Small Living Room Kitchen Combination? Design It with Brilliant Layout Tips

Having a small living room kitchen combination can present some design challenges. However, with clever layout tricks and space-saving solutions, you can transform this combo area into a stylish and functional space. From using multi-purpose furniture to letting in more natural light, there are many ways to maximize your limited square footage. Read on for brilliant tips to make the most of your small living kitchen space.

Define Spaces with Furniture and Rugs

One of the keys to designing a cohesive small living room kitchen is to define and differentiate the living room from the kitchen. After all, you don't want the two zones to blend together into one cluttered area. Use furniture and area rugs to help delineate the living room from the kitchen.

Place a sofa or sectional to anchor the living room portion of the space. Area rugs are also great for grounding furniture arrangements and defining where one zone ends and another begins. An island or peninsula counter can help separate the kitchen from the other areas. For a more seamless division, install floating shelves along the border between the living room and kitchen. The shelves create a visual barrier while still keeping an open, airy feel.

Choosing Multifunctional Furniture

When working with limited square footage, multipurpose furniture is a must. Opt for pieces that can serve more than one function. For instance, a kitchen island with barstools instantly provides a space for casual dining and mingling. It also adds much-needed counter space and storage. Other great options include ottomans with lift-up lids to hold blankets and benches with under-seat storage for tucking away odds and ends.

For seating, look for a sofa or sectional that incorporates hidden storage space. Many feature lift-up seats or expansive storage under the cushions to hold everything from linens to board games. Built-in bookshelves along one wall are another excellent way to maximize space in your small living kitchen. Not only do they hold books and decor, but you can also use baskets for concealed storage.

Maximize Vertical Real Estate

In a small living room kitchen combo, it's important to take advantage of vertical real estate. Outfit walls with floating shelves to display photos, art, and favorite objects while storing items. Hang a pot rack or utensil rack on the wall to free up storage space in cabinets below. Position artwork higher on the wall to draw the eyes upward and make the space appear larger.

Maximize wall space in the kitchen by mounting spice racks. This keeps them easily accessible when cooking while decluttering the counters. For even more storage, install floor-to-ceiling shelving on any empty wall. Use it to neatly organize cookbooks, barware, and small appliances. In the living area, shelving can hold media, vases, boxes, and baskets for a structured, gallery-like look.

Going Up: Ideas to Use Vertical Space

Here are some more clever ideas to utilize vertical space in your living room kitchen combo:

• Hang utensil racks or rails on the wall to free up drawer space
• Position curtains higher with extended curtain rods to add height
• Arrange artwork in asymmetrical but balanced gallery wall
• Mount shelving in stair step pattern for interest and storage
• Use vertical space between cabinets for narrow utility cart

Let Natural Light Shine In

Natural light is a coveted commodity in any home, but especially in a small living room kitchen space. Take advantage of any natural light your combo area receives from windows, doors, and skylights. Consider updating old windows with more energy-efficient models that allow maximum light through. For rooms without windows along the exterior walls, look into adding a sunroof or skylights if possible.

Position living room furniture like sofas and TVs near windows and light sources. To distribute natural light evenly throughout the kitchen, add a glass tile backsplash. The reflective surface helps bounce sunlight to even the darkest corners. For low-light spaces, mirrors also amplify the brightness. Hang one near a window to reflect more sunlight into the room.

Brighten With Proper Lighting

Effective lighting is key for making any space functional and inviting. For small living room kitchen combos, prioritize task lighting in key areas supplemented by ambient lighting elsewhere.

Pendant lights are ideal over kitchen islands and sinks, directing light right where you need it most. For food prep zones, under cabinet lighting illuminates the countertops. In living spaces, adjustable wall sconces provide a soft glow for activities like reading. Table and floor lamps thrown into the mix enable you to spotlight seating areas or direct light where needed. The layered lighting plan ensures the whole living room kitchen combo stays bright and cheery.

Layout Ideas for Every Small Living Room Kitchen

How you arrange the furniture and floor plan in a small living room kitchen combo has a big impact on the overall functionality. Keep these layout tips in mind when designing your open concept space.

A good general guideline is to position the couch or chairs facing the kitchen area. This invites conversation between people cooking and lingering in the living room. Mount the television on a wall-mounted arm so you can angle the screen toward seating while freeing up tabletops. Opt for a compact sectional or lightweight sofa on legs that can easily be moved around.

Be sure to leave enough space between furniture pieces, islands, and traffic zones. At least 36-42 inches allows multiple people to maneuver comfortably through the area. Floating furniture on legs and limiting bulky pieces prevents clutter while maintaining an airy, open feel.

Sample Floor Plans

To spark layout ideas for your own small living room kitchen, here are a few sample floor plans:

• One sofa living room facing kitchen island with barstools on the other side
• Sectional couch facing the kitchen peninsula with open side cabinets
• Modular sectional framing the living room with adjacent galley kitchen
• Bench seating and chairs floating around a central island/dining table

Decor Tricks to Visually Expand Space

Aside from optimizing the layout, decor and styling choices also impact how spacious a small living room kitchen feels. Use these tricks to make the area appear larger than it really is.

Stick to a light, neutral color palette of whites, taupes, and pale gray tones. The soft hues reflect light and add brightness. Darker colors tend to close in and shrink the space. Also, limit patterns to light stripes or solids to prevent a cluttered look.

Edit down accessories and keep surfaces clutter-free. Too many knickknacks make a small space feel jam-packed. Opt for streamlined furniture without heavy ornamentation as well. The minimalist style lends an airy aesthetic. Hang mirrors across from windows to add depth and the illusion of more room. Square coffee tables with rounded corners prevent bruised shins and take up less visual space than bulky rectangle tables.

Designing a stylish, functional small living room kitchen combo may seem tricky, but it certainly can be done. With careful space planning, multi-purpose furniture, and ceiling-height storage, you can make the most of every inch.

Follow the zone-defining, light-enhancing, and visually expanding tips outlined here to create a beautiful shared living kitchen space. They'll help you reinvent your compact quarters into an inviting, efficient gem. Get ready to entertain, cook, dine, and relax in cozy style once you implement these brilliant small space layout ideas.