Long and Narrow

Check out this post,  and this post where I gave advice on a similarly shaped room.

Some things to consider: 

1.  12-15 feet are maximum distances from which you would want to view TV, or have conversation.  If you have a furniture arrangement where you have distances larger than that- go back to the drawing board. 

2.  Consider two separate areas.  One could be a desk, with the second a sitting area, or perhaps two sitting areas.  You could also add a foosball table, or similar piece on one end.  Doing a little math, a sofa might be about 9 feet, and even very deep chairs are only 4 feet, so a sitting area with a sofa and two chairs is only 19 feet in length, and even that is beyond the 15 foot max that I would recommend for the two people in the chairs to have a conversation.  Translation:  Don't try to stretch out one seating arrangement in this space.  Consider your needs and create two areas.  You could also add a small game table, or a bar on one end.  (photo from Freshhome.com)

Here are some ideas:

Sofa with chaise, and a chair, with a bar at one end.  (pretend that kitchen is a bar)

To seat a few more- consider a settee paired with a sofa.  Add a small table with chairs.  Draw it all out on graph paper.  Make sure you give yourself traffic paths.

(from danielle oakey interiors)

3.  Area rugs help to separate areas. When you try to make one area into two, they help define the space.  Hanging lights also do the same thing.  If you add a table, add a hanging light over it.

Advice for Far Away The Maldives

Hi Christine,

First of all, I'm sorry my attachment is not in jpeg format, I know your computer hates all other formats!

Now, let me thank you for creating such a wonderful blog! It's super great! And so are u!

Ok, so now, about my dilemma!

I'm from Maldives (not sure you've heard of it), a tropical island nation in the Indian ocean. And we are such a small country, our dwellings are as small as the dots that mark 'Maldives' on the world map (if they do show it at all). Anyway, my husband I have this tiny apartment on the first floor, and btw, it's still under construction so that explains why i couldn't send u photos of the place and sent the floor plan (created by a local 'designer'). But the moment I saw the plan, i was like, 'Oh Dear God, Help me', cos i really couldn't feel comfortable with the place. In fact, I coudn't bring myself to visualize it!

So what i need is your help in determining where the eat-in kitchen should be in our open-floor plan and how to differentiate the living area from the kitchen area. And the furniture arrangement. (I'm trying to ignore the lack of available space to create a better apartment, and just make it cozy and beautiful with proper interior).

 We don't have a fire place ( Maldivians don't need one with the sun all year round, and just a couple weeks of rain when its not sunny). And so the TV should be the focal point and i have absolutely no idea which wall I could use for that!

Oh, and one more thing, the wall next to the entry door (right side) will have a medium sized window in the center.

P.S.: Dimensions are:

            - Living room + kitchen combo : 20ft x 13ft

           - Bedrm : 21ft x 11ft

And pls excuse my English if it wasn't ok (we speak 'dhivehi' an alien language to the rest of the world!)

'Oh Dear Christine, Help me'  :D

Aminath

Hi Aminath,

Your English is fabulous!  Thanks for writing in!  I wasn't able to pull up any pictures, but I could view your floorplan, so try to follow my verbal instruction.

In working with a space the size of yours- scale is everything.  You don't want to select items that are too large, and yet you want to maximize the space you have to work with.  Let's start with your dining area.  It will go in the corner, between the two doors, where the builder drew it.  I suggest a table like the one above from Overstock.com.  It is a small 30 x 30.  Even 36 x 36 is too large.  (6 inches makes a big difference.)   

 

For your chairs, do three things.

1.  Don't go with a matching set.  You don't have very many opportunities to bring in variety in a place as small as this.  Using different chairs gives you an opportunity to add a different color.

2.  I would keep the colors light.  Lighter colors take up less visual space.  I don't have photos showing your colors that you are working with, nor do I know what places you can order from in your country, but I will give you some examples that you can work with. 

3.  Don't get a chair that is too short.  You might be limited in your footprint, but you still have a standard height ceiling, We don't want the set to look small, we just want it to fit perfectly.  The chair I selected for you is from Bungalow 5.   

 All of your window treatments in the place will be the same draperies.  Adding drapes goes such a long way toward creating a "homey" comfortable atmosphere.  These drapes are form Anthropologie.

Your wall adjacent to the window, in the dining area, is a decent sized wall.  I would open up the area with a large, oversized mirror.  This mirror is 42 x 67.  (Uttermost)

 Even if you are just renting, consider replacing the hanging lighting.  It is not a huge expense, but can make a big difference, especially if the existing is not attractive.  The light below is from Crate and Barrel.

