In a small living room, an L-shape sofa tucked into a corner frees up far more open floor space than two separate sofas facing each other.
Lighter fabric colours make a room feel larger and reflect more light, while a low-profile sofa frame keeps sightlines open across the room.
Choose furniture with exposed legs rather than a boxy base — it lets light pass underneath and makes the whole room feel less crowded, even with the same amount of seating.