Kourtney Kardashian’s Small Living Room Is a Masterclass in Making Oversized Furniture Work – Designers Say It’s Genius
A masterclass in balancing bold proportions with warm, cozy charm
Small rooms can sometimes feel like the trickiest spaces to get right. But with thoughtful planning, they can become some of the most characterful rooms in the home – intimate, layered, and beautifully attuned to the people who live there. If you're looking for small living room ideas, think beyond simply making everything smaller.
Kourtney Kardashian’s inviting gray snug room, designed by Jeff Andrews, is a perfect example. Despite its compact proportions, the room feels elegant, welcoming, and completely at home in its surroundings. It also shows how the right living room furniture can give a compact space plenty of presence.
A small room is an opportunity to be braver with your decorating choices. It’s the perfect place to experiment with a richer palette, a bold print, or a statement finish that might feel overwhelming elsewhere. I often find that stronger colors and more intricate patterns can give a small room a distinct personality of its own.
And when it comes to furniture, don’t be too quick to assume that everything needs to be petite. A big couch in a small living room can actually make the space feel more intentional and inviting, provided you balance it with the rest of the room. Confident proportions can make a compact room feel more considered and luxurious.
‘People often assume they should buy small-scale living room furniture for a cozy room, but that actually makes a space feel smaller,' says Sheena Murphy, Partner at Nune.
'Don’t be afraid to fill the room – get a rug that sits fully under all your furniture, and don’t buy a love seat if you can actually fit a three-seater sofa in the room. Not only will buying larger-scale furniture look better, but it will also make your experience of this cozy space much more comfortable: a win-win!’
Similar small living room that makes every inch count with oversized furniture.
Interior designer Lonika Chande agrees: 'It is worth noting that a pair of armchairs can often take up more space than a small sofa. Certainly, a smaller armless sofa, paired with a little side table to place a drink, and a floor lamp instead of a table lamp, can be a much better use of space in a small, cozy living room.’
Using texture in interior design is just as important. In rooms like Kourtney’s, natural stone-inspired walls, sleek black cabinetry, tactile fabrics, and organic accessories create contrast without overwhelming the space. Plush throws, woven rugs, and sculptural pieces add softness and depth, while polished touches such as mirrored glass or brass bring a hint of quiet luxury.
The result is a small living room that feels anything but compromised – proof that you don’t need to play it safe just because you’re short on square footage.
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Similar to the way Kourtney Kardashian has layered texture and depth in her snug, this luxurious pillow brings color, softness and visual interest to a small space. Its dimensional weave creates an elegant pleated effect, while a subtle sheen adds a sophisticated touch to sofas, armchairs or beds.
The chunky texture is key to the cozy, layered look Kourtney Kardashian has created in her snug. Hand-loomed with contrasting yarns for a subtle heathered finish, the Brentwood Throw brings warmth and depth with its tactile bouclé texture – perfect for draping over a couch or layering on the bed.
Texture doesn’t have to come only from soft furnishings, as Kourtney Kardashian’s snug demonstrates. The Aged Terracotta Jar brings another layer of depth through its bulbous shape, tactile finish and rich, earthy hue. Beautifully imperfect, it makes a striking accent on its own or looks equally at home filled with greenery.
If you want to bring rich, plush texture into a small space, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite home decor pieces to make it feel instantly warmer, layered and more luxurious.
