How To Decorate A Narrow Living Room

Decorating a narrow room is one of the toughest interior design tasks you can face, but it doesn’t need to be so overwhelming once you know some clever tricks of the trade.

Today we wanted to share six lessons we’ve learned along the way of how to maximise your living space if you’re dealing with less than desirable dimensions.

Starting with…

LAYOUT

Make sure the room has a good flow to it with no potential tripping hazards. This doesn’t mean push everything back against the wall, but also be sure not to have chairs and tables etc stuck in the middle of the room, meaning you’ll have partake in an obstacle course just to get to the front window.

MOVE FURNITURE

On the note of where to place furniture, having your sofa etc a couple of inches away from the wall is visually more pleasing to the eye than having it directly touch the skirting. The last thing you want the room to feel like is a narrow walk way, so don’t be afraid of turning armchairs inwards towards the sofa, in turn creating a cosy, chilled space.

CURVES

Curves really are your best friend when it comes to decorating a narrow living space, so invest in round table lamps, a circular pouffe, or a sofa with curved edges perhaps. A round mirror above the fireplace is another great way to soften the lines of the room, while reflecting as much light into the space as possible, making it appear larger.

NATURAL LIGHT

As mentioned above, mirrors are a fantastic way to bounce natural light around the room, but it’s also a great idea to remove window treatments such as blinds etc if possible, to allow for as much light to come through. Make sure curtains are pulled back to the very edge of the window and hang floor to ceiling to trick the eye into thinking the room is taller than it is. Glass furniture is also a great way to let maximum amount of light into the room, so consider a glass coffee table and side table, as opposed to solid wood.

CHOOSING PAINT

You and I both know, to make a room appear larger, we need to stick to light, airy colours. But a good trick for a narrow room is to paint the far walls in a darker shade, making them appear closer to you. Dark statement walls can look incredibly striking when the colour combination is right. Another tip is to paint your radiators and skirting boards the same colour as the wall. The stops the room from visually ‘breaking up’.

CREATE ZONES

Creating zones within your narrow living room will stop the space feeling like a tunnel. Divide the room into separate areas such as a reading corner, a bar area, and an entertaining space. You could create space for your desk if you work at home, or perhaps a corner for the children. The key to creating divisions is to use decorative pieces like rugs and artwork to create clear lines between the zones. A neon sign above your bar cart for example, indicates this is the place to grab a G&T, while a desk with a reading lamp and a rug under foot hints that it’s time to put the drink down.

Decorating a narrow space doesn’t have to be as daunting as it first seems, especially as you learn how to incorporate design tricks that help you see the room differently. The major points to remember are to not over clutter, to create a clear flow, and create zones within the space.

Have you struggled with a decorating dilemma like this in the past? Do you feel nervous tackling a project at home right now? Our Home Envy Members’ Club is designed to help you create the best possible home for you and your family, by teaching you all the skills you need to be your own interior designer. To find out more about the membership click here.