Make A Cramped Living Room Feel More Spacious With A Simple Furniture Swap

There are numerous ways to make your small living room look bigger that won't cost a dime. Decluttering, for example, allows your credit card to remain firmly in your purse or pocket while still offering an impressive ROI. But sometimes, even the most vigorous of clutter-busting sessions isn't enough to make your cramped space feel less claustrophobic. If that's where you're at, a simple furniture swap can create some breathing room. Trading your regular end table for one that has storage means the items that don't have a permanent (or convenient) home can finally be stashed out of sight. it could be extra throws for cold evenings, a crochet or knitting project you usually work on while watching TV, books you're currently reading, or even remote controls. Depending on the size of your living room, adding one or two of these dual-purpose side tables can easily make it feel more spacious.

DIYing a perfect narrow side table for a small living room might seem like a fun project, but when space is at a premium, you need to find ways to make the most of the square footage. In this instance, a better approach is to look for something with enough surface area for your coffee, cookies, and book (a good yardstick, in our opinion), as well as ample hidden storage underneath. Something as simple as a cube with a lid, door, or drawers is perfect. A couple of thrifted picnic baskets with a tray on top can also do the trick if you enjoy a more cottagecore vibe in your home. What you go with will depend on what you're looking to tuck out of sight. Books, remotes, and smaller items will do well in drawers, while throws will work better in a top-access solution.

Once you've traded in your single-use side table for something multifunctional, you'll be amazed at how that small shift can drastically improve the look, feel, and functionality of your living room. While you want your end table to look the part, it can (and should) serve as more than just decor. Something that doubles as a storage unit allows you to optimize the space you have available. It doesn't matter how good something looks; if it makes your home feel cluttered just by being there, you're better off swapping it out with something that has the ability to pull double duty without crowding you.

Multi-use furniture, whether that's a side table, desk, or sleeper couch, comes with a multitude of benefits for those living in tight quarters. It puts a lid on clutter, which raises stress levels and reduces productivity. It saves money and space, since you're buying one item to perform multiple tasks, rather than filling your home (and emptying your wallet) with individual items. With working from home the norm nowadays, rooms need to serve more than one purpose. As such, our furniture must follow suit. If your living room has begun to feel like an ill-fitting pair of jeans, start by decluttering your single-purpose end table with one that's capable of wearing more than one hat. If your space is still feeling messy, it might be worth checking out these couch mistakes that make a small living room feel even more cluttered.