A narrow living room is not a death sentence; it is quite possible to make it cozy. To visually expand the space, pay attention to:
- color scheme;
- lighting;
- furniture arrangement;
- details.
According to its main functional purpose, the living room is a space for gathering family and receiving guests, and therefore the most spacious part of the house is allocated for it.
General rules for designing a designer interior in a long and narrow living room
The general rule: “Nothing superfluous, everything you need is in its place.”
Minimum:
- huge furniture;
- elaborate ornate elements;
- wallpaper with a pattern.
If this role needs to be fulfilled in a long narrow room, you should take care of the correct delimitation of the space.
Maximum:
- Sveta;
- space;
- small bright accents.
How to arrange furniture?
You can significantly expand a narrow room using this solution: a sofa and a couple of armchairs should be in the center of the room, divided into sections.
This arrangement frees up a passage along the long walls, visually expanding the room.
Choosing a style direction for a long or narrow living room
Based on the general style of the apartment or house, choose the one that suits you. For the design of an elongated living room, experts offer the following styles:
Loft
Special for its practicality and emphasis on details. In the case of the design of a long and narrow living room, a loft perfectly solves the problem of zoning a space without partitions.
A narrow and long room is an area that is quite difficult to divide into separate zones.
For example, place a sofa perpendicular to the walls in the middle of the room. This way you will get a separate lounge or sleeping area, and another part of the room, for example, for work or a dining table. It is important that in this case there will be space for passage along the walls, which can be decorated with a bright, unusual picture or shelf.
If it is not possible to demolish the walls and expand the interior space, then you need to choose a suitable interior for a narrow and long living room.
Classic and neoclassical
If you like the classic style, pay attention to the color scheme for a narrow room. The walls and floor should be uniform, although not the same color. By the way, a great technique would be to paint the walls in different shades.
Blind partitions in a narrow room are not entirely appropriate.
For example, let's say you chose a gray palette for a room. One longitudinal wall is painted gray, and the one opposite it is painted in a different shade of gray or, conversely, in a contrasting color of cold turquoise or blue.
Important! For a narrow living room in a classic style, too elaborate or huge elements are not suitable.
To maintain an atmosphere of lightness and ease in the space, use neat small lamps and the same furniture.
The task of a designer, which you yourself can become for a short time, is to achieve, using various techniques, methods, tricks and tricks, the visual restoration of square proportions.
Scandinavian
From the cool northern countries a style has come to us, distinguished by its naturalness, practicality and love of light colors. We advise you to pay attention to it in the case of interior design for a narrow living room, since the color scheme itself already solves the problem of visual expansion of the room.
Finish the ceiling in white. This will visually increase the height of the walls.
Traditionally, Scandinavian-style furniture is made from natural materials and is used not only for its intended purpose. Pull-out structures, folding tables, sofas with storage compartments, a door with shelves - and all this in a light style that does not clutter up the space.
As a rule, the living room is an excellent basis for any stylistic content.
Decoration of the entrance door and floor
The feeling of spaciousness is achieved with the help of a wide doorway. It is best to install a sliding door. It is difficult to come up with a more suitable option for separating the kitchen and living room, but only if the appearance of the door matches the design of these rooms.
Light laminate flooring is often laid on the floor. This coating can visually add lightness to all volumetric elements of the interior. You can visually shorten a long room using parquet planks laid parallel to the short walls (across the room). A pattern of squares would be appropriate on the floor. A soft square carpet in the center of the room will also help, which will emphasize the cozy and relaxing atmosphere in the recreation area.
Choosing the right color for a narrow living room
Among all the points, perhaps the most important.
Obviously, light colors will visually expand the room.
When you have an oversized, narrow space at your disposal, you have to compromise and work within the confines of modern styles.
But we assure you: you shouldn’t deny yourself rich gray, brown or burgundy. The main thing is the right combination.
Straight lines create the correct geometry and add expressiveness to the overall look.
Important! Determine the base color, and only then select one - two additional and one contrasting to it.
For example, you are making a room in a Scandinavian style.
Base color:
- white
Scandinavian style involves an abundance of white, which visually expands the space and partially compensates for the lack of natural light.
Additional:
- light gray
- beige
Finish the ceiling in white. This will visually increase the height of the walls.
Contrast for bright accents:
- deep green
- blue
- or dark turquoise.
Accessories typical of Scandinavian style in the form of bright textiles, rugs and pillows will help to dilute the white.
Color spectrum
If the room is not too narrow, they use coffee, emerald, burgundy, and graphite tones. Excessive narrowness will force you to resort to beige, gray, milky colors. The black and white combination looks great, which is respected by modernity.
When windows face south, they prefer blue, lilac, pink, and green cool colors that give freshness and coolness. They will be successfully diluted with beige and woody notes. Otherwise, warm colors are preferable.
The technique of giving lightness to long walls, and giving short ones a more saturated tone or equipping them with horizontal stripes, which will bring the room closer to a square appearance, will help to expand the spatial boundaries.
Correct design of a narrow living room
Ceiling decoration
Designers advise sticking with the classic version and painting the ceiling in white shades. You can make the ceiling glossy and add diode lighting around the perimeter - this will visually increase the width of the space and add the amount of light.
Principles such as the absence of unnecessary parts or the utmost functionality of objects actively contribute to achieving the goal.
Floor decoration
Note! A horizontal flooring pattern automatically expands the room.
It is better to choose a light floor color. And to add practicality, lay a bright, unusual rug on it.
Flooring also has an impact on the overall feel of the room.
