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Small narrow living rooms


Narrow living room ideas – how to make the most of a snug and awkward space

(Image credit: Genevieve Lutkin)

We honestly do think that small spaces can often be more fun to decorate than large. And narrow living room ideas allow us to flex our creativity and think outside the box a little on how to make these slightly awkward spaces work. Sure, these space may appear to be a bit of a mission to get right, but whether you rent a space or have inherited an awkward division of rooms, thankfully, there are so many easy ways to make these spaces work, from clever layouts and space-enhancing hacks to color schemes and furniture choices. 

In order to prove that narrow living rooms can in fact be both stylish and functional, we've pulled together all our favorite living room ideas, plus plenty of tips from designers on how to nail a narrow space. 

1. Cover your small space in wallpaper

(Image credit: Future)

Tricking the eye with living room wallpaper is the most fabulous way of detracting from the size of the room, and making a narrow space feel larger.

'Wallpaper is a really good way to add an element of texture to small and narrow spaces,' says Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director of Little Greene. 'Botanical prints such as ‘Beech Nut’ from the National Trust Papers II collection and other all-over patterns are particularly effective when you don’t have the space to add smaller decorative accents but want this area to give a sense of warmth and personality

2. Create Interest with texture

(Image credit: Lydia McKinnon)

This small rustic living room could feel quite ordinary but is injected with oodles of charm with wood-clad walls and ceilings that draw the eye around the room and adds texture and pattern to an awkward space. 

The slats have been painted a bright white which maximizes a sense of space in the small area and reflects any natural light around the sloping nook. Plus lines of any kind, whether on a wallpaper or paneling, can really help change the feel of a narrow space and trick the eye into thinking the space is in fact wider.  

3. Layer color on a neutral palette

(Image credit: James Merril)

This narrow living room doubles as a playroom, so the muted but colorful scheme feels both fun and fresh while also not giving off too many playroom vibes – it could easily be transformed into a relaxing space too. 

The walls are painted an elegant sandy color to create that sense of space but the room is not afraid of color and injects individuality with colorful rugs, cushions and sofa and pendant light all in sophisticated tones of blue and green. 

Plus note the furniture, the sofa and the coffee table are also long and narrow, mirroring the size and shape of the room. Rather than having small pieces floating in a narrow space, ensure your pieces fill the space well, you want to avoid a sea of the floor with blocks of furniture breaking up the space. 

4. Use oversized furniture to trick the eye

(Image credit: One World)

Large furniture can dramatically change the feel of a room, making it feel more generous than it really is. This comfortable L-shaped sofa from One.World fills the entire space in a complementary neutral hue.

'An oversized piece of furniture is an easy way to change the feel of any room by creating a cozier and a more comforting feel,' says Jason Bensohn, Managing Director of interiors brand One.World. 'When it comes to the color scheme, opt for similar tones throughout by matching your furniture to your walls, rug, cushions, and other accessories. Lighter shades complemented by warm neutrals will help create a sense of space and add depth to your scheme.' 

5. Go for a luxurious wabi sabi aesthetic 

(Image credit: Genevieve Lutkin)

It's a rule of thumb to go neutral and light with living room colors if the space is on the small or narrow side. This approach can often feel a little boring and safe but this exquisite minimal room taps into the crafted Wabi Sabi trend with a handful of furniture. A skinny rustic wood coffee table crushed linen olive sofa and snow-white boucle seating also come together to create a living room like feels both neutral and exciting.

The room also builds on layers of neutral paint to get the depth of color picking out a range of shades throughout the room. The ceiling is left white so it reflects more light down onto the walls and the woodwork and shutters also match but use an eggshell finish to pick them out as highlights.

6. Optimise on your wall space with storage

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Optimizing on space almost always means creating more living room storage! This small space uses the only completely solid wall to create floor-to-ceiling bespoke joinery that can house everything from the TV to books and display items. It's made of light plywood and is an inexpensive but stylish way to add storage and the light wood brightens the small space making it feel larger than it actually is.