In your living area, arrange your furniture arrange your furniture like I told Martha to in this post.  (except you do not have space for the extra chair.  I would also get a longer entertainment unit.  Much longer.  You have a 20 foot long wall there.  Find one that is nice and long. Your TV will hang above it, and flank it on either side with 2 pieces or sets of coordinating art work.

Make sure your sofa is 36 inches deep or under.  Scale.  Scale.  Scale.

On your chairs, I would keep the size around 30 inches in width.

 To break up the long feel, use two round tables instead of a long coffee table.

To define the living space from the other areas- use an area rug.  Even if you have carpet- use an area rug.

 Thanks for writing in from so far away- it is really fun for me to get reqeusts from across the world.  ;)  BTW - I would add some pops of fresh green here and there...

Furnished is NOT the same as Cluttered.

For any new readers out there- when you see a second color- like today it is green- that is me- interrupting. ;)

Christine,
A friend of mine discovered your blog several months ago. After talking several times about my living room, we decided to see what advice you could give to us. I hope that is okay.
I have a fairly awkward front room that is half two story and half one story that I just don't know what to do with. We are hopefully looking to get new furniture for this room sometime soon (although I have a sentimental attachment to our 70s couch), I am not a big fan of the fabric- but the style has a retro charm in an Anthropologie kind of way. I could totally see re-upholstering it- but that would be if you want to commit to a fun retro look- which is inconsistent with your wall decor altogether- you decide. but I would really love some guidance on how to arrange it. I would like to get a sofa, love seat, and a chair or two so that if we ever move, I won't have an awkward furniture set. I am not going to support the sofa love seat option- check out this post for an explanation. I have wondered about getting some tables, too, but they scare me a little. I really like space, and I am afraid of cluttering it up. Trust me. If you have the room well designed- yes- it will include tables and more furniture- but that is a good thing... you will like it. It is not going to be cluttered up- it is going to be furnished. Big difference. Sometimes I think people get used to their homes being half furnished and they think that finishing the job is somehow going to make their house look smaller- or their kids will have no place to play- and it is all totally crazy. It will look better. And kids really should play outside anyway. There is nothing scary about tables. Black widows- snakes- they are scary. Tables- not scary. The room was originally designed to be a living/dining room, but I want it to be a living room that also has our piano in it. There is also a plant shelf that you can kind of see from the living room that is currently empty. I could really use some help!
The dimensions of the room are roughly 13'X21'. The wall with the large picture on it is about 7'. The space between the windows is about 6'.
Thank you for your help! Let me know if you have any questions.
Jen

I used your dimensions to draw out a couple of options. Option one is below- Four chairs with the sofa against the wall. This room, in addition to being a living room, is also apparently a hallway- so notice that room is left for passage- but not so much that it is too awkward. I put a large square ottoman in the center- and kept your piano with two chairs where they were.

Option #2 is actually my favorite. You have a large wall on the left. I always like to break up large walls with tall furniture. I would use a couple of large display bookcases. Keep in mind that we are facing all of the furniture to the space between the two windows. (Add some drapery panels to those windows while you are at it.) This little space is now your focal point. Get a cool piece of furniture, a TV, or maybe one of those fireplaces that you can just add to your room. The art that you have there currently is hung way too high, by the way. Relationship with the furniture it is above- just a few inches over- that is my rule.

Here are a couple of Anthropologie pieces. If you want to go with this fun look- find a cool fabric to re-upholster and then be consistent throughout the room- otherwise I suggest a new sofa.

I picture a cool bookcase like the one in this post. Those round circles with lines next to the bookcases in the floorplan I drew are sconces BTW- we need more sconces in this world.

Thanks for writing in! I hope I wasn't too harsh ;) But your friend is reminding me of my husband who thinks I clutter up the house with furniture. The attitude drives me a little crazy.

XOXO

Christine

The Long Narrow Room

Hi,
I have been googling and googling how to decorate a narrow living room. Finally, I came to your site! I am so "stuck" in my living room. It is a long narrow space. What I would really like is a space for watching TV and a space with a chaise to read, take a nap, or to just enjoy the natural sunlight (I would like the reading space by the French doors, only one door opens). The colors are set, so I cannot change the wall color or carpet (it is an apartment). I have no idea how to set furniture, and divide the space into two areas. The only furniture to stay is my leather black couch and the 46" TV. We also like the color red. As you can see in the attached pictures, the area is open to the kitchen. I hope you can guide me on how to arrange furniture and where should I place the TV and art work.
Thank you,
Martha
Dear Martha,

I wanted to start by giving some general information to anyone that has a long narrow room.

