Small living rooms are not an uncommon sight in the UK. So if you too lack living room space in your home, do not despair – you’re not alone. And even a tiny living room can be extremely stylish and fully functional, as long as it is decorated with enough consideration and thoughtfulness. That all starts with picking the right sofa – which is exactly why we’ve put together these sofa ideas for small living rooms to help you do just that.
Choosing the best sofa for your living room’s size and layout, as well as for your needs, is one of the most crucial steps of decorating your living space. It’s likely going to be the largest piece of furniture in the room and the place where you spend most of your time when using the space.
This rings true even more so when it comes to small living room ideas as given the space restrictions, you need to make sure that your sofa works twice as hard. This is how to go about it.
Sofa ideas for small living rooms
‘When it comes to making the most of a small space, furniture plays a key part,’ says Gisela Lancaster, head of buying at Sofology. ‘The proportions of a sofa are particularly important in compact living rooms as are colour and design.’
So choose your living room sofa ideas wisely.
1. Make the sofa a focal point
‘This may sound counterproductive, but a large single sofa can become the focal point of your room, inviting everyone to sit down and relax,’ says Lena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse. ‘It optimises the area by eliminating dead space that smaller sofas and chairs might create.’
You’d probably think that a small living room automatically means a small sofa. But it doesn’t necessarily have to be as with a larger sofa, the seating can become the focal point of the room – and it’s perfect for your cosy living room ideas. Just make sure you don’t completely overwhelm the space with the wrong type of sofa.
Modular sofas are some of the best for small living rooms due to their flexibility. The DUSK Brooklyn sofa is one of our favourite modular designs for three reasons - cushiony comfort, modern look and affordable price point.
2. Avoid bulky designs
And that leads us to the next point of avoiding bulky sofa designs that are sure to make your already small space look even tinier. ‘Sofas that are too bulky will leave little room for other furniture and movement in a small room, making it feel more cramped,’ Lena warns.
John Darling, founder of Darlings of Chelsea, agrees, ‘Avoid bulky styles as they can dominate the room and make everything look out of proportion.’
Instead, slim shapes that create the illusion of more space are better for tight living spaces. ‘Smaller rooms benefit from selecting sofas with slimmer proportions and sleek, clean silhouettes,’ says Patricia Gibbons, head of buying at sofa.com.
3. Opt for a sofa with low and slim arms – or none at all
Avoiding bulkiness also goes for the arms which are best kept slim or low (or both) in small living rooms. Or you could even choose a sofa without any arms at all.
‘With space a premium, you’ll want to maximise your seating, so avoid large bulky sofas with wide arms, as these can often dominate a small room,’ say James Rubin-Smith and Rob Hudson, co-founders of Keep Sofa. ‘By choosing one with a slim arm profile, it will mean you can maximise the usable seating, without needing a large footprint.’
Lena adds, ‘Choosing a sofa with low or no arms can create the illusion of more space and a larger seating area. These sofas fit well into awkwardly shaped nooks, as they have less overhang on the sides.’
This John Lewis model ticks those boxes perfectly - and it was rated as the best sofa on the market by our reviewers. And that's something!
4. Utilise a corners’ potential
You might think of corner sofas as large pieces of furniture, fit only for big living rooms. But the opposite is true. Corner sofas make use of underutilised corner space in a room, wrapping around the edges of the room and providing extra seating at barely any expense of extra space.
‘Chaise-end sofas and corner sofa formats are a great, space-efficient way to maximise the corners of your room that can often go unused,’ James and Rob say.
John agrees, ‘Small corner sofas or an L-shaped sectional provides a stylish space-saving solution and are ideal for maximising your living area. By wrapping furniture round a corner, these compact corner sofas provide space for everyone to enjoy together.’
Rated as the best corner sofa by our reviewers, the Barbican sofa from John Lewis is our favourite as it also boasts a sleek Scandi look with wooden tapered legs which further create the illusion of space.
5. Steer clear of bold patterns
While we love bold living room colour schemes, bold patterns are something best to be avoided on sofas for small living rooms as they can make the space look busy and cluttered – the opposite of what you want.
‘Subtle patterns can help to add character to smaller spaces, whereas designs that are too busy or bold can overwhelm a small room,’ Lena explains.
John adds a recommendation, ‘Try to avoid patterns on the main body of the sofa as this can make the room look smaller. If you want to be bold, go for a pattern on the scatter cushions or on an accent chair.’
6. Be strategic with the position of your sofa
A common living room seating arrangement idea is to avoid pushing furniture against the wall to prevent a room from looking smaller. However, in a small living room, this deceptive trick is best avoided when choosing how to arrange furniture in a small living room as it can cut down on the already small amount of usable space in the room.
‘You want to try and maximise the space as much as possible and you can do this by keeping furniture against the walls,' explains Charlie Marshall, founder at Loaf. 'However, you don't need to do this in the corners of the room where you can have an armchair pulled away from the wall at an angle which will make the space feel more welcoming.’
7. Make your space work harder with a multi-tasking sofa
'Multifunctional furniture is the key to unlocking the potential of a small room. From storage sofas to footstools, minimising the number of pieces of furniture you need and maximising the opportunity to stow possessions you don’t use every day will mean you have more space to enjoy,' explains Gisela at Sofology.
Consider whether your living room could benefit from extra living room storage ideas, or a sofa bed. Modular sofas are also brilliant multi-tasking sofas as they can be configured to suit the exact space of the room, but can easily be moved around for occasions when you need more space.
'If you’re looking for something more versatile, think modular,' says Dani Burroughs, head of product for Snug. 'Look for a sofa that grows with you and your lifestyle as your needs change. This will mean you can turn your three-seater sofa into a corner sofa in a moment’s notice by simply adding new pieces.'
