Small Living Room Design Ideas​: Tips & Wallpapers

Decorating a small living room can feel like a challenge, but with the right wallpaper, even the tiniest space can become your favourite spot in the house. The key lies in using patterns, tones, and textures that enhance rather than overwhelm. Whether you're working with limited natural light or low ceilings, certain wallpapers can make your room feel more open, airy, and stylish. In this guide, we’ll share smart tips—and recommend stunning wallpapers—to help you bring big design energy to small spaces.

Wallpaper Ideas to Maximise Space and Style in a Small Living Room

Choosing the right wallpaper is one of the easiest ways to enhance both the look and feel of a small living room. Whether you want to open up the space, add texture, or create a striking focal point, these thoughtfully selected designs show how wallpaper can transform compact areas into stylish, inviting spaces.

Small Living Room Wallpaper Idea #1: Embrace Light and Airy Colour Palettes

Light tones create a sense of openness, making compact living rooms feel more spacious and calm. Soft neutrals, pastels, and chalky shades can instantly brighten up a room — a winning strategy for small living room .

Breeze, Waves Mural Wallpaper

With its delicate horizontal strokes and soft tones, Breeze Wallpaper creates a breezy, relaxed vibe perfect for small spaces. Its light palette helps visually expand walls, enhancing the airiness of your living room.

Featured wallpaper: Breeze, Waves Mural Wallpaper

Addison Chalk, Ombre Wallpaper

Featuring a beautifully worn chalky finish, Addison Chalk Wallpaper introduces subtle texture while keeping the palette soft and neutral. It works wonders for a refined small living room  that feels warm yet uncluttered.

Featured: Addison Chalk, Ombre Wallpaper

Discover more ombre wallpaper ideas and why everyone is loving this style!

Chalky Stars, Pastel Pattern Wallpaper

Playful yet gentle, this design offers a whimsical touch without overpowering the space. Chalky Stars is ideal for brightening up a child-friendly corner of your small living room.

Featured: Chalky Stars, Pastel Pattern Wallpaper

Embrace the versatility of pastels and find your favourite palette in our full range of pastel wallpapers.

Small Living Room Wallpaper Idea #2: Add Personality with Patterns and Textures

In smaller spaces, patterns and textures should add depth without overwhelming. These wallpapers offer just the right amount of visual interest for a balanced and stylish small living room .

Brush, Mural Wallpaper

Featuring organic, hand-brushed strokes, this design adds movement and softness. It’s perfect for creating a cosy, artistic corner in your small living room.

Featured: Brush, Mural Wallpaper

Hand-Drawn Stripes Duo, Pattern Wallpaper

These playful, imperfect lines inject charm and character. The vertical orientation can also give the illusion of more height — a smart trick for compact interiors.

Featured: Hand-Drawn Stripes Duo, Pattern Wallpaper

Thea Graphic Lines, Pattern Wallpaper

Bold yet structured, Thea’s minimal graphic pattern brings a modern edge to your living room while keeping things visually clean and uncluttered.

Featured: Thea Graphic Lines, Pattern Wallpaper

Small Living Room Wallpaper Idea #3: Create a Focal Wall to Define the Space

Feature walls are a powerful tool for anchoring a small living room. These statement-making wallpapers add impact and help zone areas without the need for bulky furniture.

Vintage Palmscape, Tropical Mural Wallpaper

A lush yet muted tropical scene, this mural introduces a serene escape while enhancing the depth of your space — ideal for an eye-catching yet relaxing backdrop.

Featured: Vintage Palmscape, Tropical Mural Wallpaper

Marigold Mountain, Watercolor Wallpaper

This soothing landscape design brings in warm golden hues and layered hills that draw the eye upward, perfect for a small living room with a dreamy flair.

Featured: Marigold Mountain, Watercolor Wallpaper

Terrain, Abstract Mural Wallpaper

Earthy textures and layered patterns mimic nature’s terrains, giving your living room a grounded yet sophisticated focal point.

Featured: Terrain, Abstract Mural Wallpaper

Get inspired with our wide range of mural wallpapers!

Small Living Room Wallpaper Idea #4: Bring Nature Indoors with Organic Motifs

Nature-inspired designs infuse calm and softness — especially welcome in smaller homes where you want to feel connected to the outdoors.

