I had a similar setup that always felt awkward and I finally figured out how to fix it over the past couple of months. My room isn’t exactly like this but the general advice should remain the same. Get a straight couch (not L shaped) and pull it away from the wall a bit. It feels counterintuitive but leaving even just a few inches of space behind a couch can really open up a space. It’ll also give your curtains some room to breathe so they don’t look like the couch is crushing them so much. It’s hard to tell from these photos but if you have space I’d get a small cute chair in a different fabric from the couch. I’d either put it where the ottoman is now or on the opposite side of the room if it’ll leave you enough space to walk between the doorways. I’d also put a side table next to the couch. Maybe a cute vase and some coasters on it. This isn’t layout related but I’d also recommend replacing those cube shelves with a proper TV unit. It’ll look a lot cleaner. I recently bought a few IKEA Besta units and I’m very happy with them. They’re simple, clean, customizable, and most importantly very affordable. They were on sale when I bought them and I did a full 12’ wall of Besta units for about $300 IIRC. Answer from itsnottommy on reddit.com
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › udr › apartment-living-room
Apartment Living Room
Small White Living Room Ideas Apartment · Small Living Room White Couch · Small White Living Room · White Small Living Room · Tiny White Living Room · Living Room Small Decor · Blue And White Minimalist Living Room · White Blue And Grey Living Room · Blue Grey White Living Room ·
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Apartment Therapy
apartmenttherapy.com › best-living-room-layouts-2025-37523460
The 5 Best Living Room Layouts We Saw All Year Long (They’re Great for Small Spaces!)
1 week ago - In Salli Mandel’s 550-square-foot Washington, D.C., apartment, she was given the challenge of creating zones to live, eat, and work — all within a single (and small!) open space. But she didn’t let this multi-purpose goal detract from a proper living room. Instead she opted for a classic living room layout, but did it on a petite scale.
Discussions

Small Living Room Ideas?
I had a similar setup that always felt awkward and I finally figured out how to fix it over the past couple of months. My room isn’t exactly like this but the general advice should remain the same. Get a straight couch (not L shaped) and pull it away from the wall a bit. It feels counterintuitive but leaving even just a few inches of space behind a couch can really open up a space. It’ll also give your curtains some room to breathe so they don’t look like the couch is crushing them so much. It’s hard to tell from these photos but if you have space I’d get a small cute chair in a different fabric from the couch. I’d either put it where the ottoman is now or on the opposite side of the room if it’ll leave you enough space to walk between the doorways. I’d also put a side table next to the couch. Maybe a cute vase and some coasters on it. This isn’t layout related but I’d also recommend replacing those cube shelves with a proper TV unit. It’ll look a lot cleaner. I recently bought a few IKEA Besta units and I’m very happy with them. They’re simple, clean, customizable, and most importantly very affordable. They were on sale when I bought them and I did a full 12’ wall of Besta units for about $300 IIRC. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/DesignMyRoom
17
44
December 12, 2024
How would you design this apartment living room?
You’ve got a lot of little stuff. You’ll need to balance that with a few big pieces, as well finding ways to store a little of stuff out of sight like in baskets etc. I’d recommend a long brick and board shelf for your tv, plus to store stuff and have baskets to put a way a lot of stuff. It should be most of the wall. I’d get a go art for the right of the tv. You might get some colorful crochet curtains, or get them in natural oatmeal color. Get rid of the table with legs and move the square table in the middle. Go thrift shopping and find two upholstered chairs that relate to each other well. They don’t have to match, just relate. 3 small art down the middle between the windows. Maybe some patterned colorful throw pillows. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/DesignMyRoom
23
2
September 12, 2024
Small apartment living room is getting pretty crowded. Any advice / recommendations?
That center table looks way to big for that space. A smaller one would immediately create a more open feel. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/malelivingspace
173
398
July 18, 2023
Living room layout suggestions
You should check out Mr Cliff Tan on Tik Tok. He talks about how to best arrange rooms according to Feng Shui etc. He has very nice suggestions. Tik tok handle: @dearmodern. I think he's on ig too. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/femalelivingspace
8
18
November 19, 2022
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Apartment Therapy
apartmenttherapy.com › small-living-room-home-design-ideas-254768
40 Small Living Room Ideas That Maximize Space and Style | Apartment Therapy
With the right sized furniture, this decorating strategy can make a layout look more like a deliberately open floor plan — not just a one room apartment. ... Even a tiny alcove, like in this New York apartment, can work as the perfect living room. Emphasize the coziness of a small footprint with soft textures and calming colors, both of which can make a tiny area feel intentionally small.
Published   August 17, 2024
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Better Homes & Gardens
bhg.com › decorating › small-spaces › strategies › small-living-room-furniture-arrangement
15 Small Living Room Layout Ideas That Maximize Space
October 13, 2025 - One of the most effective small living room layout ideas is to outfit the space with elements that encourage the eye to move vertically in addition to horizontally scanning. Invite the gaze to move above and below eye level with draperies ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/designmyroom › small living room ideas?
r/DesignMyRoom on Reddit: Small Living Room Ideas?
December 12, 2024 - I would move the couch away from the wall and float it as a room divider of its small enough. Then shift the TV to smaller wall. I would buy darker curtains and hang them slightly higher so the window is a statement piece.
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IKEA
ikea.com › ikea ideas › home furnishings
Living large in a small apartment living room - IKEA
A little studio apartment where the living room is a workspace too. Sound familiar? Even with its small footprint, this living-work area delivers on all fronts, offering up a corner for creative work, a generous sofa for down-time and enough storage – open, closed and secreted away – to keep every object organised and accessible.
Find elsewhere
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Food52
food52.com › story › 27492-small-apartment-living-room-ideas
Small Apartment Living Room Decorating Ideas
June 21, 2022 - The best tips for decorating a small living room including creating zones, picking the right couch, buying flexible furnishings, and maximizing corners.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/designmyroom › how would you design this apartment living room?
r/DesignMyRoom on Reddit: How would you design this apartment living room?
September 12, 2024 -

