10 Multipurpose Living Room Ideas to Maximize Space

When it comes to decorating and getting maximum utility out of your condo, limited square footage doesn’t necessarily mean limited options. With so many of us living in apartments nowadays, furniture and home decor is becoming increasingly space-savvy. Want to maximize condo space? Check out some of our all-time favourite multipurpose living room ideas.

White modern condo living room with a TV and built-in shelves covering a whole wall, a grey rug and white furniture

Getty Images

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Walled In

Combining an entertainment centre, library, storage cupboards and even an office, a wall of built-in shelves is the ultimate living-room space saver. If you haven’t hopped on the built-in trend yet, you’re missing out on vital vertical storage space!

Article

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Stylish Sleepover

While you might be tempted to look for a condo-sized couch, opting for a larger sectional style with a pullout bed offers maximum lounging for you and your guests. Soma Twilight Gray Left Sofa Bed, Article, $2,099.

West Elm

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Coffee Date

Working from home has fundamentally shifted what an “office” can look like — your living room may have very well become your workplace. So, make your furniture work for you; a coffee table that folds up into a desk is a no-brainer. Plus, this can double as a mini dining area for when you want to take your meals in front of the TV Mid-Century Pop-Up Storage Coffee Table, West Elm, $1,349.

Wayfair

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Into the Fold

Open floor plans have their advantages, but sometimes a little bit of privacy is called for. A sturdy folding screen is a simple solution. Tip: Look for one with built-in storage like this one to get even more out of your small . Adelita Panel Solid Wood Folding Room Divider, Wayfair.ca, $340.

Homary

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Bar with Me

If entertaining is top of mind but floor real estate is low, look no further — this ingenious storage cabinet converts into an instant bar cart/countertop. Foldable Bar Cabinet, Homary, $2,670.

IKEA’s KALLAX white shelf unit and a large potted palm plant are used as room dividers between the dining area and the living room where a woman sits on a couch reading a book

Ikea Canada

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Calling on Kallax

Condo boards often have strict rules on renovations; so, when walls can’t be moved or added, think outside the box. A wall of Ikea KALLAX shelves becomes a much-needed partition. There’s a reason this storage unit is so popular. Watch as storage space in your home almost magically multiplies with the help of this nifty unit. KALLAX White Shelf Unit, IKEA Canada, $259.

Chic living room with a CB2 Abel Brass Round Wall Mirror hangs on the white wall, two white sconces, a black occasional table standing below it and a black chair

CB2

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Upon Further Reflection

When it comes to making a tiny space feel larger, a generous, well-placed mirror tricks the eye into perceiving more square footage than is actually there. Plus, it’s handy for makeup checks. Abel Brass Round Wall Mirror, CB2, $600.

White living room with a white Ikea couch with a grey throw and grey and white pillows, a white framed photo on the wall, and a large potted plant

Ikea Canada

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Fertile Ground

Healthy house plants not only add green vibrancy to a décor scheme, they also add oxygen — and we could all use a little more of that! Seek out Pygmy palms, pothos and philodendron for their air-purifying properties.

A chic white living room with a cozy gas fireplace surrounded by a custom-built mantle made of Laminam porcelain, an art TV and a large framed artwork on the wall, two black leather occasional chairs, a large white rectangular coffee table on a patterned grey rug, a large potted fig plant, and a white couch with grey throw pillows

Lauren Miller

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In Living Colour

TV technology has come a long way from buzzing inner tubes and adjustable rabbit ears. Thin, high-definition sets like Samsung’s The Frame (starting at $1,400) display stunning artworks so you’ll never see a blank, black screen ever again.

Umbra

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Climbing the Ladder

One part sculpture, one part storage solution, a blanket ladder is a chic, convenient way to organize throws, scarves, jackets and bags without taking up too much space. Hub Ladder, Umbra, $130.