Full in Bloom Floral Wallpaper

Delicate florals cascade gently across this wallpaper, adding a romantic, airy quality that aligns beautifully with the small living room.

Featured: Full in Bloom Floral Wallpaper

Transform your living spaces into enchanting floral wonderlands with our captivating collection of floral wallpaper designs.

Kasumisou Japanese Wallpaper

Inspired by baby's breath, this minimalist floral design offers quiet elegance. The sparse detailing ensures it enhances rather than overwhelms.

Featured: Kasumisou Japanese Wallpaper

Explore our full collection of Japanese-style wallpapers!

An Old World Arboretum, Watercolour Mural Wallpaper

With painted trees and soft watercolour tones, this mural brings old-world botanical charm to your home while opening up visual space.

Featured: An Old World Arboretum, Watercolour Mural Wallpaper

Small Living Room Wallpaper Idea #5: Make Use of Vertical Lines and Geometrics

Structured lines and geometric forms can elongate a space, draw the eye upward, and establish order — all useful elements in a small living room .

Terra Tessel, Pattern Wallpaper

A modern take on geometric tiles, Terra Tessel offers rhythm and balance, ideal for grounding a living room layout without crowding it visually.

Featured: Terra Tessel, Pattern Wallpaper

Spindle Craft, Pattern Wallpaper

The fine vertical lines in this design subtly stretch the wall height and lend a clean, tailored look—an excellent choice for enhancing the perceived spaciousness.

Featured: Spindle Craft, Pattern Wallpaper

Graphic Hills Wallpaper

Featuring rounded hill motifs and earthy tones, this pattern offers subtle structure and softness, blending style with serenity.

Featured: Graphic Hills Wallpaper

How to Choose the Right Wallpaper for Your Small Living Room

When styling a small living room, your wallpaper choice can make all the difference. Beyond just aesthetics, the right wallpaper can shape how spacious, cosy, or open the room feels.

Here are a few things to consider for achieving your ideal small living room design.

• Pattern Scale Matters
  Large-scale prints can work in small rooms if used as a feature wall, but subtle or mid-scale patterns often create a more balanced effect. Fine lines, soft textures, or minimalist motifs help the space feel uncluttered.

• Choose Lighter Finishes
  Matte or chalky textures reflect less light and hide imperfections, creating a softer atmosphere. Avoid overly glossy finishes that may feel harsh in close quarters.

• Full Room vs Accent Wall
  Wallpapering an entire small room in a gentle print can create a cocooning effect, while a bold accent wall adds visual structure without overwhelming.

• Use Wallpaper to Solve Design Challenges
  Want to elongate the room? Try vertical lines. Need more depth? Go for a scenic mural. Seeking calm? Choose organic or botanical themes.

A simple design decision can transform how your space looks and feels — and help you achieve a small living room  that’s not only functional but beautiful.

Smart Design Tips for Small Living Rooms

To complement your wallpaper choices, keep these styling strategies in mind:

• Prioritise multi-functional furniture: Opt for pieces with storage or that can serve dual purposes, like a bench with hidden compartments or a nesting coffee table.

• Use mirrors and lighting: Reflective surfaces and layered lighting can brighten the room and visually enlarge the space.

• Stick to a cohesive palette: Avoid crowding your living room with too many colours or clashing patterns. Let your wallpaper lead the style, and support it with coordinating accents.

• Choose clean-lined décor: Avoid bulky furnishings that dominate the room. Select items that are raised off the floor to create visual openness.

Small Living Room Design FAQs

Can I use dark wallpaper in a small living room?
Yes — but use it strategically. Dark wallpapers work best as a feature wall or when balanced with plenty of natural light and lighter furnishings.

Should I wallpaper all four walls in a small space?
It depends on the design. Soft, subtle patterns can wrap a room in warmth, while bold or busy prints are often best reserved for one focal wall.

What colours make a small living room feel bigger?
Light neutrals, pastels, and cool tones (like soft blues or greys) help reflect light and open up the space visually.

Your Perfect Wallpaper Match for Small Living Room Awaits

Your small living room deserves just as much style as any other space—and with the right wallpaper, you can make it feel thoughtfully designed, open, and uniquely yours. Explore our full range of living room wallpapers and turn your small space into a beautifully curated sanctuary that reflects your personal taste.