Bad Scale

Incorrect scale is the number one thing designers agree will make a living room feel small, in multiple ways. Only choosing too-large furniture will make the room feel cramped.

“When oversized pieces are used, they can create the illusion that the area is more cramped than it is,” says Carly Filbrin, principal designer at Blue Jay Interiors.

Jessika Gatewood, of Gatewood Designs, agrees: “It’s easy to fall in love with a grand sectional, but if it dominates the room, it can make the space feel cramped.”

But it also physically clutters the space and makes it difficult to move around.

“Furniture that is too large for a space can make the room feel smaller by restricting traffic flow,” Filbrin says.