Today, many people are making the choice to downsize. Sometimes, a new phase of life—whether it is retirement, a newly empty nest or relocation to a city—may guide the decision to downsize. For others, it’s an active choice to live a simpler life that allows more economic freedom, less maintenance and environmental advantages.

Regardless of your reasons, the choice to downsize presents many challenges. Yet, with some planning and thoughtful design, you can maximize the space that you have and create a functional, albeit smaller, new home. From choosing small living room furniture including a small sofa to employing a thoughtful layout, there are many ways to get the most out of your limited space. Read on for small living room design ideas, and ideas that can be carried on to the rest of your (small) home.

Scale matters

The key to furnishing small living spaces is to select furniture that saves space, without cramping your style. Choose your key furniture pieces, such as a sectional, sofa, recliners and accent chairs, to match the scale of your living spaces. A bulky, extra-large sectional or sofa can make your small living room look even smaller. By selecting a more compact sofa, you can still enjoy sitting back and relaxing in your space—without making your quarters feel cramped.

To complement these key pieces, select accent furniture that will fit in your space and won’t overpower the other furniture in your room, such as a small chairside table that also includes shelves and/or drawers for storage. You can also use nesting tables, with small table/s that can be tucked under a larger table, or pulled out to create additional space for guests.

Multi-purpose and hidden storage

Make the most out of your small space by designing your room around furniture that serves multiple functions. In your small living room, replace a traditional coffee table with an upholstered storage ottoman—which can also be used for extra seating to accommodate guests.

If you don’t have a separate room for an office, you can create an office space in your living room or bedroom with a laptop armoire or cabinet desk. These pieces may feature pullout file storage and lots of work space, with a drop-down lid that allows clutter to be easily concealed when not in use.

No guest bedroom? There are many options to consider, including sleeper sofas. You can also accommodate guests, without taking up much space in the meantime, with a murphy cabinet. These attractive cabinets are easy to convert to a comfortable, cozy bed, when needed.

Get the most out of a small bedroom by selecting a storage bed that fits your space. These beds come in many options, with storage on one or both sides of the bed, and some options feature additional drawers on the footboard. By providing extra storage space without taking up more room, these beds can also reduce clutter in your room, giving your small space a clean and more open feel.

Live small, accessorize big

Last but not least, you can maximize your small space—or at least the “feel” of your space—by following tried and true design practices. Use light colors on the walls and floor, and stick with a consistent color scheme throughout your room to create a sense of spaciousness and cohesion.

For accent pieces, try glass-top coffee or end tables, which are on trend and consume minimal visual space. You can also strategically hang an oversized mirror across from a window to reflect more light and create the illusion of a larger room. These small living room decorating ideas work can also be employed in small bedrooms and beyond, helping you to get the most out of all the space that you have.

By using furniture that fits the scale of your room, pieces that serve multi-purposes and some clever design tricks, you may just find out that less really is more!