance – if your apartment is older, or has cosmetic damage, use furniture or artwork to cover it up. 
• Make your living space cozy – don’t emphasize style too intensely while sacrificing comfort. 

15 Apartment Living Room Ideas

1. Utilize the Verticle Spaces of Your Walls

Having empty vertical space in your apartment living room can give the illusion that it’s smaller than it actually is. If you have a lot of verticle area in your living space, filling it out strategically can actually make your small living room appear larger. 

This can be helpful for anyone whose living room is small-scale. Instead of hanging photos and paintings in a horizontal line around the parameter of your apartment, stack them strategically, allowing them to take up more wall space. Tall standing lamps are a great way to use up the verticle space of your living room.

2. Multi-Purpose Furniture for Innovation

Multi-purpose living room furniture is a great way to add a touch of innovation to your small living room apartment space and create much more space than before. Some examples of multi-purpose furniture are buying a couch or chair with built-in storage capabilities. 

A couch-bed can cut back on space if you live in a small studio, leaving more room for other furniture. In addition, a coffee table with lower cabinets is a great piece of multi-purpose furniture that can not only be a place to set down your drinks but also for storing board games, magazines, and other living room essentials.

3. Mirrors Add Depth to Your Space

One of the most common design hacks for adding depth to a small apartment living room is by using mirrors. Mirrors help create the illusion that there’s more space than there is, can bring in more light, and appear to open up the depth of your room. 

Having one mirror is helpful, but if you can have multiple mirrors of varying degrees of sizing, this is best for helping expand the overall look of your apartment living room. 

4. Try Minimalism

When you’re short on space, adding too much furniture can take away from the room’s energy. Minimalism is the act of only adding a few pieces to a room. All of the pieces co-exist in harmony, and they are furniture that sparks joy. 

Living minimally is one of the apartment living room ideas that will add a touch of elegance to your space and is very welcoming for house guests. Removing furniture or knick-knacks can also help provide you with more room, helping to make your apartment feel larger and more open. 

5. Monochromatic Design

The monochromatic design uses one or a few very similar colors throughout your furniture. Monochrome gets rid of the business and can create a much more peaceful and relaxing living room space. 

When the items and color scheme are similar overall, your space will look much more strategic, sophisticated, and tasteful. If you’re short on a room but still want to impress your guests, you will certainly make an impression by having a monochrome living room. 

6. Add a Sectional Wall to Your Living Room for Depth

If you’re looking to add a little extra depth to your living room, consider adding a sectional wall. This can be a great way to create the illusion of a larger space while also providing extra seating and storage. 

Assess the layout of your apartment living room. You’ll want to make sure that there’s enough space for the sectional wall without making the room feel cramped. Think about how you’ll use the extra space. A sectional wall can provide additional storage space for books, magazines, blankets, and pillows. 

7. Incorporate a Statement Rug into Your Space

Rugs are an easy way to add to the value of your living room space. They come in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns, so you can really make a statement with your choice.

Plus, they can help anchor your space and define different areas. If you have a large living room, you might want to consider using multiple rugs to create different zones. For instance, you could place a rug beneath your couch, next to the coffee table, and near your balcony or patio.

8. Coordinate Your Drapes With Your Couch

Matching curtains to your sofas or seating materials is one of the apartment living room ideas that can easily transform your space. But there are a few things to consider when matching your drapes to your couch. The first is the color. You want to make sure the colors complement each other and don’t clash. The second is the style. If your couch is more traditional, you’ll want to match it with drapes that are also traditional in style. 

If your couch is more modern, you can go with drapes that are more contemporary in style. Decide what kind of fabric you need. You want to make sure the fabrics coordinate well together. A good rule of thumb is to match heavy fabrics with heavy fabrics and light fabrics with light fabrics. 

Your drapes should also be the right size for your windows and your couch. You don’t want them to be too small or too big.