7. Incorporate reflective details

(Image credit: Suzy Hoodless)

A reflective surface really does visually widen a narrow space. This narrow townhouse features glossy lime green paint around the door frames to provide a soft reflection.  

The rest of the room also features plenty of reflective accessories – a large chrome chandelier, glossy table lamps, and a glass-topped coffee table all cleverly throw light around the room making the space feel lighter than if denser materials were used.

8. Create a comforting snug

(Image credit: Studio Sascal)

This pink living room is almost fully encompassed by a plush pink corner sofa and walls are full to the brim with artwork creating a maximalist small space bursting with warmth.

'Maximalism to us is all about layering - it’s so important to layer a room in order to create depth and tell a story,' says Sarah Stemp of interior design studio Sascal. 'Especially living in the UK, which is grey most of the time, having a colorful and cozy layered home filled with textures, patterns, art, objects etc. really helps to bring the warmth inside which is often so lacking in daily life. Maximalism means going with your gut and displaying a curated collection of pieces you love which lends itself particularly well to smaller spaces. The smaller the space, the easier the story is to tell.' 

What can I do with a narrow living room?

Use the right furniture for a narrow living room - a great tip is to choose a sofa and chairs with open arms and exposed legs and a glass coffee table.m both will keep the appearance of a much more open and free space, allowing light to filter under and around the furniture far more easily.

How do you layout a small narrow living room?

The best narrow living room layout is to create a zone with an area rug and pull furniture away from the walls. Keep the space clutter-free. Use mirrors to reflect light and take advantage of tall ceilings in a long narrow space for storage.

Rohini Wahi is Content Editor for Livingetc Online. With a decade-long career in the interiors and design industry working as a journalist for premium lifestyle publications then delving deeper into the business as a trend forecaster, Rohini has amassed a wealth of global design knowledge that informs her work. She loves a period drama and keeps a tidy home.

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 design (65 photos)

Many owners of apartments built in modern and Soviet high-rise buildings encounter narrow living rooms. Compared to a square, an elongated rectangular shape creates more conventions and nuances that should be taken into account when organizing the interior decoration of a room. However, if you successfully cope with this task, you will get a harmonious area that does not create the illusion of a tunnel.

Design highlights

Quite often, pencil cases are found in Soviet "Khrushchev" and other typical panel buildings. Such houses have an inconvenient layout, poor lighting, small room sizes. Typical "wagon" spaces are only 2.2 meters wide, and the ceiling rises only 2.5-2.7 meters. An explosive combination gives a lot of trouble to the owners.

Nevertheless, it is possible and even necessary to overcome these difficulties. Various tricks and tricks are used - from a well-chosen color palette to organic zoning. The most important thing is to rationally use the entire available area and visually embody square proportions.

According to its main functional purpose, the living room is a space for gathering the family and receiving guests, and therefore the most spacious part of the house is allocated for it. If this role needs to be performed by a long narrow room, you should take care of the correct delimitation of space. In fact, you have to break it into several small zones for separate needs. But we will talk about this a little later, but first we will figure out which stylistic and color solutions are most appropriate in this case.

Style choice for a narrow living room

As a rule, the living room is an excellent basis for any stylistic content. Here you can unleash your inner artist and enjoy the act of creativity to the fullest. However, in the case when an oversized narrow space is at your disposal, you have to compromise and work within the framework of modern styles that stand up for space and freedom in the room.

First of all, pay attention to minimalism. Discreet monochrome colors do not hide the space and do not weigh down the space. Straight lines create the correct geometry and add expressiveness to the overall look. In addition, principles such as the absence of unnecessary details or the ultimate functionality of objects actively contribute to the achievement of the task.

You can also try loft-room techniques:

1. Get rid of partitions. For example, combine the hall with the kitchen. Subject to proper zoning, such a move will add real meters to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room and create a free atmosphere.

2. Finish the ceiling in white. This will visually increase the height of the walls.

3. Use space-saving furniture. There were simply no walls in the huge industrial premises, and therefore the space had to be delimited in other ways, including with the help of furniture.

4. To complete the factory interior, add characteristic details - brickwork, rough plaster, exposed pipes, as well as bold decor elements.

