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Long Living Room Ideas - Narrow Room Design Tips

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Interior Design

Living Room

by Eleanor Büsing

published Sep 22, 2018

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Long, narrow living rooms (or family rooms) can be a chore to lay out and decorate, not to mention live in. Nobody wants to feel like they’re entertaining in a train carriage or watching TV in a hallway. But with some layout tweaks and a few visual tricks up your sleeve, you can learn to love your long room. Here are five ways to lay out a long, narrow living room, plus some bonus tips on how to really rock the space.

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1. Create Separate Zones

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Often, long rooms are a blessing in disguise, because they can serve as open-plan spaces. Instead of having one larger-but-awkward living room, why not create a smaller living area, plus a den, study area, or breakfast nook?

In the sketch above, we have a traditional TV area (which you can create with a smaller sofa to save space)inte, plus a cozy den-like conversation nook, complete with surrounding wall-to-wall bookshelves to really delineate the space. You can also zone these separate areas with rugs, lights and/or color so it feels intentional.

2. Alternate your Furniture Groupings

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If possible, try to avoid having all your furniture on one side of the long wall. By alternating furniture groupings, as the space above does, it forces the traffic flow to take on an “S” shape, and avoids half the room just feeling like a straight hallway. It’s a sneaky way to ensure you actually use more of the space.

3. Arrange Things Across the Space

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When working with a long space, it’s best to arrange things cross-wise when possible, which visually pushes the walls outward, making the room seem wider.

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How to Fix 4 Common Furniture Mistakes

Instead of one sofa against the longer wall, the space above uses two shorter ones, placed width-wise in the space. This visually pushes the walls outward, a trick that’s repeated with the console table behind the sofa, and the long bookshelf on the far wall.

4. Work with the Middle

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Just because a room is long, doesn’t mean you need to fill it all with furniture. The space above centers the furniture arrangement in the middle, leaving the sides as open, but not dead, space. This works particularly well in a symmetrical room, when the furniture can be centered around a window or fireplace.

5. Utilize an L-Shaped Sofa

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A proper corner sofa, even more so than one with a chaise, can really use the space in a long room well. The room above uses one, and several of the other tips above, to create a usable layout. Notice how the furniture arrangement at the other end of the room (two chairs, a side table and a console) mimic but flip the shape of the sofa, too.

Ideas for Decorating a Long and Narrow Living Room

By

Lauren Flanagan

Lauren Flanagan

Lauren Flanagan is an interior design expert with over 15 years of experience writing, editing, and producing articles for renowned Canadian publications and shows for HGTV on home decor. She worked in high-end home decor retail before discovering her passion was to share what she knew in publications and on television.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 12/10/21

The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

If your living room looks like a long hallway, use a few clever illusions to open up the space so you don't feel like you're living in a bowling alley. You may be tempted to push furniture up against the walls in a long, narrow living room to open up the space, but the effect will only highlight the shape of the room, making it feel longer and narrower. Minimize tunnel vision in your home with ideas to manipulate the space.

Watch Now: 5 Clever Tips for Decorating a Narrow Living Room

Form a Straight Walkway

Creating a pathway for foot traffic in a narrow room is tricky. By tweaking your arrangement, you'll create an intimate atmosphere instead of an awkward footpath through the middle of your furniture. Arrange a seating vignette on one side of the long wall of your living room. For example, place a sofa up against one wall and pull close two chairs that face the couch. By creating a small seating area, you've created a clear path behind the chairs on the opposite long wall of the space. The effect is a well thought out sitting area that isn't interrupted by foot traffic.

Create a Curved Pathway

Break up a lengthy space by creating a curved path through the room. Achieve this visual trickery by using both long walls for your furniture and dividing your space into two separate seating zones. You can quickly sketch this out for yourself or use a free room planning app so you can see the curvy pathway on paper. For example, here are two zones that create a curved flow in a long, narrow living room.

As a result, you've broken up the tunnel feeling of the room, maximized the space with two zones, and created an easy flow throughout the living room.

The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

Pull Furniture Away From the Walls

Furniture pushed up against a wall in a narrow living room emphasizes the length of the space. Instead, pull all of your furniture away from the walls and float a seating arrangement in the middle of the room. It helps even if your furniture is only a few inches away from the walls. The result will be a cozy seating area with two narrow walkways on either side of the sitting area.

Use Circular Pieces

Eliminate long horizontal lines with furniture that has soft, rounded edges. There are several easy ways to break up an abundance of straight horizontal lines.

