Go Big on These Design Ideas for Your Small Living Room

If you can't go wide, go up. Use your walls or vertical space for storage, art, and accent pieces. Walls are untapped space in a small living room for creative expression and practical space utilization. Everything from furniture to statuettes can adorn your walls. Don't be afraid to use bold pieces that showcase your design aesthetic and personal style.

Dark colors will indeed close a space. By keeping the walls and decor of a small space white or light colors, you give the perception of more room. In a small area, make the most of natural light by using minimal window coverings and allowing light to fill the space.

Let your living room be your canvas. The coolest thing about neutral colors is that they let bright accent pieces and furniture pop. Keep the room colored in a neutral palette, while adding pops of color. This can range from icy blues to burnt oranges. The choice is yours.

Ever heard that saying about wearing vertical stripes? Just as vertical stripes on your body create the illusion of height, vertical lines on walls create the illusion of higher ceilings. The key to making the most of a small space is accenting its features. After adding vertical accents through paint or decals, avoid cluttering the space. Bare walls augment the vertical effect.

When decorating a small living room, be practical. There's no room for hope chests or other items that take up precious floor real estate. Adding shelving and other wall-based storage solutions keeps the flow and openness of the room. As a bonus, you have a cute place to keep your stuff.

No space should go to waste. A mid-century credenza can add a tasteful accent to a room that doubles as storage for private items. If backed against a wall, this is the place to showcase your artwork. The area can also be used for partial room dividers or screens.

What are your eyes drawn to first in your living room? An accent wall breaks up the space with color or texture. By adding an accent wall, you remove the monotony of bare walls in a small space and give the room a natural centerpiece. Start small with color, or go big with an architectural accent.

Who's ready to defy gravity? Floating furniture gives a futuristic feel to any room. It's aesthetically, gorgeous and modern. Most importantly, by freeing up floor space, you create the illusion of more space even in the smallest of rooms.

Let your imagination run wild-- and some houseplants! Any room can be brought to life with plants of all sizes and colors. Bare corners are helped with greenery, as well as empty shelves. Plants filter your air and bring a fresh look to living room decor. In addition, plants make a room look and feel homier.

When in doubt, triple it. Add three of a small accent at a time to refine a small living room. The important thing to remember is that your decorating should show thought and intentionality. By adding three of the same thing-- a painting, a sculpture, a plant-- your care for your small space shines through.