SMALL LIVING Room / BIG IMPACT Decorating Tips
Hello lovelies! I have received many questions from you all about how to decorate a small living room or small apartment. Therefore this week I wanted to share with you my personal tips (based on much experience), as well as my easy and simple decorating ideas to style and furnish your small living room.
I’m certain we’ve all heard that we should use smaller furniture, being a nearly 6-foot woman (5’11” to be exact, 6’2” in heels 😉) who has lived in SEVERAL NYC studio apartments—I say noooo we can do better.
We can be more thoughtful in creating our small space so that we have plenty of breathing room yet ample seating. All of this while still displaying our interests, our personality and history in our homes.
Eclectic, contemporary, modern, cottage, country vibes ETC, doesn’t matter your style, these tips will still work for you in a way that your personality shines through.
While these trips are geared toward a small space, in my world, the principals remain the same; therefore you can take these little designer tip nuggets and apply them to any space.
As mentioned in the video, check out the Foundations of Creativity playlist for further inspo, tips & education.
If you have a design dilemma, then DM me on Instagram with your question and a photo for a chance to be on next week’s YT LIVE.
Instagram @christinadistefanostudio
Have a great week lovelies!
XOCD 😘❤️🥰
*If you’re inspired by these images, you can find all of them on my Pinterest account.*
https://pin.it/3vE1cm6Fz
Hope you’ve had a great week!! Sending you so much love from NYC.
XOCD
FOUNDATIONS OF CREATIVITY PLAYLIST:
ABOUT ME:
Hey I’m Christina DiStefano! I am sort of a jack-of-all-trades: artist, sales director for a top NYC real estate development company, certified life coach, yoga instructor, Reiki practitioner, artist (I’m a painter), businesswoman–and now I’m taking on Interior Design via a certification (I’m starting an Interior Design firm in 2024 lovingly called Casa Serenità Interiors). Oh and did I mention I’m leading the renovation of our country home (inside and out)?!
I believe that home is a sacred place that we nurture, and in return, it nurtures us. That being said, my design process is focused on creating a sanctuary, a place of serenity that truly feels like home.
Questions? DM me on Instagram
@christinadistefanostudio
* If you want to share your home, design projects, inspiration, ideas to be used on an episode, or would like to collaborate, then feel free to contact me at the email below. I’d love to share your ideas with the community 🤍
Email me at:
Christina@casaserenita.com
Please note that due to email volume, there may be a delay in getting back to you.
Hello
This is a very helpful video and the best I have seen on this topic. This is the first video I have ever seen from this channel and subscribed after seeing this.
Draperies is what they are; drapes is what they do.
Wonderful video! Love your approach, straightforward and no wasted time. Thank you. I will use more mirrors
This was very helpful! Thanks so much for sharing!! Moving in 2 wks to small apartment and so excited to decorate!! I can definitely use these tips. Let you know how it goes.
Wow I have learnt so much! The bit about seeing floor was like 🤯 It’s made me realise why I’ve been feeling so cramped. Great video 💕
The triangle idea- I love that
Loved stopping by your channel and seeing this video.
I have a conundrum that I haven’t been able to find any advice on and it’s choosing the bedroom and office between 2 rooms. One bedroom always is the brightest and airiest and best view. The other bedroom is always a cave-like room with minimal light exposure and limited windows usually facing a less desirable view or neighbor.
I usually pick the best room for the bedroom but that usually means my office is the least desirable room. It also means I don’t feel as energized and excited to spend time in that room. This time I’ve decided to make the room that I feel inspired in as the office. That means it’s the biggest, brightest and best view as a designated office/library. It’s vibrant and I love it and the space. But I’m getting nervous that I’m making a bad move for my bedroom which is smaller, faces a neighbor, and only has a sliding door – no other windows. It’s great for sleeping but I always have to keep the curtains closed if I’m laying in bed, getting dressed, or we are talking too loud.
So I’m torn. I’m finally prioritizing having an awesome feeling office with productive vibes written all over it. I finally want to spend all my time in there but I’m sacrificing privacy with my bedroom
Any thoughts on this? Do we always make the best bedroom the main/master bedroom.
On a side note: both these rooms are smaller than your average sized rooms. I live in 700 sq feet and the rooms are 9•9 and 10×10
I especially liked the part about seeing wall and floor space and light rugs, sheers in windows instead of heavy curtains. Made so much sense. So I guess too, open shelving on upper cabinet space might be a good idea.
Absolutely fabulous information 🎉
What are your thoughts about a Murphy bed?
I’m a Libra too❤️✨Know wonder I was feeling your vibe and insights, especially leggy furniture and cultivating energy of our home
Personally I want to lean back when visiting anyone. I won’t stay if I have to sit in a rigid upright chair. I do do that in the office already. Visiting is supposed to be fun.
Great advise thank you!!
i have studied something about furnish a home.i think that you have do a great job about….our homes must be our and at our dimensions.many of you women has capacity for do good ambients
Very cool
Ikea Friheten was that ikea sofa
Wow I am so glad I found you! I love your tips for small spaces. You are a gem! I am subscribing to your channel.
Thanks. This was some really good info.
Wow! Thank you!! 🙌
Thank you very much for you inspiration design tips ideas for small living room🥰
Thank you
Great video!! with a small multi-purpose living room/ dining and office space when you place the billy bookcase behind the sofa do you leave a gap or can I put it up against the bookcase?
