How to Decorate a Long Narrow Living Room
One of the greatest challenges faced by home decorators is the long, narrow living room. These rooms often need to serve many functions and the space constraints make it exceptionally difficult to incorporate the many furniture elements needed to make the room serve its purpose.
Making some difficult, but important, decisions is the main key toward successfully decorating a long narrow living room.
Small Scale, Big Purpose
Perhaps the single greatest thing you can do when learning how to decorate long narrow living rooms is choose furniture that is smaller in size then you are used to but that has additional functionality.
Instead of the typical living room suite of one large couch, one love seat and one arm chair, consider using two smaller couches or one smaller couch and two matching armchairs.
These smaller pieces will be easier to place into conversational groups than the traditional furniture.
By choosing a sofa bed for the couch, you can incorporate a guest room into your living room. Use an oversize ottoman with internal storage for a coffee table. This large, padded ottoman's can house books, magazines, games and throws and also provide additional seating when needed.
When learning how to decorating long narrow living rooms, keep in mind bookshelves are another great way to maximize space. Built in shelves especially can be used not only for storage but as a place to display art work, statues and other unique items that will give your living room a touch of personal flair.
If you need your long and narrow living room to double as an office, consider using a converted armoire. These have pull out table tops, lots of drawers for storage and close neatly away when company arrives.
Making clever decision when purchasing furniture for your long and narrow living room will make all the difference space wise.
It is a Trick of the Eye
Small spaces often appear smaller than they are. Poor color choice for wall treatments can make a very big difference in how big, or small, your living room appears. Sticking to brighter and lighter colors will make the room feel bigger and more airy.
When dealing with how to decorating long narrow living rooms, if you must have a darker wall, consider painting one of the small end walls in a darker shade. Try to keep the wall colors as light as possible to add in the optical illusion that the room is bigger than it seems.
And the Lighting Does it
Careful choice of lighting fixtures is another way to make your long and narrow living room look bigger. Recessed lighting is a great way to trick the eye into seeing more space.
Not only will recessed lighting be directed to draw attention to special items in the room, like the displays on your books shelf, it tends to create 'pools' of brighter light. This is another optical illusion that makes the room seem bigger than it is.
Carefully consider all lighting fixtures to make sure they will add to the effect that your long and narrow living room is actually bigger than it really is.
Learning how to decorate long narrow living rooms can be a challenge. This is especially true if you need to room to work as more than just a sitting room. You may need the room to double as an office and triple as a guest room.
Working with the unusual dimensions of this room doesn't have to be difficult. Carefully select your furniture pieces for form and function. Make lighting and wall treatment choices that will contribute to the optical illusion that the room is bigger than it really is.
Making a few simple changes in your long and narrow living room will make it feel more spacious and be more functional.
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