Tip

Along with round furniture, consider upholstery with circular patterns and use round area rugs that call the eye to the floor.

The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

Create an L- or U-Shape Seating Area

Place a sofa on the wall and put a love seat or two chairs perpendicular to the couch to break up the length of the room. Add another love seat or set of chairs on the opposite side of the sofa to create a U-shape seating arrangement. It's another way to create a path along the opposite long wall of your room.

Divide the Space

If your room is particularly long, divide it into two separate zones. Consider two different conversation areas. A seating area and a small office or dining area is another option to make the most of the space. Use area rugs to define each area. Help the two spaces appear organized and orderly by placing all of the legs of each piece of furniture on the rugs.

Tip

Consider creating two zones in a long, narrow living room by using one piece of furniture. Place a sofa perpendicular in the room and put a console table or short cabinet against its back. Use the table or cabinet as a desk for a small home office zone.

Maximize Vertical Space

Draw the eye high by making the most of vertical space. A tall armoire or bookshelf breaks up an expanse of long horizontal space. Move the eye upward by creating art and photo arrangements that go high and close to the ceiling. Hang floor-to-ceiling drapery, preferably with vertical stripes, to create the illusion of height.

Narrow living room - effective elimination of planning flaws, the use of competent design to expand the space 0 Comments

It is good to develop a design for a modern spacious room. But what if the size and shape of the living room are far from ideal? The main task of the design of a narrow living room is to visually expand the room.

In most living rooms in three-story and five-story buildings, the width of the living room is 2.7–2.85 m. Being in such a room causes some discomfort. One window at the end of the room cannot illuminate the entire area of ​​​​the room well. In addition, they are often walk-through, which further impoverishes the ability to diversify design options.

The main disadvantage of a narrow room and design features

The main drawback of a long room is not the lack of matching length and width, but the insufficient width of the room. A visual sensation of comfort occurs in a person with a room width of more than 3 m.

Therefore, the main task of the designer is not just to divert attention from the length of the living room, but to visually expand the room (or at least not narrow it).

When designing a narrow living room, you need to pay maximum attention to increasing and expanding the space using various techniques.


Furniture and layout options

The selection and placement of furniture play a decisive role in the design of a narrow room. Almost always in a narrow room, furniture can be arranged in only one way - along the walls. If possible, it is advisable to place a sofa or armchairs, a dining table perpendicular to the wall

It is better to choose furniture that is compact, chairs, if possible, with open backs, and armchairs and sofas with open legs.

Upholstered furniture should not be bulky and very low. It is undesirable to use interior items of very dark or bright colors. Cherry and red sofas are quite appropriate if they are upholstered in a slightly muted fabric.

The worst thing that can be put in a narrow living room is the traditional Soviet ceiling-high walls. They visually turn a narrow room into a corridor leading to a window. Furniture should be assembled from low cabinets with a depth of no more than 45 cm. Low furniture does not clutter up the room. In no case should you use furniture in black or dark unnatural colors; dark wooden furniture is also undesirable.

If there is an urgent need to create storage areas in the common room, you should try to avoid the use of tall cabinet furniture. It is necessary to place things in cabinets, sofa drawers, on hanging shelves (preferably out of sight of a seated person, i.e. above the sofa and armchairs).

If it is not possible to avoid the use of a wall and cabinets, then it is necessary to use mirrored doors, tinted glass with a mirror effect, mirrors at the rear wall in sections with transparent glass, etc. to the maximum. It is advisable not to install a blank wall, but to combine cabinets on the sides with the location of low cabinets in the center. The ideal option is to install a furniture wall along a short wall. In the center, a free section of the wall is formed, on which the TV is placed.

The rounded lines of the coffee table and the rounded lines of the dining table make the interior more harmonious. It is worth mentioning especially about the coffee table: it is good to distract attention from the length and reduce the “tunnel” effect of the room with a low table placed in front of a sofa or armchair approximately in the center of the room.

If possible, it is advisable to take the eyes of the sitting people away from the opposite wall - put an interesting sculpture, a showcase with a collection, a fountain, an aquarium or a TV set at the far end of the room. Familiar to everyone in Soviet apartments, installing a TV in the corner by the window actually led to the fact that the TV was looked at obliquely across the room, while the small width of the living room was not so striking.


Is zoning necessary?

In small living rooms in old houses, a children's corner is rarely placed. Sometimes a desktop is installed. Most often, a dining table is located in the living room.

