Can I Put a Big Couch in a Small Living Room? Experts Offer the 7 Dos and Don'ts of This Maximalist Look

It's usually the case that small rooms equal compact furniture. But there’s one big exception: the sofa. When it comes to your comfort, you'll always want the largest couch your living room can take — it'll make relaxing and entertaining so much easier, right?

But that leaves you with an aesthetic dilemma for finding the best sofa — is shopping for a big couch for a small living room going to make it look cramped and smaller than it actually is? Or is a large sofa in a small living room a maximalist statement that can really work?

Our verdict is that, while you have to be careful with the proportions of your other furniture, these strict rules don't apply to couch size. "Fitting a large sofa in a small space might sound like a tricky Tetris puzzle, but with a sprinkle of creativity and a dash of modern ideas, you can turn your cozy space into a stylish haven," says Seattle-based interior designer Nishtha Vashist.

However, there are caveats, so we tapped up designers for their best advice on how to make a large couch feel like it fits into a small room seamlessly — success hangs on layout, color, and style.

Is a big couch a good idea in a small living room?

Often, the biggest couch possible is a good idea in a small living room, but it depends on a few conditions, all of which we list below.

1. Consider what you're sacrificing

First up, think about what it is you want from the space. Emma Deterding, founder and creative director of Kelling Designs, advises getting practical at this stage. "Consider who's going to use the space, how they're going to use it and plan your design around this," she says.

Will opting for a big sofa mean you have to sacrifice other furniture, like a coffee table or side tables? Will it look aesthetic in your narrow living room or even be convenient without these other pieces to balance it? If the answer is "no", scale down its size to make room for them.

"While the room is empty, laying newspaper to mimic the size of the furniture pieces you're looking to put in will help you visualize just how much room everything will take," continues Emma. "It'll also help you make important decisions about the size and scale of big pieces and whether the room will feel spacious or restricted."

2. Think about flow

Designer Meredith Owen also warns against forgetting the practical side of things, too. "When people are planning furniture for a space they often forget about traffic flow from one room to the next," she says. "It’s important to not fill a room with over-scaled furniture so you have adequate space to move around or the flexibility to entertain. I’ve used larger sofas in cozy studies before — typically this just enhances the feeling of comfort as long as it’s not overpowering the room."

Pay attention to how the couch works with the other, non-negotiable elements of the room, too. "Try to avoid overlapping openings, windows, fireplaces, TVs, bookcases, or any other focal points in a weird or awkward way," says Samantha Struck of StruckSured Interiors. "Make sure you can still navigate the space and walk through it with ease.

3. Play with scale

"Use smaller, stylish living room furniture pieces around your couch to complement its size," comments interior designer Nishtha Vashist. "A sleek coffee table, a couple of chic armchairs, and petite side tables can balance the large couch without overwhelming the room."

"I think everything comes down to scale," adds Lauren Sullivan, interior designer at Well x Design. "With decor, it can be fun to play with scale and sometimes break the rules — but when it comes to furniture pieces, I believe it’s important that they don’t overpower a space."

One way to balance the footprint of a large living room sofa is to ensure its back height is scaled to the height of the ceiling and windows: the taller the room, the taller the sofa back can be, but low-ceilinged rooms need low-backed sofas if they're not to overwhelm the space. Similarly, large sofas with low or no arms will be less overwhelming in a small living room.

"You can also utilize vertical space to draw the eye upward," continues Nishtha. "Incorporate tall bookshelves or vertical artwork to make the room feel larger and more balanced with your couch."

4. Choose your sofa color carefully

Picking the best sofa colors for a small living room is vital.

"Choose a couch in a light, neutral color to make the room feel airy and open,' says Nishtha Vashist. "Pair it with light-colored walls and sheer curtains to let natural light flood in, enhancing the sense of space, making a small living room look bigger."

5. Plan your layout minutely

It's likely that your small living room layout won't allow for too much flexibility when it comes to fitting a large sofa in. However, if you do have space, not allowing your sofa to touch the wall can be transformative.

"Floating it away by a couple of inches may seem counterproductive, but it will actually make your space look bigger," comments Nishtha. "This can be achieved in a few ways while stopping your couch sliding."

If you have it on a rug, you should be fine, but you can also buy these sofa wall spacers on Amazon that will help, too.

6. Use decorative tricks

If you are putting a large sofa in a small living room, clever decorative tricks will help balance the proportions.

"Use mirrors strategically to reflect light and create an illusion of more space. A large mirror behind or across from your large couch can make your living room look double its size," advises Nishtha.

"Keep decor minimal and clutter-free around the couch, too. A few well-chosen accessories like throw pillows and a cozy blanket can add character without making the room feel cramped."

7. Choose the right sofa style

Sofa types differ wildly, and some, whatever their size, can make all the difference to how your space feels.

A great way to make a small living room look bigger is by matching your sofa to the shape of your room, or with a sofa frame with a low arm. "Or you can even go armless, which opens the sofa to the room," says designer Lisa Sherry. "It may seem counter-intuitive, but a sectional might perfectly define the space and create an all-inclusive seating area."

"When using a large sofa in a small space, I try to use a sofa that isn’t so tall in height, and with minimal cushion lines," adds Tom Lawrence-Levy of interior design studio Natural Asthetik. "This way, the sofa never blocks your eyeline when you walk into the home, and the minimal lines make the area look more clean and integrated."

FAQs

When is it better to use a smaller couch in a small living room?

There are some cases where a big couch just won’t work for your room — but that doesn’t mean you'll have any less of a cozy living room.

"Today, so many rooms are multi-functional; it’s how we live," says Lisa. "A large sofa in a modest space can be wonderful, but it is a commitment. If the idea doesn’t support your functional living needs, look for a plan B. Even with a generously sized sofa, the room should be easy to maneuver and elegant."

"So much is dependent on the room's layout," says Meredith. "If your sofa is the only thing that fits or it blocks the natural flow of traffic — it’s too big. Let your room dictate the scale of your furniture, not the other way around. Smaller seating is nice for occasional use, or smaller rooms that are tight on space. Many smaller scaled chairs/sofas are wonderfully comfortable — the secret is that it’s all about the cushion."

For alternatives to a bigger couch, Lauren recommends one larger piece grouped with some smaller pieces, or a few groupings of smaller seating options. Marie Flanigan of Marie Flanigan Interiors also recommends looking for studio-sized offerings with slim and compact profiles for a small living room layout. "If you’re still limited on space, you can always use two chairs and an ottoman that doubles as a coffee table," she says. "When a couch dominates a space and leaves no room for pieces like a coffee table, side tables, or accent chair, it is likely too big. Small spaces can still live like bigger spaces when furniture selections are scaled appropriately."

Which type of large sofa is best for small living room?

Usually in small living rooms, every element should do double duty to make the room multifunctional. In that case, it's best to choose an L-shaped sofa or a sleeper sofa that can be used for socializing with friends, lounging or as a guest bed. Choose one with removeable seat cushions. If you want to use your living room as a primary bedroom, try a sofa bed with built-in storage units.

Will a big couch make the small living room feel even smaller?

Quite the contrary. Many designers agree that scaled-up furniture can make a room feel larger and create the illusion of grandeur. One big couch will anchor the space and boost the dimensions of the room. You just need to ensure that the sofa doesn't block any natural light.