Most flat owners would like a little more space, however the following decorating tricks will assist in making the space you have appear more.

The first decorating idea for smaller or oddly shaped rooms is to paint its walls and ceilings in a 'cool' colour such as a pale pastel shade of taupe, blue or green. Paint the ceiling in a colour lighter than the walls, for example white, magnolia or light cream to make the room look more spacious.

Stick to one colour family for your small living room makeover and create interest in the room by using combination of matte and woodwork paints of the same colour.

Hanging curtains or drapes right from the ceiling add to the room's height while soft fabric or drapery that extends to the ground will add elegance and formal look to your room.

Use of large-scale objects is a modern idea for small living rooms which automatically make rooms appear larger.

Use an oversized screen, picture frame or pattern to make the room look more spacious. Screens help you to create a personal corner or a separate living space and are especially preferred in flats or apartments where there are not enough rooms for each member of the family. A screen could be used to provide a small section for a study and will also help by hiding the clutter.

Many modern decorating ideas, for example large LCD TV’s and the growing popular modular corner suites are not practical to use in a small apartment living room and you will need to make the best and optimum use of your small living space.

Whatever decorating style you choose try to avoid overstating an unusual living room decor and infuse your individuality in it but be cautious enough to remain subtle and not overdo it all.

Look for small-scale furniture and only pick one large furniture item such as sofa to be the focal point of your small living room. If you want to have a large sofa but don’t want it as your focal point, add colourful or unusual accent pieces like side tables, curtains or pictures to take away the attention from the larger item.

Too many small items can cause clutter, so only put into your flat what is absolutely necessary. If your living room has enough space, opt for a lesser number of larger items than a greater number of smaller items; so four chairs should be replaced by three armchairs or preferably by two large sofas. For efficiency sake, you may use a different scale of furniture too. One tall cupboard and a tall lamp in a small living room will balance and add depth, height and interest where the other furniture is lower. Mirrors always provide great focal points, whether one large one or many smaller ones strategically placed. Suitable lighting around where the mirrors are situated will also add light and warmth to your room.

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