Small Living Room Ideas: Making a Little Flat Work Harder.

Our picks at a glance

• Best space saving dining table: HOMCOM Foldable Round Drop Leaf Dining Table from InStock.net
• Best for a studio flat: Vertical Pull Down Double Wall Bed from Decor&Decor
• Best for overnight guests: MCC Direct 4-in-1 Folding Single Sofa Bed from Joybuy
• Best extra seat with storage: Round Boucle Storage Footstool from Rinkit
• Best for clearing surfaces: 60cm White Floating Shelves, Pack of Two from Rinkit
• Best for working from home: Space-Saving White Wall-Mounted Desk from InStock.net
• Best for clearing out overflow: Vacuum Storage Bags with Hand Pump, Pack of 15 from Rinkit

How we chose

We haven't used these pieces in our own homes, and we don't run lab tests. We compared product details, dimensions, materials and features from retailers we work with against what matters in a small UK flat: footprint when folded, how many jobs a piece can do, and how easy it is to put away. We favoured listings with full measurements.

Small living room ideas: how to plan the space

Measure the room, then the route in

Sketch the room with door swings, radiators, sockets and windows marked. Then measure the stairwell, hallway and door the furniture has to pass through. Plenty of flat-dwellers buy a piece that fits the room but not the communal stairs.

Keep walkways clear

Aim to leave a clear path of roughly 80–90cm through the main walking routes. A room with a visible floor feels bigger, so favour furniture on legs and pieces that fold away.

Make every piece do two jobs

• A footstool that is also a seat and a storage box.
• A dining table that shrinks to a console when it's just you.
• A chair that becomes a guest bed.
• A wall desk that closes up at 6pm so work stays out of sight.

Go vertical

Floor space is precious; wall space usually isn't. Floating shelves, wall-mounted desks and tall storage free up the floor. Check what your walls are made of first: plasterboard needs suitable fixings, and renters should check the tenancy agreement before drilling.

Light and colour

Pale walls and a single large mirror opposite a window bounce light around. Keep large furniture in a similar tone to the walls so it recedes, and bring colour in through cushions and smaller pieces.

Put the seasonal stuff away

Winter coats, spare duvets and summer clothes don't need to live in your living space. Compress them and store them high in a wardrobe or under a bed.

The picks

HOMCOM Foldable Round Drop Leaf Dining Table

This round drop leaf table from InStock.net has three setups: no leaves up, one leaf or both. Folded, the listing gives 89 x 52cm; fully open, it's an 89cm round table that seats up to four. It has pine legs and a melamine-coated surface that's easy to wipe, with a stated weight capacity of 60kg. It's a sensible space saving dining table for a couple or a single person who sometimes hosts. Assembly is required, and the listing gives two different finishes, so confirm the colour before you order.

Vertical Pull Down Double Wall Bed

If your living room is also your bedroom, a wall bed is the biggest space win going. This Vertical Pull Down Double Wall Bed from Decor&Decor folds to 375mm deep, uses a gas strut mechanism and has a metal frame with wooden slats and metal legs. It takes a 1350 x 1900mm double mattress; check whether one is included and the maximum mattress depth. When down it projects 2130mm from the wall, and it stands 2050mm high, so measure your ceiling and the wall it will fix to.

MCC Direct 4-in-1 Folding Single Sofa Bed

The MCC Direct 4-in-1 Folding Single Sofa Bed from Joybuy converts between an armchair, a sofa bed, a chaise longue and a floor chair. Its backrest adjusts to five angles, from 100° up to flat at 180°. It suits a flat with no room for a full sofa bed but the odd overnight guest; as a single, it sleeps one. Mark the unfolded length out on the floor with tape before you order.

Round Boucle Storage Footstool

This cream Round Boucle Storage Footstool from Rinkit (made by Harbour Housewares) is 46cm high and 37cm across, with gold legs, a foam-padded top and a removable lid revealing storage inside. It works as an extra seat when friends visit, a footrest the rest of the time, and a home for remotes, chargers and gloves. Its small footprint suits a corner beside the sofa. Cream boucle shows marks more than darker fabrics, so it suits a home without muddy paws.

60cm White Floating Shelves, Pack of Two

These 60cm floating shelves from Rinkit come as a pair in laminated MDF, with clean lines and a white finish. In a small living room they take books, plants and photos off the coffee table and side tables, so the room looks less cluttered. Two 60cm shelves suit an alcove or the wall above a desk or sofa. Look up the maximum load and which fixings come in the box, and match your wall plugs to your wall type.

Space-Saving White Wall-Mounted Desk

This fold-out wall-mounted desk from InStock.net is an MDF drop-leaf table by HOMCOM with storage, adjustable shelves and a chalkboard shelf. Fold the leaf up and it closes against the wall; drop it and you have a workspace. It suits anyone working from home in a room that has to switch back to a lounge in the evening. Note the open depth and desk height in the listing, and make sure your chair can tuck underneath.

Vacuum Storage Bags with Hand Pump

This pack of 15 vacuum storage bags from Rinkit comes in three sizes with a hand pump, and works with most standard vacuum hoses. The listing says they compress bulky clothes and textiles by up to 80%, with a double zip lock and a valve to keep the air out. Use them for spare duvets, winter coats and off-season clothes. Avoid packing items that need to keep their loft, such as down jackets, for long periods, and check the bag sizes against your storage space.

FAQs

How can I make a small living room look bigger?

Keep the floor as clear as possible, choose furniture on legs, and use pale walls and a mirror to bounce light. Move storage onto the walls with shelves and keep surfaces mostly empty.

What is the best dining table for a small space?

A drop leaf or folding table is usually the most flexible, because it shrinks when you're not using it. Round tables are easier to walk around in tight spaces. Check both the folded and opened dimensions.

Are wall beds a good idea in a flat?

They can transform a studio by giving you a living room during the day. You need a solid wall, enough ceiling height and clear floor in front for the bed to come down. Professional fitting is worth considering.

How do I add storage to a small bedroom or living room?

Look for pieces with hidden storage, such as ottomans and footstools, and use the space under the bed and above the wardrobe. Vacuum bags shrink bulky bedding and seasonal clothes.

Where should a desk go in a small living room?

Near a window for natural light, ideally in a spot you can close or screen off at the end of the day. A wall-mounted fold-out desk keeps work out of sight.

See more in our Small Space edit.