Having ample space in your living room is a great luxury, but even an average or small living room space can appear larger if you know the tricks.  Here are some great tips to follow that will maximize the feel of any living room space and make the room appear larger!

Lighten It Up!

A dark living room, while warm and cozy, will also feel small.  Using lighter shades of wall paint and plenty of light will not only brighten up the room, but also make it feel much more airy and spacious.

Make Furnishings Fit!

When you have a small living room space, it can often be tempting to try to fit more furniture into the room than there is adequate room for.  However, furnishings that are crowded together or that are too large for the space make the room feel even smaller.  Select pieces that match your décor, but that are designed to be slim, space saving, or compact.

Stripe the Floor!

Stripes just naturally make things look wider or longer than they actually are, so incorporating them into your living room is a great way to make the space appear larger.  A striped rug, wood flooring that gives a striped feel, or other styles of striped flooring is a great choice for opening up the feel of a living room space.

Draw the Eye Up!

Giving a living room perceived height, by drawing the eye up toward the ceiling, makes it instantly appear larger.  There are many ways to do this, including: wallpaper on the ceiling, ceiling tiles that make a statement and stand out, wide crown molding around the tops of the walls, or even a heavily textured ceiling that draws attention to itself.

Accent with Mirrors & Glass!

Another tip for opening up a living room space and making it appear larger is to use mirrors and glass on the walls, and as décor.  Mirrors reflect an opposite section of the room, making it seem to expand.  Glass allows light and vision to pass through, which helps the room feel more open and less cluttered.

Add Legs & Raise!

Our eyes like to see space, and something as simple as selecting furnishings that sit higher off the floor can make a difference in how open and spacious a room feels.  Choose sofas or chairs that are raised with exposed legs, and tables or accent pieces that have open structures and raised legs.

No matter the actual size of your living room space, use your creativity and the above tips to make your space feel larger and more open than ever before!