16 Apartment Decorating Ideas

16 Decorator Tricks for Small Living Rooms and Other Cramped Spaces

Metallics have a way of brightening tiny living spaces.

Stephanie Sisco

Updated on June 15, 2022

Go Light

Beige room with light pink curtains — Polly Wreford/Homes & Gardens

Use light colors on the walls and floor. Softer hues can make a cramped room feel bigger and brighter.

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Hang a Mirror

Feng Shui fireplace and mirror — William Abranowicz

Place a mirror opposite a window and it will bounce light around the room, making the space feel airier. The bigger the mirror, the better.

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Sprinkle in Some Metallics

A shimmery lamp, light fixture, or object will have a similar effect as a mirror, reflecting light and brightening up a space.

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Install Floating Shelves

They offer storage space without the bulkiness of chests, bookcases, and armoires. You can even swap your nightstands for floating shelves.

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Make Use of Corners

This often-overlooked area can be a great spot to squeeze in an extra accent chair or a corner bookshelf, making your room more livable. Or tuck a cozy chair with a throw blanket in a corner to create an instant reading nook.

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Fake Bigger Windows

Patterned decor — Peter Dressel; Designer: Frances Herrera

Installing curtain rods a few inches below the ceiling instead of right above the window frame will draw the eye upward and make windows seem taller. The same trick works to visually expand a window's width if you hang the rods a few inches past the sides of the panes.

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Match Your Curtain Color to Your Walls

Silver metallic living room — Edward Addeo; Designer: Frances Herrera

Curtains that blend with the walls create an unbroken line, making a room feel much larger.

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Choose Scaled-Down Furniture

Opt for furniture that suits a smaller space, like this petite table. Even traditionally bulky pieces—such as upholstered club chairs—come in narrower widths these days, so you can get the same look without cramming your furnishings.

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Opt for Airy Pieces

Instead of a solid-wood coffee table, which can weigh down a space, choose a see-through acrylic one or a table with an open metal base.

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Decorate With Double-Duty Finds

A garden stool can act as both an end table and a spot to perch; an ottoman with a tray can hold your TV remotes or transform into extra seating; and a bench can display books when not in use otherwise.

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Sneak in Some Storage

His-and-hers workspace — Thomas J. Story for Sunset

An easy way to keep a small room from becoming cluttered is to choose furniture with space to store objects, like a coffee table with a shelf below, a bench with bins underneath, and an ottoman with a removable top and empty space inside. Note how this workspace/dining space has clever cubbies to stash belongings.

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Make Your Furniture Mobile

Futon on casters in living room — Thomas J. Story for Sunset

Buying furniture on casters (or outfitting it with casters yourself) allows you to easily rearrange pieces as needed—whether that means pushing a chair, table, or kitchen island out of the way or rolling a futon into position to comfortably set up overnight guests.

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Bring in a Plant

Greenery makes even the smallest space feel fresher and lighter. If you don't have room on the floor, try a hanging plant instead. (Speaking of casters: To make an oversize plant mobile—to easily roll it out of the way when vacuuming or to protect it from too much sun—all you need is a piece of precut bluestone from a landscaping center set on a wheeled caddie.)

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