Stylish Small Living Rooms

Stylish Small Living Rooms

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Small living room ideas

Looking for small living room ideas? The best small living room designs from the House Garden archive.

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  Owen Gale

  Interior designer Sophie Ashby lives in a one-bedroom flat in the former BBC building in White City with her husband Charlie Casely-Hayford. The living room is small and open plan, leading into the kitchen, but it benefits from a wall of windows to keep it open and airy. The couple added joinery to one end of the sitting room, filling the shelves with books and trinkets. Charlie's daughter Rainbow's playbox doubles up as a coffee table, and a sofa bed has a side table that's also a bookcase. A print of a photograph by Nigerian photographer Lakin Ogunbanwo hangs on a roller on the bookcase, cleverly disguising the television.

• Paul Massey

  The living room in this tiny barn conversion, decorated by antiques dealer Christopher Howe, is tucked under the mezzanine. A large Howe ottoman in the middle of the space gives the illusion that the room is larger than it actually is.

• Taran Wilkhu

  It took just three months for photographer and artist Zoë Zimmer to make her mark on this London flat, guided by her love of classic 20th-century design and atmospheric lighting. In the living room Zoë bought a pair of simple swivel stools from Amazon, had an upholsterer add backrests and re-covered them in cream velvet from Designers Guild. The low-backed 'Hendricks' sofa from Habitat is perfect for the space, as it allows an unobstructed view of the garden square beyond.

• © The Lumpkin-Boccuzzi Family Collection of Contemporary Art, photograph Dawn Blackman

• Benjamin Edwards

  In Emma Sims-Hilditch's London house, the living room seems larger thanks to the crittal screen separating it from the adjoining dining area that allow the space to flow. A wall there would box it in and make it seem much smaller than it currently does. Walls in Farrow & Ball's 'Manor House Gray' set off an 'Olivia' sofa by Neptune and an antique armchair from Brownrigg. The chimneypiece is from Jamb.

• Davide Lovatti

  Walls in 'Nabis' by Adam Bray for Papers and Paints set off a mix of Ensemblier furniture in Tara Craig's tiny flat. A 'Hanmer' sofa in a Jasper fabric by Michael S Smith and a George Spencer velvet is paired with 'Montgomery' chairs in Howe's 'Knurl' linen, a 'Trafalgar' armchair in Howe leather and a 'Lissadell' ottoman in 'Nathalie' cotton by Claremont.

• Lucas Allen

  The snug in this Bray house decorated by Christopher Howe has grey walls in a linen and horsehair fabric. Christopher sourced the Forties jajim rug from Woven Accents.

• Michael Sinclair

  Guy Tobin's lifelong interest in collecting is palpable in his south London family house, where the rooms play host to interesting furniture, art and antiques from a range of styles and movements. The sofas were made for the space and have been covered in cotton velvets – the yellow one is in Lelièvre's 'Cosmos'. The coffee table is topped with Lumachella antica; this stone also features on the fireplace, combined with a mid-eighteenth-century carved pine surround. To the right of this is a Lucian Freud etching. For a sofa like the green velvet one in this room, try Soane's 'Bunny Sofa' (75 x 174 x 84cm, from £6,900 excluding fabric). Subtly patterned pleated lampshades in the sitting room are one of many decorative touches and give a nod to traditional English interiors. Nushka sells a range of similar lampshades made from pretty vintage sari silks.

• Alexander James

  Sarah Peake bought her west London flat three years ago, embarking on a full renovation of the space and decorating it in her signature modern, confident style. The joinery throughout the house was made by a local joiner to Sarah's design. Sarah bought the lights over the bookshelf from IKEA and spraypainted them red. A framed wallhanging by BFGF, found at Hackney shop A New Tribe, hangs on the wall to the right. The coffee table is from West Elm.

• Michael Sinclair

  In Ruth Sleightholme's relaxed, modern scheme for a studio flat, she has used curtains to create a tiny living area screened off from the rest of the space. "If constricted to a one-room flat, there is every chance you will want to screen certain sections off for privacy or for cosiness, such as a living snug or bedroom. Internal curtains are a perfect way to do this. They are easy to install and to move: far less of a commitment than other options such as a stud wall or crittal windows, and they easily open up to make the space feel bigger when they are not needed."

• Andrew Beasley

  The bookshelves and fireplace have been built into the wall in this Somerset railway cottage, making the most of the space in this narrow room.

• Jake Curtis

  Briefed to steer clear of white and leather, Adam Bray and his team set about transforming this London flat - created from two one-bedroom flats joined together - with rich colour, luxurious fabrics and attention to detail. The red sofa and ottoman are upholstered in contrasting Le Manach 'Toile de Tours' fabric from Claremont. A silk wallcovering from de Gournay provides a dark background for a pair of Twenties French dining chairs in their original orange silk velvet in this elegant living room by Adam Bray.

