Newly Wed Living Room + Tips for a Small Space

Remember my little sister who got married back in October? Well, part of the gift I gave to them was a free design consultation for their first home. So, here is a little bit of what I came up with:

This is their not-quite-unpacked living room. I love that the previous tenant painted the right wall gray. It definitely warms up the space!

Along with a few photos of their new apartment, Ian kindly took down the dimensions of the living room and all the furniture that would be going in that room. I then started sketching ideas. We pretty much just flip flopped the sofas and desk creating three separate areas in the room. 

Entryway. Even in a small apartment, it is still important to create an sense of entry. We did this by moving the furniture across to the opposite wall giving the guests room to remove their coats and shoes by the door. 

Living Room. By placing the sofa and loveseat near each other on the walls opposite the entry, it leads the eye into a welcoming and comforting space, creating a living area in its own corner.

Office. Being students, they have the common student "stuff" such as books, computers, notebooks and more. By placing the desk on the same wall as the front door, it visually creates a division on that wall, giving both zones their own space. Another reason we put the desk in the corner is to visually hide the clutter that comes with an office space. The large arrow in the middle of the sketched floor plan explains the path that guest will take while coming in the space. First, the entry, second, the living/social area, third, the office and desk area. 

This first sketch shows the view of the living area from the entryway.

This view is from the kitchen, same view as the first photograph. This shows a bit of all three zones. By placing a tall item such as a vase with flowers at the end of the desk, this will help to visually divide the two zones that share that wall. See how it already does in this sketch?

I also created a quick design board to show the colors and patterns I proposed for the space. I knew that they had cream couches, red pillows, a black bookcase and side table, so I continued with those elements and added some pops of teal and pattern to make the room visually interesting. 

Hope you enjoyed this little living room tour! Stay tuned for more!

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