9. Freshen Up Your Living Room Space With Houseplants

A touch of green can make any room feel more alive, and there are houseplants that will suit any size or style of living room. If your space is on the small side, choose a compact plant like a snake plant or an air plant. 

For larger apartment living rooms, go for a statement piece like a fiddle-leaf fig or a palm. Whichever route you choose, be sure to give your plant plenty of light and water it regularly to keep it looking its best.

10. Utilize Wall Storage to Free Up Space

Wall storage can help you save on space in your small apartment living room so that you can make the most of what you have. There are many different types of wall storage to choose from. 

Shelf units are a great option if you need to store items like books or knick-knacks. Saving on floor space is easy; consider hanging a floating shelf on the wall to display items. You can also store your items in bins or baskets to help keep them off the ground nearby for easy use. 

No matter what type of wall storage you choose, it’s important to measure the space before you buy anything. This will ensure that the unit fits perfectly in your living room and doesn’t look too bulky or out of place.

11. Add Texture to Your Walls

Textured walls can create a living room that has style and personality. Adding texture can be helpful, especially in minimalist living rooms or monochromatically designed spaces. 

Having the contrast between “simplicity” and a busier surface is a great way to create a living room that is intentional and well-made. Textured walls can be painted, stenciled, or even covered in a fabric or tile for a unique look. 

You can make a DIY project out of it, or you can hire a professional to do the job. 

12. Create an Atmosphere Through Pattern and Color Usage

Adding patterns and color to your small apartment living room is a great way to create a positive atmosphere and make the space feel more inviting. The pattern can be added through wallpaper, rugs, pillows, or curtains. 

Adding an interesting tone of color helps the space feel more alive and intimate. Try adding a bright rug or pillows in contrasting colors. You could also hang artwork or tapestries on the walls to add both pattern and color. 

By adding these elements, you’ll create a space that feels more personal and inviting.

13. Distribute Your Artwork Evenly

Artwork is the soul of living rooms. They represent who you are and what you love. When it comes to choosing artwork for your living room, be strategic. Think about the message you want to send and the feeling you want to create. It should be a space that makes you feel happy and relaxed. The artwork you choose should contribute to that feeling. 

Think about the colors in your living room and how they make you feel. Do you want to add more color? Or do you want to keep it neutral? Consider the size of your living room and the scale of the artwork. Choose something that will make a statement and become a focal point, without overwhelming the space. A gallery wall is another option. These have been very popular over recent years.

Most importantly, choose something that you love. Your living room is a place for you to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

14. Welcome in the Light

When it comes to the living room, one of the best ways to brighten up the entire space is to let light in. This can be done in a number of ways, from opening up the curtains or blinds to letting natural light flood by adding lamps or other light fixtures to illuminate the space.

One of the benefits of letting light into your living room is that it can make the space feel more open and airy. Natural light bounces around and fills up a room, even if it’s not coming in directly from a window. 

If you have the option, opening up your living room to the outdoors can really help brighten things up. Another benefit of more light in your living room is that it can help create a more inviting atmosphere.

15. Wall Panels Can Extend The Height of Your Walls

If you’re looking for a way to add some extra visual interest to your living room, consider installing wall panels. Wall panels can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and even fabric. 

They come in a wide range of colors and styles, so you’re sure to find something that fits your taste. Wall panels are a great way to add both style and function to your living room. 

Not only do wall panels add style to your space, but they can also help extend your walls’ height. By installing panels that extend from the floor to the ceiling, you can create the illusion of taller walls.

Conclusion

If you’re living room space is smaller than you’d prefer, you don’t have to knock down your walls to make it feel more spacious. Many apartment living room ideas can help add depth and space and open up the room’s energy. 

Sometimes, you might need to try multiple ideas in order to open up your living room to your liking. Whether your living room is too small, has cosmetic damage, or you’re not sure how to fill out your empty wall space, there’s plenty of help that you can find from the list above.