Decorating Long Narrow Spaces

Let Light In

• When you look at your long, narrow room, determine where the best light comes from. Play to that space by covering the window or windows with the lightest sheers you can find. If you require privacy at night, hang side panels that close when needed. Keep the colors pale, and avoid fabrics that create a heavy feeling, such as brocades, jacquards and damasks. Install spot lighting on the ceiling to punch up the room by basking it in light.

Color

• White isn’t the only color that creates a feeling of openness. Decide upon your color palette, and vary the hues and tones of your primary choices. Paint the sidewall behind the heaviest furniture a pale hue and its opposite wall a shade darker. Continue the palest color up and over the ceiling if you don’t have a high ceiling, or use a darker shade if the ceiling is too high. Don’t be afraid to add colors such as pale pink, light lavender, dusty orange or latte. They appear darker in a vacant room, but the intensity dissipates once the installation of well-placed furniture and exciting wall art is complete.

Trim

• To widen the space, use tricks to keep the eye moving in and around your room. If ceiling molding already exists, paint it the same color and finish as the wall. Paint window and door trim the same color as the adjacent walls to maintain a unified look. Avoid dark-colored trim against pale walls, as this draws attention to the space even more.

Furniture

• Arrange the furniture in the room to allow for one pathway through it. If a decorative feature, such as a floor-to-ceiling bookcase or fireplace occupies one wall, put the furniture on the opposite wall, leaving the center as walking space. Make certain other furnishings have open legs and sides, and they allow you to see through to the rest of the room. If possible, keep furniture away from the walls. Two small loveseats placed perpendicular to the wall, with your walk-through on the side, allows more visual room than one large sectional couch that overwhelms the space. Separate seating zones also open up the room.

Visual Tricks

• A long, narrow room appears shorter when you place a deliberate stop at the end. Utilize a bench, a decorative screen, or even a game table in front of a window to force the eye to stop. If a spectacular view is outside the windows of one wall, set your sofa on an angle for all to appreciate the vista. The angular look widens your room.

Accessories

• Mirrors offer the easiest remedy for widening a room. Ambient light softens a long wall. Keep wall hangings to a minimum so as not to clutter the long, narrow room. Area rugs may trip people walking through if they abut the walkway. Use a small rug under the cocktail table for color.