• Davide Lovatti

  A small space on the first floor of textile designer Christine Van Der Hurd's house has been made into a library-style living room. The fluted ceramic vases by the window are by Joachim Lambrecht, from Willer, and above these is a blind in a new fabric of Christine's: 'Crazy Paisley'in the cherry colourway. The Fifties elliptical coffee table at the centre of the space was a find from the Lillie Road.

• Bill Batten

  House & Garden's former decoration editor Wendy Harrop has brought a simple elegance to her thatched cottage in Wiltshire, creating calm, restrained interiors with a pale palette and a stylish mix of furniture and art.The Ikea sofa has loose covers in white cotton. Wendy made the cushions out of calico from Whaleys, which she printed using stiff card dipped in ink. She re-covered the three Habitat tub chairs in Michael Devine's 'Dottie' linen and a discontinued GP & J Baker fabric. A painting by Eileen Cooper from Rabley Gallery and prints by Ian Hands hang on the wall.

• Paul Massey

  Architect Jonathan Tuckey found this timber panelled chalet in the Swiss Alps on a family ski holiday in 2008. The house is arranged over four levels, with a timber-frame structure sitting on a stone base. Ladder-like wooden stairways connect the different levels of the house but without landings and corridors, so that each living space flows directly into the next. The greatest challenge laid in the low ceiling heights, which were 1.9 metres high at best. Jonathan's solution was to remodel the top two floors by carving out a double-height space to one side of the house, creating an open living area holding a sitting room and kitchen with a dining table. At the same time, Jonathan was able to super-insulate the house from within and add a wood-burning stove for warmth from Austroflamm and as a focal point for the sitting room. 'Everything within the chalet is new and then we designed other things to complement the spirit of the original house.'

• Paul Massey

  Opt for a round coffee table over a square or rectangular one (as seen here at the stylish Ett Hem hotel in Stockholm). It will allow for easier movement around it, making the space appear larger.

• This living room by Philippa Thorp is actually much smaller than it appears. Every drop of space has been utilised, and every trick in the book employed, to make the space feel bigger and lighter.

  'We needed to fit a three-bedroom house into just 93 square metres without its seeming squeezed,' says Philippa, 'so we had to make excellent use of space. It was also very dark. We basically gutted it and started again, to bring in as much light as possible, and increase the sense of space.'

  Every nook and cranny cleverly camouflages storage. Even the window seat and custom-made table conceal touch-catch drawers, and a false bookcase (to the left of the fire) incorporates a rise-and-fall mechanism that reveals the television. 'I went to a second-hand bookshop and bought books to the exact measurements, then had to chop them up for their spines,' says Philippa. 'I felt very guilty - but the result looks genuine.'

  Warmth and depth is provided by a neutral fabric from Colefax and Fowler that lines the walls. The calm neutrals and clean lines are highlighted by an eye catching abstract painting by Terry Frost. The sofa is covered in 'Small Star' in flax by Galbraith & Paul, with cushions made from 'Minuet' silk velvet by Kravet to add texture. A bespoke rug from Vanderhurd covers the distressed oak boards that extend through the entire ground floor.

• Jake Curtis

  This 90 square metre former artist's studio in Chelsea was transformed into a light-filled pied-à-terre for a family of five through clever reconfiguration of the interior (with help from designer Eve Mercier). The pièce de résistance of the house is the original Perspex roof on the upper floor, which lends the small living room the feel of a conservatory and creates the illusion of space.

• Work with, not against your home's natural architecture. It's an important lesson for any space, but especially true for small homes, as this space designed by Paolo Moschino proves. Here, an alcove by the window is made the most of with a small sofa nestled inside. The blue and white colour scheme also remains true to the style of the building -a fisherman's cottage by the sea in Cornwall.

• Rachel Whiting

  Lucite or Plexiglas furniture is a small space godsend. Not only is it sleek and stylish, but by allowing light to pass through it, it's almost as if it wasn't there.

  In the Paris home of Vincent Frey and his wife Bianca, the Jacques Charpentier Plexiglas armchairs were salvaged from a warehouse belonging to Vincent's father (Vincent is the grandson of the eponymous Pierre Frey founder, and the current deputy manager of the company). Originals like these occasionally turn up at auction so it is worth keeping an eye on 1stdibs.

  For something comparable to the two white 'Tulip' chairs flanking the Pierre Frey sofa try Bluesuntree, whose take on the classic design costs £99. The graphic rug in the living room was custom-made by Braquenié.

• Lucas Allen

  How to expand a narrow living room? In this Notting Hill town house, interior designer Suzy Hoodless used strong, clean lines to emphasise the high ceilings, softened by a bespoke George Smith sofa and colourful cushions. When space is limited, it can be tempting to mount the television to the wall, but here it is unobtrusively tucked to the side to ensure the frameless mirror (also space-enhancing) is a focal point.

• Paul Massey

  The sitting area in Rita Konig's London flat is a masterclass in layering, with textiles in different patterns and textures covering the sofas and cushions; Etro's red cotton velvet 'Palinuro' from Pierre Frey is used on one sofa and China Seas' 'Ziggurat' from Tissus d'Hélène on the other. The open fireplace surrounded by a chimneypiece found at Petworth Antique Centre, and walls covered with a mix of framed prints, photographs, drawings and paintings, add to the relaxed look.

