Smart Solutions | Living room 1 on 1
When it comes to designing a comfortable and visually open living room, scale and proportion are everything. It’s surprisingly easy to make a space feel cramped—even with the best of intentions—simply by choosing the wrong furniture, colors, or layout. Understanding what not to do is just as important as knowing the best design practices.
1. Oversized Furniture
Large, bulky furniture overwhelms a small space and restricts movement, instantly making the room feel tighter than it is. Always measure before purchasing and stick to pieces that suit the scale of the room. A helpful rule of thumb is the 2/3 method—choose furniture and décor that is about two-thirds the size of the wall or area it will occupy. This principle helps maintain visual balance.
Pro tip: Choose low-profile seating with visible legs to create a sense of openness beneath furniture.
2. Poor Lighting Choices
Lighting that's too dim—or placed only in one part of the room—can create shadows and make the space feel more closed in. Avoid using only overhead lighting. Instead, layer light using floor lamps, table lamps, and wall sconces to brighten the room evenly.
Choose light fixtures that are appropriately sized for the room. Too-small fixtures may look out of place and underwhelm.
3. Incorrect Rug Size
A rug that’s too small visually shrinks the room by disconnecting the furniture. Ideally, the rug should extend at least under the front legs of the sofa and reach beyond the coffee table. Conversely, a rug that swallows the entire floor without any border can also make the room feel less defined and more cramped.
Photo // Claudia Casbarian for Julie Soefer
4. Cluttered Layouts
Even with all the right pieces, poor furniture placement can make a room feel tight. Avoid pushing all furniture against the walls or crowding everything in the center. One effective guideline is to use a 10-foot circle diameter to define the main conversation area. This keeps furniture close enough for interaction while allowing ample flow.
Need more space? In large rooms, break the space into zones—perhaps a seating area and a reading nook—to keep things cozy and organized.
5. Dark or Contrasting Paint Colors
Darker tones absorb light and can close in the room, especially when used on multiple walls. If you’re dealing with a smaller space, go for a light, neutral color palette. Painting the walls and trim the same color helps eliminate harsh visual breaks, making the room appear taller and more continuous.
Color tip: Use cooler tones like soft grays, blues, and whites to reflect more light and visually expand the space.
6. Heavy or Low-Hanging Window Treatments
Curtains hung too low or that are too bulky can visually lower the ceiling and close off the room. Instead, hang curtains just below the ceiling or crown molding, and allow them to just graze the floor. This draws the eye upward and gives the impression of taller ceilings and more vertical space.
7. Too Many Small Accessories
While accessories bring personality, too many small items—especially when scattered—can create visual clutter. Instead, group accessories in odd numbers (e.g., 3 or 5) and opt for fewer, larger statement pieces that carry visual weight without the messiness.
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Your interior designer gal pal,
Paula