Most types of zoning will reduce the size of a not very large and long room. This is especially true for highlighting individual zones with the color of walls and floors. It is possible to highlight the dining area with lighting. The desktop, located at the entrance, is difficult to somehow separate from the rest of the room; standing in the far corner of the room - can be separated by a low rack.

Style choice for a narrow living room

A narrow room in Khrushchev cannot be turned into a palace living room. Modest dimensions dictate a certain restraint when choosing a style. It is possible to apply elements of a classic interior - an expensive wooden table, cabinets and chests of drawers; furniture, intricate draperies on the window, gilded lighting fittings. But the classics mean large chandeliers, dark lacquered furniture, stucco, gilding, carvings - all these elements are not appropriate in a narrow room of 16–18 m2. The stylization of the living room in the style of baroque, modern and other palace images with a large number of decorative elements does not look better either.

Rustic style with rough wooden furniture or Provence with many small details is not very appropriate in a narrow room.

Therefore, it is desirable to design a narrow living room in more concise modern styles: hi-tech, loft, modern (neo-modern), Scandinavian. Most of the furniture offered today can be attributed to the modern modern style - simple functional forms, laconic details with curved elements or a hint of floral ornaments, rounded corners of tables, slightly curved contours of chairs, compact ergonomic upholstered furniture.

The high-tech living room looks good with light cabinet furniture, a lot of mirrors and glasses, nickel-plated legs and racks. It is not worth implementing a loft in a narrow room - you can easily turn the living room into a tunnel (or even into a barn). You can tile part of the wall under brick or stone - most often around the TV.

In a narrow room, a laconic Scandinavian style is quite appropriate with its white walls, light-colored furniture, bright accents and a lot of handmade textiles.


Color options

The use of dark colors in the decoration of the walls and ceiling will lead to a visual reduction of the living room and emphasize all its shortcomings. For walls, it is better to choose light pastel shades of any color. It is undesirable to use a textured loft-style finish or convex decorative plaster over a large area. It is possible that the short small walls of the room are finished in a rich or dark color, and the long walls are light. This finish visually shortens and expands the room.

Ceiling decoration

It is desirable to make the ceiling in a traditional white color - it increases the height and makes the room more spacious. Light glossy ceilings, two-level rectangular structures with a round or oval upper tier look great. Films with illumination and a print of the daytime sky with clouds, soaring ceilings look very impressive.

You can use fantasy-shaped bunk designs using mirrors or dark glossy inserts - they increase the apparent height of the ceiling and attract attention. If the ceilings have a height of 3 m or more (these are found in "Stalinka"), it is better to choose matte stretch ceilings and multi-tiered structures.

The use of a transverse pattern from the tiers of a stretch ceiling expands the room. In high rooms (above 3 m), stylized in a rustic style, country, Provence, you can use the installation of transverse wooden beams.


Narrow living room wall decoration

There are many finishing options - painting, smooth decorative plaster, wallpaper without a pattern or with an embossed monochromatic pattern. It is undesirable to use panels, wood, cork, tiles, bricks. It is possible to use a loft-style finish (white or light color) on small sections of the walls. The red brick on the wall will "eat up" the space.

Floor material selection

The floor also should not be dark. Material - any: from wood, parquet and laminate to tiles, linoleum and self-leveling floor made of decorative concrete. Drawings on laminate, linoleum and boards should be placed either across the room or obliquely. The location of the board or its imitation along the room will narrow and lengthen it, which is undesirable.


Lighting

It is undesirable to use bulky chandeliers and lamps on long suspensions in rooms with a ceiling height of less than 3 m. The best option is a hidden stretch ceiling lighting or a ceiling spot lighting system in combination with wall lamps.

When arranging lighting, it should be borne in mind that in the depths of a narrow room, natural light decreases and additional lighting is required here.

Decor and textiles

The main mistake that can be made when decorating a narrow living room is to use a long carpet with longitudinal stripes. The carpet should have a width that completely covers the space from the wall (or cabinet furniture) to the sofa, while the legs of the sofa should stand on the carpet. The strip is allowed only transverse. Drawing is desirable. Shape - oval, circle, asymmetry, square or short rectangle. The use of compact rugs of small width is undesirable.

The color of the carpet should be brighter than the color of the flooring. Do not cover the entire floor with carpeting - it draws attention to the shape of the room.

When using neutral light colors for walls, bright color accents are required - pillows, paintings, decorative sculptures, vases. But the decor should not be too much.

Very well increase the space of the mirror. Usually they are used only in part of the room - for example, near the dining table or TV.