1. Divide the space into two areas. Don't try to have it be one seating area. Unless you are working with a dining room and have a very long table- this is never a good idea.
2. Whenever you have a long - solid, windowless, doorless wall like the one above- you need a case piece. Generally speaking- I would say go large- the larger the wall- the larger the case piece. This can be an entertainment unit, a bookcase, an etegere, something that breaks up the large wall, and helps to define the two separate areas. Trying to decorate that long wall with two sets of wall decor is rarely going to look good without a case piece.
3. Help to define the two spaces further with the use of an area rug.

Now- I wanted to say a word about your chaise. I will start by saying that I am not a big fan of the single furniture piece. One piece of furniture, floating out there by itself is a hard thing to pull off. A chaise, of course, is not a conversational piece- it is a sit by yourself piece of furniture. Find a good table that goes nicely with your chaise to help ground it, and make it feel more like a furniture grouping. My opinion is that only when a piece of furniture is also a piece of art, can it sit by itself- otherwise- you need at least two pieces of furniture. Sometimes it is easier to pull off a chair and ottoman than a chaise. That is something to consider. I adore the Eames lounge... sigh... Notice the picture at the top of the post. This room seems to be even narrower than yours- but is a great example to look at. The desk is on an angle. In your room- this will be your chaise. In this room the sofa is against the wall. I think that your room is deep enough to not have your walkway right through your seating area. - like I showed in the floorplan. This would be ideal- but would depend on the size of your furniture. Notice how I made it a long seating area with the use of the two chairs? That helps it to fill the space nicely. Keeping your TV on the wall where you currently have it- is asking for a very awkward space.

Thanks for writing in- you have a tricky set up here. Let me know if you have further questions. Also check out this post on another long and narrow room.

Thanks,
Christine

Tamlynn's Kitchen Remodel

Hi Christine!

I hope you are doing well, your blog is still very fun and informative. I am dreaming here, but if I could rip out everything in my kitchen and start over, I would still be at a loss where it comes to layout. My main problem is that I would like to keep a small eating area in the kitchen. We do have a dining table in the family room/great room, but we do our school work there, so it is not available for breakfast and lunch. So disregarding plumbing, gas, electric, etc. and just keeping existing walls, what do you think would be the most convenient kitchen layout in this space?
Thank you,
Tamlynn

Hi Tamlynn,
Your floorplan was too light for me to read exactly- but I got the measurements and the basic idea- I have two plans for you. #1 is above. In this plan I would add a nook- built right in- matching your cabinetry material- not missing a beat in the flow. It is only large enough for a 36 x 36 table- but the floorplan doesn't sacrifice too much counter and storage space.
Notice in this picture above the shelf above the windows. You have several windows in your area- I would have a shelf like the one above. It adds some continuity to the flow of the area. Compare that with the picture below with no shelf. I like the shelf.

Below is an idea for your built-in. With such a narrow room- this will seat more people than you could at a table. If you have small children- they can just pile in. :)

I wanted to show you the picture below for the ceiling- I love how the horizontal slats of the bead board help that long narrow room feel less long and narrow.

I would have your kitchen be white- like those in these pictures- whenever the space is as narrow as yours- I feel it makes for a much nicer feel than a wood stain. More open- less claustrophobic.

Overall- you don't have a lot of storage- One idea is to use extra wall space to hang things like your pots and pans. You have to have decent looking pots and pans- but the look could be really cool- and not take up valuable cabinet space.

Notice in the picture below more hanging storage- this time of utensils.

A different look below with hanging pan storage.

To increase your cabinet and counter space- I have a couple other ideas for you- floorplan #2 is at the very top of the post. Here I put a little bar along your wall- similar to what you find at Chipotle- it doesn't take up a lot of space- and with your dimensions you should be able to fit three barstools. It's perfect to have the kids eat a bowl of cereal- or have a snack. It is not very "family conversation" friendly- but hey- look how much more cabinet space you have. :)

Well Tamlynn, I hope I gave you some ideas- good luck with the remodel! Anyone else have ideas for Tamlynn? Her room is a challenging 8' x 19' with three doors and two windows!