Hi Christina, Thank You for the Ideas.
Hi Christina. Loved your tips for a small living room. I live in the suburbs of Mumbai and am moving into a 700 sqf apartment soon.
And completely agree with you on letting in natural light using lighter colours all around. Not sure about the L-shaped sofa though.
One suggestion for your videos. The text in the videos should appear a bit lower in the frame and should not block you when you are talking. Also keep the text a couple of seconds longer.
Thanks for everything and hope to see your channel grow 🙏🏼😊♥️
Hi Christina! I just saw your vlog and thought it was fantastic! I’m a new sub!
I downsize from a huge place to a smaller one about 10 years ago. I can’t agree with you more! Smaller spaces are cozy! I am constantly trying to make mine like a nest!
I have an L- shaped sofa with the book case behind it! Some days I push it against it and other days I pull it away! I’m constantly decluttering; as well! Making areas smaller and efficient is comfortable to me! Thanks for your valued tips! I will be watching! 🏡💖
I lived in NYC’s manhattan for about 50 yrs so I also consider myself an expert in small living spaces. For thing, I had a glass dining table with a glass base so visually it did not take up a lot of space. I had small dining chairs and opted for French provincial furniture which was smaller and again visually did not take up space since it did not go to the floor. So I would recommend furniture with legs instead of heavy sofas to the floor, glass shelves and maybe a chest that is covered in mirrors…anything reflective will give more light. I was truly fortunate in that my last studio had 4 large closets and a little dressing room off the bathroom which I could use as as office/studio and an area in the basement for trunks of clothes.
Regarding window treatments and light, if you have a decent view out of the top of your windows (or have beautiful historic windows) I love a tailored light filtering cafe curtain on a tension rod at the sash meeting rail. It may take some looking around or sewing to find something appropriate and not “kitchen cutesy” but cafe curtains can give just the right amount of privacy while still giving you lots of light and a view. You can even hang a plant to cover part of the upper sash and draw the eye without covering it completely if the view isn’t great. I typically want more light and more of a view with some privacy than most other options provide. One other option is a cellular shade that can open and close from the top down OR the bottom up.
I live in not only a small space, but a studio, and my biggest suggestion for 99% of all studio layouts is to not have a bed *and* a couch/sofa. Use a good quality sofa bed, a daybed, or a Murphy bed to maximize the visible floor space during the day and to prevent the room from looking like a dorm or hotel room. At night, it doesn’t matter that the bed covers the floor space because you’re sleeping.
My husband, my three children and I lived in a small space. We bought a regular couch set (comfort is very important in a small space) and put the love seat and couch in an "L" shape. The armchair from the set was placed in a corner opposite the couch. We had the TV opposite the main couch and floating book shelves with lights underneath the shelves above the couches. I don’t know how crowded it looked, but people felt good there. Because the couches were substantial enough, we weren’t falling over things every time someone got up to get a drink or go to the bathroom.
We did not buy the biggest couch but we did go for comfort.
If you’re enjoying yourself the space is well used. But I would advise no more than ten people at a time in there!
OMG where can I find that light at 8:18, that is perfect!!
We are downsizing to a much smaller home. Our living room space for a couch, will be nothing more than a right angle wall. Trying to fit my grandmother’s, beautiful end tables, that I’ve redone, is quite a trick. I’ve found that the L shape couch is ideal! It will also provide an extra sleeping space with a large ottoman, that will also be used as a coffee table and blanket storage.
I mean, does it get better than this? 😉
Great ideas!!!
I’ll come back to your ideas when we move in and start setting up our new decor!
Guest chairs? Well, our dining room chairs will have to suffice.
I’m in a small space, and I have found practical and stylish tall nightstands, and small 3 or 4 drawer dressers. Facebook Marketplace is full of them and they are easy to upgrade or refinish. I especially like the simpler, streamlined nightstands, some of them can be stacked together. Small case furniture abounds in the market, with mahogany selling so low it might as well be sawdust.
Wow.. this video is the best I have seen on decorating small spaces!!Thank you so much. I was about to get floor lamps and a loveseat, but now will purchase an L- shaped sofa and lighting for the walls. I love that coffee table with storage. You really helped me. I like that you suggest budget friendly options.
A+ Great advice! Very helpful.
Outstanding recommendations! Thank you so much!
Fantastic! Thank you for this practical and inspiring video.xx
Excellent
I’m new here. I definitely got some ideas for my new home. 🤩
I like your vibe. I just subscribed!
Great Contents, Love these videos, TY for posting!
This was sooo helpful
This video is sooooo helpful. Thank you!
This video has TRULY helped me and gave me great tips ! She explains it so simple but yet with enough detail to understand. I love love love this video! ❤
You have given the most understandable advice to date. I was about to buy a loveseat.
I have a small bedroom with two closets and a tiny 1/2 bath. I figured out the best thing would be to take off the door jambs to make seamless doors so it is appears the doors and walls and indiscernible. 2:16 what do you think?
**If you’re inspired by these images, you can find all of them on my Pinterest account.
https://pin.it/3vE1cm6Fz
❤️🇸🇪
Parisian decorators are THE experts of small spaces
I just found your channel and subscribed. I love all of your suggestions for a small living room. I regret not buying an L shaped sofa. ❤😊❤