If you think that your space is “too small to live in,” it could be your furniture arrangement. We try to gain open space by pushing our furniture to the walls. Unfortunately, this arrangement doesn’t promote warmth and conversation, and it usually collects clutter.

    Consider the scale, or proportions of your furniture. If the room is long, try “floating” a smaller furniture piece. As an example, angle the chair off the wall so that it is almost perpendicular to the sofa. This will break the length of the room.

    A small room, however, doesn’t require small pieces. In some cases, it’s best to use fewer, larger pieces to visually enlarge a small space. To make the most of a small living space, choose furniture pieces that provide storage solutions, such as a storage ottoman or a cocktail table. By lightening the walls with new paint and adding a neutral-colored rug, it will help unify the room, and it will appear larger. Then try adding an accent color to liven it up.

    Windows are the eyes of a room, but when you cover them, you make the room feel smaller. Try extending the curtain rods beyond the window frames to allow in more light and draw the eye outward, creating the illusion of more space.

    Finally, concentrate on one “focal point” of the room. Is it the fireplace? Then display an accent piece on the mantel to draw the eye to its beauty. Or perhaps if you don’t have a mantel for display, look for a striking piece of wall art or picture. Whatever you use, remember that the way you display something can be as important as the collection itself. Try using fewer accessories to give more emphasis. Splash a few pillows on the sofa, add some lighting, and your living room makeover is complete!