Five Rules for a Living Room That Feels Bigger

The most common mistake in small living rooms is actually furniture that’s too small. Lots of little pieces create visual noise; a few large pieces create calm — and calm feels spacious.

Rule two: exposed legs. A sofa floating on wooden legs lets the eye travel underneath it, and the uninterrupted floor makes the room look bigger. Third: a large rug that all the furniture sits on — a rug that’s too small cuts the space in two.

Fourth: height. One tall piece (a bookcase, a big plant) draws the eye upward. And fifth — leave one wall empty. Really empty. It’s worth more than any picture.