Wall decoration
Monochrome is best suited for a narrow living room. Although, in certain cases, it is appropriate to use photo wallpaper, but only for one wall. This way you will make a bright accent and you will not need to select a picture or shelf for such a task.
Promising photo wallpapers will visually expand the space of a narrow living room.
Lighting issue
In addition to natural lighting, which was mentioned earlier, you also need to take care of artificial light.
For these purposes, it is best to purchase spotlights. They, as a rule, have an acceptable cost, and in the case of a suspended ceiling, it is impossible to think of a better option.
Secrets of the correct selection and arrangement of furniture in a narrow living room
The main rule: down with bulk.
Instead of massive armchairs there are comfortable poufs, instead of large racks or cabinets there are neat shelves that simultaneously serve as decoration.
In order not to spoil the impression of proper repairs, it is necessary to arrange the furniture correctly.
When arranging furniture in a narrow living room, remember zoning:
- The perpendicular position of the sofa will make the room not so narrow and long and divide the space into separate zones;
- Arrange furniture along the walls in the corner, but avoid placing it along only one wall.
A long space, by definition, does not withstand the standard arrangement and requires a special approach.
Features of the room layout
Typically, narrow, small rooms are found in typical apartments, in which there is no possibility of demolishing walls and remodeling. It is necessary to apply a lot of design techniques to provide comfortable, cozy housing in such apartments. Now there are many ways to find out how much a design project for a room of a similar plan costs from professionals, or you can calculate it yourself using online design programs.
First you need to thoroughly study the layout of the living room. You need to determine the size of the living room and think about how to arrange the furniture correctly. You should strive to expand the narrow space of the living room, as this will make it more convenient and cozy.
Choosing decor for a narrow living room
Since the room is narrow, you should not clutter it with additional items. Use things of practical use as decoration:
- bright carpet;
- unusual shelf;
- painting.
They will do an excellent job of decorating.
The walls will be perfectly decorated with paintings and framed photos.
The illusion of no wall
Landscape photo wallpapers in a narrow room can create a real sensation if they show perspective. Edges can be lost in haze or out of focus, this will enhance the presence effect. The wall doesn't just recede - it gets lost in this haze. In any case, the gaze definitely does not rest on it, it slides further into an indefinite distance.
Interestingly, photo wallpaper on a short wall is also useful for a long narrow room, but their choice and method of pasting is dictated by other considerations.
- The overall tone should be darker than the main color of the walls, or brighter.
- Macro photography is encouraged. An enlarged image is impressive and attracts the eye, but the main secret lies elsewhere - large objects “come closer” to the viewer, which is what is required in this case.
- The entire space “from wall to wall” is covered with photo wallpaper.
- A strong technique is when photo wallpaper covers adjacent walls by 30-70 centimeters. The technique works well when the canvases depict some romantic cityscape with a strong perspective.
Photo wallpaper creates perspective in the room
An even stronger effect, up to the curvature of the walls, is created by photo wallpapers with geometric motifs that cause visual illusions. Are you ready for some intense sensations? Then try to repeat these projects.
Spectacular with photo wallpapers with geometric motifs
Interesting design solutions, photo examples
When designing a narrow living room with a window at the end, it is important to retain natural light. In such a room, it is better to place furniture along the walls, without dividing the space into separate zones.
Be sure to use small tables, lamps, flowers, beautiful floor lamps, unusual chairs located in the “wrong” places, somewhat chaotically.
An interesting solution would be to use the window sill as a sofa. This way you will save space in the room and further increase the amount of light.
Take care first of enlarging the window opening itself.
The photo wallpaper technique will also work to visually expand the space, especially if you place the picture on only part of one wall. This will replace the use of paintings for decoration and at the same time diversify the interior.
It is better not to use chandeliers at all or to stick to the most light and “light”, airy options.
A fireplace is also suitable for the interior of a long living room, only if we are talking about a house and not a Khrushchev building. Although a fireplace comfort is also possible in an apartment: modern electrical designs make it possible to create a feeling of home while saving sq. m.
Southern and eastern rooms that do not lack natural light can be decorated in cool blue, gray and snow-white tones.
Illumination
Massive hanging chandeliers will cast a shadow, further cramping the surroundings; if this option is still chosen, then the electrical device is purchased in an air configuration or a ceiling plan.
In this situation, nothing better can be thought of than spotlights and small lamps around the perimeter with a directed light flow.
Additional lighting sources are presented:
- Floor lamps;
- Sconce;
- Original table lamps.
On the window openings, light translucent tulle, a high floor will allow you not to use heavy curtains, which will significantly lighten the room.
Design examples of a narrow and long living room
So, designing a narrow living room is not an easy task, but it is very wide in its options.
Main:
- decide on a style;
- remember the principle of conservation of light;
- zone the room using furniture;
- use light, not huge furniture;
- make bright accents.
Limit yourself to only the most beloved and necessary things, and, of course, do not forget about mirrors and all kinds of mirror surfaces.
By adhering to these simple rules, you will make the interior of a narrow living room truly cozy, modern and comfortable for you and your guests.
To place small and medium-sized decorative items, as well as books, use open shelves or small cabinets with glass or mirror inserts.
Narrow corner living rooms are a good solution for poor room shapes
An ideal design option for a narrow room could be a corner living room. Here the main semantic load falls on one corner, where a massive corner cabinet or rack is installed, and upholstered furniture with a table (or without it) is placed around it.
This is a good option that allows you to direct attention to one corner, thereby visually transforming the space to suit our needs.
It’s good if accents are placed on massive objects - with special lighting or the color of the facades. If everything is done correctly and different design solutions and tricks are used, the room will no longer seem imperfect in its form.