Scandinavian style suggests an abundance of white, which visually expands the space and partially compensates for the lack of natural light. To achieve the latter goal also contributes to a large number of artificial light sources. Accessories typical of the Scandinavian style in the form of bright textiles, rugs and pillows will help to dilute the white.

Not the best solution is to decorate a narrow living room in such styles as shabby chic and empire, as they are characterized by excesses in decor and furniture design. In a small room, there is simply no room for such excesses. Although individual elements of style can still be applied, but in very limited quantities.

Colors

An effective way to correct the shape of a narrow living room with color is to cover the oblong walls with a light shade, and the short ones with a rich deep one. A pair of black and white will come in handy here. In addition, this combination can make the design interesting and expressive, and it will also fit perfectly into any modern design direction.

Shades of beige create a bright, spacious and soft interior. If you decide to combine the hall with the kitchen, then warm undertones in coffee, milk, cream variations will promote appetite, but at the same time act relaxing and unobtrusive.

Southern and eastern rooms that do not lack natural light can be decorated in cool blues, grays and whites. This range creates an incredibly fresh and stylish room. At the same time, it would not be superfluous to dilute the restrained colors a little with warm beige, woody notes.

A light background can be left without adding bright colors, but it is quite appropriate to decorate the monochrome with beautiful pink, red, green, or the same blue or blue accents.

Finishing a narrow living room

As we have already found out, minimalism and simplicity are the principles that will help organize a narrow space harmoniously. The interior decoration is no exception. It is important not to overdo it and do everything with taste.

Floor

The floor covering also has an impact on the overall impression of the room. In the living room, it would be advisable to put parquet, laminate, linoleum with a pattern perpendicular or diagonal to the oblong side, so the contrast between the length of the walls will not be so noticeable. It is generally possible to lay laminate with a pattern parallel to a long wall, but in this case it is worth making sure that the flooring has a light shade.

For the same reasons, refrain from elongated rugs along the larger wall. Stop for a small version of the oval or original asymmetrical look. It can be decorated with a strip parallel to the small sides.

Walls

For walls it is reasonable to use neutral light colors of paint or plain wallpaper. A short part of the room can be painted in an active dark or bright color using wall covering or curtains. If you have a lot of windows and lots of light fixtures, it's a good idea to finish with a washed-out variation of an unobtrusive bright color like light blue.

Perspective wall murals will also visually expand the space of a narrow living room. By placing them on a long wall, you level the difference in the size of the sides.

Ceiling

The best way to finish is in white. Painting, a matte or glossy stretch ceiling, or very small plasterboard structures in white or beige variations will not burden the atmosphere and create the illusion of height.

Furniture and layout options

Finishing an elongated room is the first step in the transformation. But in order not to spoil the impression of a proper repair, it is necessary to correctly arrange the furniture. A long space, by definition, does not withstand the standard arrangement and requires a special approach. Even a small detail out of place can enhance the effect of the tunnel, and the proper impression cannot be achieved.

It is best to place the sofa at an angle. However, this method is only suitable if the size of the room allows it. So we will create an original broken geometry that takes the eye away from the “carriage” shape. You can enhance the impression by using round elements: a coffee table, chairs, pouffes.

But still, we often meet conditions when it is more rational to place the main pieces of furniture along the walls. In this case, try to pick up low and oversized modifications of beautiful shapes and original textures. At the same time, be sure to use small tables, stands for a decorated tape recorder or lamps, flowers, beautiful floor lamps, unusual chairs located in the “wrong” places, somewhat chaotically. In this way, we can also form a slight asymmetry, which does not play by the rules of the shape of the room, but creates its own atmosphere.

In general, conditions of limited space require careful selection of furniture. Therefore, a good solution would be custom-made or do-it-yourself production. So you get exactly what you want and what your interior requires.

Decor and lighting

Most of the apartments in the post-Soviet space do not have high ceilings, and therefore it is important not to overload the space. It is better not to use chandeliers at all or to focus on the most light and “light”, airy options. Place small spotlights on the ceiling or floor. Also add additional light sources to the interior, which, by the way, do a good job of zoning. These can be: a variety of floor lamps, including curved ones, sconces, table lamps - at the same time they can play the role of decoration for the living room.