This affordable Habitat design comes with hidden storage and high ratings from existing customers. And it's also a sofa bed!
8. Lift things up with sofa legs
In a small space it is easy to forget about the available verticle space, sofa legs are a great way to capitalise on this.
'Picking a sofa with legs will trick the eye to see more floor, making the room appear larger,' says Elizabeth Sladen, head of buying at MADE.com. 'The Henrietta combines all these notions, making it a great contender for small space.'
Gisela at Sofology agrees that sofa legs are a must in a small space, and recommends opting for elegant, tapered legs.
9. Replace a traditional sofa with a loveseat
If you’re really struggling for space then you can swap a full-on sofa for an alternative form of seating – like a loveseat that’s both compact and cosy.
‘Love seats can often be overlooked but are a wonderfully versatile option that offer a cosy space for two or a luxuriously comfortable seat for one. They also deliver in the style stakes and provide a focal point for any small room where space is limited,’ Gisela from Sofology says.
The Weymouth design from Darlings of Chelsea is not only a loveseat, but also one of the best chair beds so you're getting two in one.
10. Create the illusion of space with a low sofa
Just like you can lift your sofa off the floor with legs to create the illusion of space, you can also do the exact opposite by opting for a low and grounded design.
‘Choosing a low profile sofa with a low back can create the illusion of more space and make your room feel less crowded,’ James and Rob explain.
11. Pick lightweight fabrics over heavy materials
Light colours are best for sofas in small living rooms to brighten up the space. But the materials and textures you go for will also impact how the sofa looks and feels in the tight space.
‘Linen and cotton are both light and airy fabrics that provide comfort in smaller spaces and can be easily cleaned. Leather can also work well as it is a sleek fabric and can open up a space – stick to lighter-coloured leather options instead of darker ones to create this look,’ Lena recommends.
James and Rob of Keep Sofas add, ‘Heavier textures and darker fabrics can make a space feel smaller and more enclosed, especially if the room doesn’t have much natural light. Lighter weight fabrics such as cotton or linen in cleaner tailored silhouettes help to create a fresh, airy atmosphere.’
12. Keep in mind the 2:3 rule
Proportion is key, especially in a small space. And nothing strikes the perfect balance better than the golden ratio interior design rule, also known as the 2:3 rule.
‘The 2:3 design rule is that your sofa is no more than two thirds of your room and this is especially important when looking at a sofa for a small space. Any more than this and the room will feel dominated and even smaller,’ John explains.
13. Build a sofa under the window
When you can't find the right sofa fit for an awkwardly shaped space, going bespoke is your best option. And it needn't be expensive. A local carpenter should be able to build the bones of a built-in sofa seat, and made-to-fit seat pads are another affordable commission.
Adding drawers beneath will provide precious living room storage ideas for your small space.
14. Switch sofas for armchairs
Why struggle to squeeze in one sofa, when you could provide more comfortable seating for a trio with three armchairs? Arranging the living room seating around a chest or coffee table will encourage conversation. You can have some real fun here, picking the best armchairs in different styles and colours.
Do try and and have a design thread common to them all, however, or you'll risk your living room looking like a furniture showroom. This could either be a colour palette – say, differentiations shades of blue. Or it could be the style of your chairs – curvy and classic, upholstered mid century, or square and modern.
Consider doubling up an armchair as a chair bed to make the most of space in a small living room.
15. Stay light and bright in white
We all know a white living room idea is the go-to colour scheme for small spaces. So if you're after sofa ideas for small living rooms, logic would dictate that a white sofa is ideal. And it can be – though we'd recommend to maximise the effect that you combine with white walls so everything blends together, bright and light.
With this set up, you can then layer in the colour. This yellow and grey combo is soft and uplifting. Pick terracottas and greens for something more warming and earthy. Or teals and blues for a refreshing feel. Reds and blues will take you into classic nautical territory. Or you could bring in blacks for a stronger monochrome scheme.
'Traditionally, light and bright has been the most popular way to create an illusion of space. White or light walls provide a blank canvas so you can either opt for light-coloured upholstery for a relaxed minimalist aesthetic where the furniture sinks back into the room, or use your sofa as an accent piece to deliver a secondary colour,' says Gisela at Sofology.
FAQs
What is the best colour sofa for a small room?
If you have a small living, choosing the right colour for your sofa is crucial. And steering clear of dark shades and instead opting for light and bright colours will work best for a tiny space.
‘Using neutral hues and lighter colours will avoid the area looking cramped and instead will provide an airier feel,’ says Patricia Gibbons, head of buying at sofa.com. ‘Other hues that create the same effect are pastel shades such as baby blues and pale pinks. These tones are also perfect to style with scheme and will remain on trend, making any updates in the room effortless.’
How do I choose a sofa for a small living room?
As we mentioned before the most crucial part about picking sofa ideas for a small living room is getting the size right.
'Sofas often appear smaller in showrooms, so before settling on a style, measure your room, including doorways and any stairs that the sofa might need to travel through or up,' says Gisela at Sofology.
'Then sketch a scaled floor plan with the other items of furniture, to see what size sofa you can comfortably accommodate. Once you have the measurements, you can narrow down your choice of sofa styles. A good tip in an empty room is to lay down newspapers to help you visualise the footprint the sofa will use.'
If you don't have the time or space to mark out the sofa on the floor, Elizabeth Sladen at MADE.com points out that whether a sofa will fit through the door easily is a good indicator of how it will look in the space. 'When it comes to choosing a sofa for a smaller space, first think about the entrance to the room and whether it will fit through the door. Whilst this may sound obvious, if it does not fit cleanly through the door it is most likely going to engulf the room.'
