The Counterintuitive Decor Choice That Will Make Your Living Room Look Larger

A small and cozy living room often feels more comfy and personal than a giant space with corners that are still begging for your attention. But even with limited square footage, you don't have to be limited in your design choices while trying out what works and what doesn't. In fact, filling up a small space with too many items of decor is often a bad idea and ends up cramping the space even further. Meanwhile, having a single piece of decor that draws eyeballs, while keeping things more subdued elsewhere to heighten the contrast, can loosen things up a notch. 

In fact, if you think big (literally, in this case), you can actually make your quaint little place appear larger without worrying about creating claustrophobia or clutter either. It might seem counterintuitive, but a large piece of decor, such as an enormous artwork or a huge mirror that stands out in size, can make all the difference. That's because these expansive decor choices give your dwelling the illusion of being large and elevate its overall aesthetic appeal as well.

Although experts often advise against having giant furniture (like an enormous sofa) in a small room, the difference in the case of a giant artwork is that it hugs the wall. A strategy that works particularly well for an open-plan layout as well, a large-scale mural hung right at the heart of the room (say, above the mantelpiece) livens things up without taking up any real space and makes the room seem bigger. Apart from the effect created by the colossal size, the type of art you choose is also important for elevating your space. 

If the artwork you hang portrays a beautiful landscape that draws consciousness to a space beyond the room, so to speak, it will create an illusion of being a "window" to the outside world. And we all know how liberating windows can be for a small space. This is why choosing colors like a refreshing blue, white, or beige for the artwork — the kind you see in murals of an ocean or a sea beach — further adds a sense of freedom. Abstract art is great for this purpose as well, especially when it is enlarged. Other great ideas for oversized art include graphic art or a picture of a beautiful landscape.

The mirror is often a strategic piece in the living room that can make or break your decor, no matter the size. Hang it in front of a dull drywall and you amplify the dullness, whereas placing it above a couch or an armchair is often considered bad feng shui. However, if you learn how to decorate with mirrors, there are countless ways to add flair to your space, big or small. Adding a giant mirror to one of the walls is one of the best small living room ideas to make your space seem bigger, since it can magically bring in new space to the room. Hanging it on a wall next to a window is just the right location for it to bounce natural light, reflect nature, and trick the eyes into having a perception of increased space. In fact, you might have seen this tactic at work in a number of restaurants as well, where a giant mirror right behind the seating adds an extra level of glam.

Moreover, amping up decor in small spaces is all about innovation and making the most of the things you have. For instance, if you have been cursing an angled wall in your living room because of the cramped up feeling it imparts, take some tips for finding the best large mirror for your living room and try putting it on that wall. With reflections coming from multiple directions, soon the architectural "flaw" will turn into a defining feature, as the mirror will create an illusion of space around the wall.