5 Tips to Supersize a Smaller Living Room

Here are five good ideas that can open up your smaller living room to the eye and make the best use of your space. 1. Capitalize on Symmetry If your living room lends itself to symmetrical furniture placement you can create a feeling of balance and calm. A good way to create symmetry is to arrange two small sofas or�loveseats�around a focal point. If you are fortunate enough to have an architectural feature that acts as a natural focal point, like a fireplace or a bay window, places your sofas on either side with the cocktail table between them. If you don't, you can create a focal point with a large painting or a wall-mounted electric fireplace. 2. Make your Sofa the Star By introducing a sofa in a show-stopping color to a smaller living room, you can make the sofa the star of the room. A sofa in a spectacular color will direct attention away from the size of the room and focus it on the furniture instead. Color blocking to make a bold statement of style uses a combo of larger areas of color, so use a contrasting shade for the chairs or the walls. Be sure to repeat the sofa color when you accessorize with throw pillows and other home decor items. 3. Bring the Outside In This year decorators are bringing the outdoors in with live plants and verdant accents like shades of green, botanical fabrics and foliage patterns. Greenery indoors can give your smaller living room an airy, roomy and uncluttered feel. 4. Don't Forget the Mirrors Mirrors give your room depth and give your smaller living room a much larger appearance. A beautiful wall mirror can reflect light, both natural and artificial, and direct it into your room to maximize your space visually. Another way to use mirrors is to opt for mirrored furniture pieces, like a narrow mirrored console table, that has been so popular in recent years.