To distract attention in a narrow living room, decorative elements that promote relaxation are very appropriate - fountains, waterfalls, aquariums, decorative lamps with moving shadows and lights, etc.

To slightly correct the elongated proportions of the room, it is advisable to hang not compact modern roller blinds, but full-fledged curtains with draperies of a sufficiently saturated color.


Conclusion

Despite the fact that the small width of the room creates certain difficulties in design, modern effective design techniques allow you to visually correct the shape of the living room and create a cozy and comfortable recreation area for the whole family in it.

How to arrange furniture in a narrow and long living room - expert advice Shatura

Content

12/23/2021

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Main error

In many layouts of apartments of the Soviet period, an elongated room is allocated for the living room. There are similar options in modern homes. In terms of area, the room seems to be large, but it is quite difficult to achieve real comfort in it. That is why many owners of such housing at the stage of repair or on the eve of it ask themselves the question: “How to arrange furniture in a narrow living room so that it becomes comfortable and functional?”

Most often, apartment owners with narrow living rooms try to make the most of a long wall. At the same time, they apply the principle of two-sided layout, that is, they install a maximum of furnishing elements along long walls. However, in this way they achieve the tunnel effect: the room seems even narrower, the interior becomes unattractive. When developing the design of such a room, it is important to emphasize its advantages as much as possible and hide its shortcomings. After all, the increased length can always be used to your advantage. There are many ways to do this. Let's look into this issue in detail.


Basic rules for decorating space

Experienced designers when arranging the space of a narrow living room recommend taking into account a number of simple and universal rules:

· Do not get carried away with the elements of furnishings and decor. If the area of ​​​​the room is small, then a minimal furniture set of a sofa, a coffee table, and several chairs will be enough to decorate it. Open modules for storing the necessary things and arranging the decor will harmoniously look on the walls.

It is better to forget about massive furniture and large interior items. They will take up a lot of space and will hide space.

· It is better to plan the interior in bright colors. This will contribute to a visual increase in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe hall. Another technique is furniture on legs. It not only facilitates cleaning, but also allows you to visually lift the room, make it more voluminous and airy.

· To hide the shortcomings of a narrow living room, bright decor is introduced into its atmosphere: original lamps, posters, photos, plants, paintings, etc. They will attract attention and level out imperfections.

The use of mirror surfaces is also justified. Placing them on long walls allows you to achieve the effect of visually enlarging the room.

Zoning

To make a narrow living room more comfortable and functional allows dividing it into several separate zones. This is especially true for small apartments, where you need to rationally use every square meter. With the help of the correct arrangement of furniture in a long living room, you can highlight different spaces.

For receiving guests . Usually this zone is located closest to the doorway. It should contain comfortable upholstered furniture. With limited space, the sofa can be supplemented with pouffes or bean bags, which take up less space. In some cases, it is more appropriate to install a couch. Upholstered furniture is complemented by a TV, which is hung opposite the sofa. It is convenient to place drinks and light snacks on the coffee table for guests. Transformer models are more convenient to use. When assembled, they take up minimal space. If necessary, such furniture unfolds into an almost full-fledged dining table.


For work . To organize a home office, it is better to choose a place near the window. This will provide enough natural light for work, allowing you to save a little on electricity. A computer desk should be installed near the window, where it is convenient to place all the necessary equipment, stationery, and documents. It will be well complemented by a comfortable, ergonomic office chair, several hinged open shelves. It is convenient to separate the workspace with a light double-sided rack. It will provide additional storage space and will not prevent sunlight from penetrating the room.

Leisure . In a small apartment, the living room can also serve as a bedroom. To separate such a zone, racks or a closet (if the room is spacious enough) are suitable. Lightweight textile curtains or plasterboard partitions are also used. However, the latter option is not very desirable, as it blocks the flow of natural light to other parts of the room. A folding sofa is more suitable for organizing a sleeping place. If necessary, it can be folded and increase the space for receiving guests. To make the "bedroom" more comfortable, do not forget to place small bedside tables near the bed. It is convenient to put small table lamps on them, place gadgets, cosmetics, etc.


For eating . This option is possible if the living room is combined with the kitchen. Depending on the total area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room, a dining group or a bar counter is used for eating. Moreover, the latter can also play a zoning role, provide additional space for storing cutlery and dishes. In a small room, you can install a folding bar counter and lay it out only at the time of eating.