• Simon Brown

  The chimneypiece in the drawing room of Robin Muir's house is from Renaissance. One sofa is upholstered in a plain cotton, the other in a green silk velvet from Abbott & Boyd. The walls lined in floorboards give this room a cosy, rustic feel.

• Paul Massey

  The morning room at Max Rollitt's house is a lesson in how to make the most of a small space. A cosy seat has been fitted under the window - this is a perfect spot for reading or contemplating. Space on top of dressers and chests of drawers has been used to display antiques. The effect is cosy but not at all cluttered. Max has managed to maintain an sense to light and space in this compact room.

• Simon Brown

  In this small one bedroom Victorian flat use of every inch of the main room has been maximised, fitting in a large sitting area and a dining nook with banquette seating in Linwood's 'Moleskin Velvet' fabric in mustard. A trio of Michael Anastassiades pendants and a photograph by Nick Knight above the chimneypiece accentuates the high ceiling.

• Natalie Dinham

  The living room of this Paris apartment with interiors designed by Tara Craig uses vibrantly coloured furniture and acessories against a plain white background. The palette for the apartment was inspired by particular references: the ocean hues of the furniture and fabrics were inspired by some woven Zulu bowls and a navy diary and green purse, both from Smythson, belonging to the client.

  Tara works closely with several British upholstery workshops, in this case commissioning a Howard-style sofa and a hand-sprung ottoman. The latter has sensibly been upholstered in a graphic print because, as she says, 'people put their feet up and pattern is a good tool for hiding marks and spills'.

• Alexander James

  The cypress-panelled walls, which give this small living room a cosy feel, are decorated with maps of the Caribbean. The pattern on the blinds matches the one on the rug, tying the scheme together.

  The owners of this Bahamas beach house turned to trusted interior designer John McCall to provide their house with a British sensibility, practical furnishings and interiors that are not 'too beachy'.

• Crittall screens differentiate the space in this living room by Turner Pocock. The patterns on upholstery and rugs mimic the statement made by the mirrors - both are bold and graphic. The twin mirrors on either side of the fireplace reflect the natural light beautifully and really open up the alcoves.

  View Turner Pocock on The List

• Paul Massey

  The sitting room of Clare Mosley's Georgian house, on the raised ground floor, extends from the front of the house to the back. The cream armchair is from Howe on Pimlico Road, the blue sofa is from George Sherlock and the blue footstool is from Sean Cooper Sofas. The gilded lamp on the occasional table and the walnut-framed mirror that hangs over the chimneypiece are examples of Clare's work.

• Simon Brown

  Young Swedish interior designer Beata Heuman had the L-shape sofa of her living room custom-made to fit the space. It is upholstered in 'Pods' linen from Christopher Farr and includes a useful pocket to hold magazines. 'People are sometimes afraid of custom-made things, but you just need to know where to go,' she says. She also recommends looking for inexpensive off-cuts, available direct from individual fabric manufacturers. The antiqued bronze table cost £30 from Portobello market, and above the sofa is an abstract that she painted herself.

• Lucas Allen

  Owner and interior designer Hugh Leslie shares his flat, a former artist's studio in Chelsea, London, with his partner Robert Boniske. The living room is home to much of Hugh's collection of mid-20th century classic furniture, including the carved table designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1931. Two paintings by Alvaro Guevara are grouped asymmetrically above it, while the armchair is designed by Hans Wegner.

• Simon Upton

  Notting Hill living room of Keith McNally, founder of cult restaurant Balthazar, places emphasis on comfort, warmth and casual intimacy. "I suppose I wanted a country look; I wanted to create a home where children can run around and knock anything over, and nothing matters," he explains. What he has achieved is an environment that, despite its visual impact, is intriguing, instantly relaxing and stylish.

  The walls of the house were finished by a craftsman he always works with in the States, who carefully applied imperfect plaster, creating a texture that allowed a glaze of raw sienna and yellow ochre to collect in the grooves, which gives the walls an aged finish.

• Rachael Smith

  Mirrors: They have them in lifts for a reason. It's a well known trick that clever placement of mirrors completely transforms a design scheme, bouncing light back around the room and creating the illusion of more space.

  Designer Ann Boyd's tiny London pied-à-terre is packed with useful ideas, including making use of natural light and mirrors to expand the space. The walls were transformed with MDF and mirror-glass panelling, the square design inspired by the windows. 'I am partial to MDF panelling; it hides a multitude of sins,' she says.

• Simon Brown

  Similar to designer Ann Boyd, throughout the flat interior designer Beata Heuman has used mirrors to reflect light and create an illusion of space. In the living room, a pair of bronze-framed mirrors, hung opposite one another above the doors, increases the sense of ceiling height.

Stylish Small Living Rooms

Source: https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/small-living-room-ideas