When you have a really small living room, there often isn’t room for much more than the bare minimum essential furniture. But even if it looks like there isn’t room for anything but your sofa and TV stand, sometimes adding a small accent table or ottoman can actually improve the look, feel, and functionality of the space rather than making it more crowded. Multipurpose decorative cubes are a personal favorite in small spaces, as they serve a variety of functions and add great style without taking up much space at all.
Table
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Even the most cramped living spaces usually have at least a little wiggle room, so while you might not want to add a full sized coffee table – or even a full sized accent table – a small cube shaped table might be just what the space needs. Even if it’s only big enough for a TV remote or a magazine or book, having a flat surface can help keep your sofa decluttered and make your living room a little more comfortable to use. Really small accent tables are often designed to minimize their visual impact as well, either by using reflective surfaces like mirrors or metal, or using cutouts, curves, or indentations to make the table easier to see around or through to keep it from visually blocking the space.
Ottoman
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Small decorative cubes are also great for putting your feet up. Smaller than a full sized ottoman or coffee table, they won’t crowd the middle of your living room or block walkways, but they do add that little extra bit of comfort. This is a particularly nice option for very small living rooms where reclining sofas might be too big or bulky, or where you’d like to install a futon or daybed, as a small, lightweight ottoman can easily be moved out of the way if you need to re purpose the space.
Seating
Cushioned, ottoman-like decorative cubes and accent tables aren’t just good for putting your feet up, either. In a very small living space, if you don’t have room for more than your sofa, you definitely don’t have room for spare seating, which can be a pain if you want to sit and watch a movie with more than two or three friends at a time. A simple, compact ottoman might not be the most comfortable form of seating, but it will do in a pinch, and it won’t take up much space when you don’t need it. It’s simpler and more convenient than dragging over a dining chair, and definitely looks better. Plus, when you don’t have friends over, you can use them to put your feet up.
Storage
Compact accent tables and ottomans are also a fantastic way to add storage to a small living room. A vast majority of these small, cube like tables are hollowed out in the middle and designed with removable tabletop lids that are often almost invisible when in place. These are particularly nice for small living rooms because they provide hidden storage space in addition to basic surface space. It’s not always much, but in small room it can be invaluable, offering a great place to hide away cat toys, spare remotes, video game controllers, or just about any small items. Some even have additional built in storage, like magazine racks, for added functionality.
Storage Seat
Cushy ottomans with built in storage are the ultimate multi-taskers. They can’t be used as side tables, really, unless the cushions aren’t very cushy, but they can be used both as footrests and as seating, all while offering plenty of storage inside. These types of ottomans will typically have cushioned lids and completely hollow insides, and are perfect for stowing things like blankets that you might want when you snuggle up for a movie, but might not want to leave out laying on your couch.
Style
Last but not least, compact accent tables or storage ottomans are one of the few good ways to add a little designer flair to a really small living room. Since there’s not a lot of space to get creative with other accent furniture, it’s important to choose a piece that’s practical and functional – and one that looks great, too. Because these decorative cubes are usually the only extraneous piece of furniture in a small living room, they pack a particularly big design punch, meaning a distinctive design can go a long way towards making the space feel more stylish, even if it comes in a pretty small package.
What are your favorite ways to dress up your small living room? Any must-have, multifunctional pieces I haven’t mentioned here? Let me know in the comments!