Complete the finished interior with decorations:

- The most successful decor is fresh flowers. Plants dilute the urban environment and help bring relaxation and comfort to the interior;

- Another good attribute for small narrow living rooms are mirrors that expand the boundaries of space;

- Beautiful bright textiles are able to create laconic colorful accents;

- The walls will be beautifully decorated with paintings and framed photos;

- Use open shelves or small cabinets with glass or mirror inserts to store small and medium decorative items and books.

Narrow living room design - photo

You have already learned the basics of organizing a narrow hall. Now we invite you to get acquainted with interesting examples of the design of such rooms to see how easy it is to play with the given parameters of the room and create a harmonious and beautiful interior. Happy viewing!

Video: Narrow Living Room - Interior Ideas

Narrow living room - 110 photos of new interior decorations

> Living room > Narrow living room - 110 photos of cozy and functional design in a narrow room

In many modern apartments you can find narrow rooms, and even with their own nuances.

Those who have become the owner of a narrow living room should correctly plan the space, while arranging the pieces of furniture.

Only in this case, the room will visually look larger, while there will be absolutely no such impression as if you were in a tunnel.

Contents:

Choice of colors

You can choose from a variety of designs for your narrow living room. At the same time, the room should become more comfortable and spacious.

Therefore, if the room is small, choose a light range of furniture and finishing materials.

This makes the area of ​​the room visually appear larger and also adds light. To create a homely feel, it is also possible to use a pale orange scale, or even a yellowish one.

Light fixtures or a carpet on the floor will help with this.

Choosing bright colors, furniture does not need to be bulky. A small glass table is perfect. You can see a visual demonstration in the photo of the narrow living room presented in our catalog.

You can also choose white furniture, but be sure to consider bright designer items in your home. Decorate the ends with bright colors, but as for the walls, use beige shades.

Decorating the interior of a narrow living room, you should not choose a dark scale, like brown. At the ends, make a painting, paste over with photo wallpapers depicting an interesting landscape.

Curtains and blinds in dark colors are also suitable for a narrow living room.

In general, the colors chosen in such a space should be in a light, pastel color scheme. Only in this way the perimeter will be proportional. Arrange accents by combining bright tones with dark ones. On the walls, glue wallpaper of a single color, the pattern on which is completely absent, or it is very weakly expressed.

Alternatively, you can visually expand the space by gluing light wallpapers opposite each other.

By dividing the room into separate sections and covering them with different wallpapers, the design of a long narrow living room will be not only sophisticated, but also extended. If the colors are chosen correctly, it should be remembered that the dark range has the property of narrowing, and the light range has the property of visual expansion, as well as lengthening the space.

Large patterns will make the room appear narrower, while small patterns will work great in this layout. As for large-format patterns, they must be applied exclusively to a wide wall.

And on those sides that are close to each other, you can apply some kind of discreet pattern. For example, it can be stripes, due to which the width of the room will visually increase.

Choice of furniture, lighting

If mirrors are added to narrow corner living rooms or long rooms, this will visually enlarge the space, expand it and even give it a square shape.

In the process of repair work, it is recommended to start from the ceiling, which is pre-leveled and cleaned. After cleaning, it is covered with a white latex-based paint.

Walls can be painted/wallpapered with ornaments or discreet designs. At the same time, the colors differ from the furniture, they do not have variegation or some caustic colors.

When designing in a narrow room, avoid high walls. Indeed, because of them, the room will seem even more elongated, and similar to a tunnel. Furniture here should be selected low, with various shelves and chests of drawers. To free up space, complement the furniture with a round table, as well as a shelf for a plasma panel.

It is not recommended to choose bulky furniture and other interior details.

For example, it is better to choose a light and airy pouf than a heavy armchair.

And as an alternative to a bright picture on the wall, choose some kind of neutral painting, not a massive coffee table, but a neat one, made of glass, etc.

Also here it is necessary to organize intensive lighting located in the center of the room.

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