Moved in with my bf last year, and have been experimenting since then, but I’m always feeling like something is not quite right. He had the vintage rug that I love, and we bought the couch but I second guess it everyday. We’re artist types so spend a lot of time at home, and this is kind of the catch all office as well, but I feel distracted/unsatisfied with the space. Any suggestions would be appreciated! I’ve thought of -getting a bigger media console -replacing the two stacked side tables by the windows with an actual arm chair/reading book (it’s dead space my cat just uses now) -making the wall by the keyboard more interesting/adding some shelves

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The Spruce
thespruce.com › small-apartment-living-room-ideas-7111452
40 Small Apartment Living Room Ideas to Maximize Space and Style
March 20, 2025 - Adapt seating to the layout of your space and your lifestyle. Try a smaller sofa with two armchairs; float a set of four large and comfortable armchairs around a round coffee table in the middle of the room; or place a sectional in the corner that fits your space to concentrate seating in one spot. Where should I put my couch and TV in a small apartment?
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Within the Grove
withinthegrove.com › small-apartment-living-room
Making Over My Brother's Small Apartment Living Room - Within the Grove
April 4, 2022 - By hanging the curtains near the ceiling, it makes the apartment feel larger by making the wall appear taller. Something great for a 110 square foot area. You also don’t want to block any of the natural light from the window. To maximize the sunlight, hang the curtain panels just past the edge of the window. This will also make it look like you have a larger window. For the side tables beside the couch and the coffee table, I picked out nesting tables for both. They can become compact for small spaces like this but also provide additional surface area when needed.
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Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 6504030 › ideas-for-small-apartment-living-room-with-extra-area
Ideas for small apartment living room with extra area
July 25, 2025 - Recently moved to a bigger apartment that has a decent size living room. It also has an extra room to the side, connecting the kitchen. Need some info and ideas to create a cozy, warm living room. I prefer neutral colors and dim lighting. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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Apartment Therapy
apartmenttherapy.com › long-narrow-living-room-deas-254700
11 Long Living Room Ideas: Narrow Layout Design Tips I’ve Used | Apartment Therapy
October 23, 2025 - This small Barcelona apartment is a perfect example of how this tip can make the space feel more livable. This living room is so narrow that it’s more like a hallway than a room, so to preserve the ability to walk through the space, the best bet for the furniture is to place it all along the back wall, leaving a nice open walkway from room to room.
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Real Simple
realsimple.com › small-living-room-tricks-for-more-style-and-space-11828283
7 Small Living Room Tricks Designers Swear By for More Style and Space
November 8, 2025 - "For example, a bench with hidden storage, a narrow console that conceals cords, or a side table that slides under the sofa can keep the space open and practical. When you clear pathways, you can instantly make a compact room feel larger and ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/malelivingspace › small apartment living room is getting pretty crowded. any advice / recommendations?
r/malelivingspace on Reddit: Small apartment living room is getting pretty crowded. Any advice / recommendations?
July 18, 2023 - I both love and dislike my current living room setup, any suggestions? ... MaleLivingSpace is dedicated to places where men can live. Here you can find posts discussing, showing, improving, and maintaining apartments, homes, domiciles, man caves, garages, and bungalows.
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Ideal Home
idealhome.co.uk › all rooms › living room
Small living room ideas – take inspiration from these 50 stylish yet compact lounges and turn your own into a standout space
September 13, 2025 - One large unit spanning an entire wall in a small living room layout with TV can house the screen, media equipment, books and other essentials, with everything in one easy-to-reach place.
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House Beautiful
housebeautiful.com › room ideas › living + family rooms › 62 clever small sitting room ideas that designers swear by
Designers Say This Is the "Perfect" Seating Arrangement for Small Rooms
November 17, 2025 - In small living rooms, it's essential to find creative storage solutions and arrange furniture to avoid a cramped feel. In Liz Dutton's Ohio home, this is achieved by storing a stack of books neatly under the antique, low-to-the-ground coffee table and using a small side table for drinks. In a space with limited square footage, it's crucial not to overcrowd the walls or block walking paths. Unique solutions like these ensure a balanced and open layout.
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Apartment Therapy
apartmenttherapy.com › living-and-dining-room-together-small-spaces-268565
13 Small Living Dining Room Ideas That Are So Functional | Apartment Therapy
July 29, 2025 - Ahead are some tricks to make space for a dining table in a small living room. First, we’ll look at a few layout diagrams to max out your square footage for lounging and eating. Then we’ll take a journey through some Apartment Therapy house tours for some extra visual inspiration.
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › squareinchhome › small-living-room-ideas
460 Best Small Living Room Ideas
Small Apartment Living Room · Idee Arredamento Soggiorno · Scandi Boho Living Room Inspiration · Modern Boho Living Room Cream Couch · Boho Cream Living Room · Beige Couch Boho Living Room · Boho Living Room Beige Couch · Cream Sofa Boho Living Room · Boho Living Room Cream Couch · Cream And Pink Boho Living Room · Scandiboho Living Room · Westwing Italia | Live ...
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › spaceoptimized › small-apartment-design
Discover 370 Small Apartment Design and ...
Small Apartment Bedrooms · One Room Apartment · First Apartment Decorating · Deco Studio · Live Work Space · 10 Person Dining Table · Tokyo Apartment · Movable Walls · Sliding Wall · Dining Room Ceiling · Maximize Small Space · Midcentury Home · Prefab Homes ·