How to Make a Long Narrow Room Look Its Best

Paint the end walls a warm, visually advancing color. Visually advancing colors make a room appear smaller, or in this case, make the farthest apart walls seem closer together, effectively evening up the dimensions of the room. Reds, oranges, and dark blues and greens are all visually advancing colors. Another way to create this effect is to use a wallpaper with a large, bold pattern on the end walls.

Paint the long side walls with a cool, visually receding color. These are light blues and greens, lilacs and light neutrals, and they create the effect of the walls feeling farther away. Avoid patterns on the long walls as this will have the opposite effect and make the walls feel closer together.

Create a focal point on the long side walls; don't be tempted to use the end walls or the bowling alley effect will be increased as the eye is drawn down the length of the room toward the focal point. Something as simple as a large piece of artwork creates a focal point.

Separate areas of the room with furniture positioned in groups. Don't be tempted to line the long side walls with furniture as, again, this increases the long tunnel effect. Line one corner of the room with bookshelves and place an armchair and small table with a table lamp to create a cozy reading area. Position a small desk or dining table with two or four chairs, depending on the size of the room, in another corner of the room as a homework or an eating area.

Create an intimate seating area by positioning the longest sofa in the center of the long wall. Position two secondary seating options, such as a small two-seater sofa or armchairs, at right angles to the main sofa. Position the TV opposite the main sofa and add a floor rug and coffee table to the center of the seating area.

Create a distinct divide between areas such as the seating and dining area, with an open shelf divider. This is an attractive and functional way to create separate areas, and unlike a solid piece of furniture or a screen, it allows light to travel through, creating a more open feel.