Which furniture to use

The large length of the living room, combined with the reduced width, determines the subtleties of the choice of furniture. To decorate such a room, it is better to use a custom-made headset. It will maximally correspond to the geometry and area of ​​​​the hall. When choosing the necessary items and planning the arrangement of furniture, it is important to consider:

· amount of elements. The smaller the area of ​​​​the living room, the less furnishings should be introduced into the interior. The abundance of elements creates the effect of clutter, the room looks overly overloaded with details;

functionality. Given the increased demand for comfortable and practical furniture, manufacturers are developing different models with hidden storage systems and additional functions. This allows you to save space and create comfort even in small narrow living rooms;

· color. The shade of furniture is selected taking into account the existing foundation. Often the walls in narrow living rooms are lined with light materials, then you can choose a brighter, accent setting. Interesting options can be emerald, burgundy or mustard. By the way, a photo panel with a perspective can become an interesting design option for a long wall. It will visually change the geometry of the room. Another solution: painting a long wall in light colors, and a short one in richer, deeper ones;

shapes and sizes. Do not get carried away with strict rectangular furnishings that will lengthen the room more. If such furniture is necessary, then it is better to arrange it across, use it for zoning. Sofa and armchairs should be chosen with low backs. Also, rounded models that will “eat” less mercy can be a good solution.

Features of furniture arrangement

In a narrow living room, it is especially important to arrange the interior elements correctly. It is not advisable to place them according to the principle of classical symmetrical layout. In this case, it is especially important to show creativity. If the area allows, you can use the angular arrangement of furniture, which will divert attention from the imperfect proportions of the room. In a modern interior, a chaotic asymmetric arrangement of interior items looks interesting.

Sofa . An original solution may be the choice of a corner model. It will become the central element from which the rest of the environment is built. It is convenient to place it near the walls (in the corner) or use it for zoning. Some apartment owners completely move away from this concept and use armchairs to decorate living rooms. And it is better to prefer visually light products.


Cabinet . Although many designers recommend not using this type of furniture in narrow rooms and replacing it with chests of drawers or cabinets, many people are not ready for such changes. If a cabinet is needed, then it is better to install it on a narrow, short wall. This will make the rectangular room closer to the correct square. In addition, the cabinet can be used to install a TV and other equipment.

Wall and shelves . For small living rooms, narrow open or closed designs are more suitable, which will not unnecessarily clutter up the space. A good option is a wall with mirrored doors. Shelves can be a stylish and functional replacement for a closet. They facilitate the visual perception of space, make the interior more interesting.

Styling

The choice and arrangement of furniture is largely influenced by style. And not every option is suitable for a narrow living room. We offer several trendy design ideas for a small elongated space.


Loft . A brutal style that begins its history with the restructuring of industrial premises into residential ones. This determines its features both in external features and in furnishing. When decorating living rooms, the simplicity of brickwork or concrete surfaces is emphasized. The central element can be a classic or corner sofa. Moreover, it can stand out from the general situation by the color or texture of the material. You can complement it with a wooden or metal coffee table, pouffes and bean bags. It is allowed to combine antique and modern furnishings. The main condition is harmony and comfort.



Minimalist . Modern style that does not tolerate unnecessary details. The basis of the interior is made up of pastel colors. Preference is given to monochrome design options. Most often it is white, pearl. Black is used to create contrasts. Visual accents are highlighted by wood and steel tones. A narrow sofa, a wall or a compact sideboard is perfect for decorating a long living room. They can be supplemented with closed shelves. An important condition is only the necessary items, the absence of unnecessary decor.



Scandinavian style . Northern people appreciate space and abundance of light. Scandinavian interiors are characterized by a light palette with the inclusion of wood tones and a few bright accents. There are almost never curtains on the windows or they are as invisible as possible. Furniture should be preferred from natural light wood. Good options: ash, birch, pine, etc. Furniture can be natural tones or painted. In order not to clutter up the space with unnecessary details, it is important to use furnishings with convenient storage systems. Additionally, you can include shelves or a rack; there is no place for a closet in such an interior.



Provence . With its use of a light, natural palette, French rustic style lends itself well to narrow living rooms. Antique furniture is installed in the room, elegant and visually light. It is complemented by textiles in floral prints, live plants or floral arrangements. However, do not get carried away with an abundance of details.

Compliance with the basic principles of layout, thoughtful selection of furniture and its placement will allow you to correctly organize the space, make the narrow living room comfortable and cozy. Stylish headsets for different rooms can be found in the Shatura catalogue. With us you are sure to find worthy solutions for your apartment.

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