Design Chat–Space Planning & Decorating a Narrow Room–Vol. 5

Hello.  I’m back with the 5th installment of Design Chat.  This time I’m addressing a question from another reader named Cassandra regarding her long, narrow living room.

Here’s what Cassandra asked…

“I have a long and narrow room. Fireplace on one end where I plan to put the TV above. And the entry hall directly across from the fireplace. I hate the look of over crowding but need extra seats for company. Tips?”

Well, since I don’t have a picture of Cassandra’s actually space, I’m imagining it to look a little something like the image below.

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Before I get into decorating tips for long, narrow rooms, let’s look at two of the most common issues with a space like this.

The first issue is how to maximize the floor space with the furniture layout while keeping traffic lanes open and creating an inviting space.  The other issue that’s common is how to create seating that works for 2 as easily as it does for 20.

Let’s look at solutions…

BREAK UP THE SPACE. Sometimes the best way to deal with a long, narrow space is to divide it into two seating groups. That will allow you to fill the space without giving up normal-size furniture. It also will give you the opportunity to customize each area for a different activity or level of intimacy.

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DOUBLE UP ON SEATING. A long living room often demands more than one sofa. The scheme works because the two opposing sofas are placed against the walls/windows which keeps the room open and accessible.  Side chairs placed at an angle provide additional seating without closing off the entrance to the room.

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Another option when using two sofas is to place them back to back within the room and use accent seating to create separate sitting areas arranged around each sofa.

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ADD ACCENT PIECES.  An easy way to supplement seating in a long, narrow living room is with ottomans and benches which can be pulled up when guests want to join the conversation.  These occasional pieces can also serve as accent tables with the addition of books or trays to create a level surface area.

Style At Home

FIND PIECES THAT CAN SERVE TWO PURPOSES. Think about replacing a traditional coffee table with oversized upholstered ottomans that can be separated and used as additional seating when needed.

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STORE EXTRA SEATING IN OPEN AREAS.  If your coffee table will support it, store a couple of small stools underneath it.  The stools add to the decorative look of the room but can be pulled out quickly and easily when you need more seating for guests.

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Decorating a long, narrow living room takes some creativity and many times it’s looking beyond a traditional furniture layout and maximizing the space with two areas and decorating with pieces that will work for you in multiple ways.

More design tips for long, narrow rooms:

♦  pay attention to the scale of furniture in the room.  Furniture that is too large will make the room feel overcrowded and furniture that is too small will make the room feel even more narrow.

♦  take the focus on the length of the room by maximizing the height with tall bookcases, bold wall decor and curtains hung high up.

♦  paint the room a neutral color so they eye move effortlessly around the space

♦  or paint one of the side walls in an accent color which will create a feeling of expansiveness within the room

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If you have a design challenge and need some suggestions on how to solve it, just leave a comment and I’ll address it in a future installment of Design Chat.