Home Decorating Decorating Tips and Techniques 5 Fall Decorating Ideas to Transform Your Small Living Room Into a Cozy Retreat Less space equals more room for creativity. By Ria Bhagwat Ria Bhagwat Ria Bhagwat is the lifestyle editor at Real Simple, where she covers stories related to home, life, and health. Prior to joining Real Simple, Ria was a freelance lifestyle writer at a variety of publications, including Apartment Therapy, Well+Good, and House Digest, where she wrote about color coordination, interior design, and holistic wellness. In her spare time, you can find Ria taking walks across Brooklyn or obsessing over which romance novel to read next. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 11, 2024 Close Photo: La Bicicleta Vermella/Getty Images The weeks leading up to fall are the perfect time to spruce up your space with decorations. You might whip out your favorite throw blankets, pillows, and pumpkin-scented candles to get a head start on cozy season (and rightfully so), but for people living in small spaces, the process can feel more restrictive than rewarding. “Small spaces have added pressure of functioning in multiple ways and can often feel all function and no fun,” explains home decor expert Jessica Ritschl. “With the right home decor, you can create the illusion of more space, add warmth, and showcase your unique personality.” If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry—we asked our home design expert to give us a few ways to transform your small living room into an oasis you can’t wait to come home to. Jessica Ritschl is a home decor expert and the merchandising manager at Society6. 01 of 05 Add Some Throw Pillows We've said it before and we'll say it again: Throw pillows have the ability to add depth and texture to your living room, instantly adding some personality to the space. “A few throw pillows can bring warmth and coziness to any room,” Ritschl says. Depending on the desired color scheme for your living room, purchase a few throw pillow designs that will complement the surroundings. Measure your current throw pillows and get covers in the same size so you can reuse the inserts. Just double-check that the covers are removable! 02 of 05 Try "Scentscaping" "Scentscaping" refers to the power of a good-smelling room. “Update your candles or essential oil mix to something with more depth to evoke a sense of coziness,” Ritschl suggests. “Tap into the power of your sense of smell.” Fall is the perfect time to gather all things pumpkin-scented, so that your living room will smell like an autumnal oasis. In addition to scented candles and essential oils, check out nine more ways to make your home smell like fall. 03 of 05 Bring Natural Elements Into the Mix “Forage some fall branches to add to a vessel or gather some pinecones or small pumpkins to style into your bookshelves,” Ritschl says. Fall is the perfect time to retrieve these items for free—consider walking around your neighborhood and picking up a few natural elements along the way. Although these are small changes, Ritschl says they can have a big impact on your overall environment. 04 of 05 Revamp Your Wall Art Wall art is a subjective topic, but when it comes to transforming a small living space, a cohesive arrangement of artwork can make a statement—without taking up valuable floor space in the room. Ritschl says that displaying inexpensive prints in your living room adds “an extra touch to your space without breaking the bank." Look for prints that follow a fall-inspired color palette to add an extra touch of coziness. 05 of 05 Make Storage Stylish Why not decorate while simultaneously getting organized? Trays, shelves, and storage carts are all compact items that can help decorate your room while keeping your personal belongings tidy. For fall, you might consider introducing seasonal items, like adding candles in rich fall colors to a tray on your bar cart. How to Make a Small Living Room Look Bigger If you’re in the market for a seemingly large living room, Ritschl has a few suggestions for getting started. Add a Mirror Mirrors are an excellent addition to any room, but especially a petite living room. Large mirrors can help enhance your lines of sight, while also reflecting natural light at different angles around the room so it appears brighter and more open. Use Light Paint Colors Light paint colors tend to make a small room look larger, while dark colors recede the size of most rooms. If it isn’t already, consider painting your living room a lighter color—such as white, gray, or another neutral—to give the illusion of a larger living room. Play with Furniture Proportions The proportions of furniture, if used effectively, can do wonders for a small living room. For example, the 60/40 rule suggests that 60% of your room should be filled with furniture while 40% should be left empty. The result is a quasi-open layout that will inspire you to invite all your friends over. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit