Unfortunately, long narrow rooms are very common, and many owners are faced with the need to "correct" this awkward shape and make the apartment functional and comfortable. But on the other hand, such an awkward room is an excellent platform for creativity and can become a cozy and attractive place in an apartment or house. Here are the rules to make it beautiful and practical.
- Paint the wide sides in bright colors of light tones, and the narrow ones in rich and more saturated colors. You should not stop your choice exclusively on white when designing, beige, pink or orange will be an excellent solution. By attracting attention with such accents, you will visually reduce the "extra centimeters" of the elongated walls.
- The carpet or floor covering should be placed perpendicular to the wide walls. A good choice in this case would be parquet, laminate or tiles with a large rectangular pattern.
- On one side you can arrange a dressing room or install a tall wardrobe. This is very practical and at the same time you will correct the proportions of the room, making it visually square.
- This can also be achieved by "filling" the interior with smooth lines and curves that hide corners and conceal the feeling of the room's length. Round or oval furniture, decorative elements or paintings are great for this.
- Avoid massive chandeliers and use spot lighting or sconces. It is better to place them on narrow walls painted in rich colors, otherwise you cannot avoid the effect of a corridor.
- A very original and practical solution can be podiums on the floor and shelves of different sizes and types.
- The ceiling should be painted in warm and light tones. The use of a multi-level suspended ceiling will also help to hide the irregular shape of the room.
- Large mirrors and photo wallpapers are especially relevant, allowing you to expand the space and blur the outlines of the room.
- Natural sunlight will also do a good job of this. Opt for light and bright materials that let the sun's rays through.
Content
Furniture arrangement and zoning
You can turn the disadvantages of your long narrow room into undeniable advantages by dividing it into two zones of the correct shape. This can be a sleeping area and a study for the bedroom, or a cooking area and a dining area for the kitchen. The correct arrangement of furniture in this case is an excellent way of zoning, but there are some nuances here too.
Try not to put massive sofas or solid partitions in such places. This will lead to even greater visual compression of the space and make it difficult to pass. Instead, try podiums, carpets or use several colors in the interior design. Such methods will not only allow you to divide your living room or kitchen into independent zones, but will also significantly improve their functionality. Mobile partitions, which can also be a bright design element, will also cope well with this.
Avoid placing all the furniture near long walls and give preference to light, light-transmitting structures. A small couch in a narrow space or several armchairs and poufs of different shapes and colors can be a good solution.
The arrangement of furniture in a narrow kitchen has its own characteristics.
- Dark colored headsets should be avoided.
- Use mirrored and glossy facades.
- It is advisable to place the work surface along the short wall, and the dining table near the window.
- Leave the space near the long walls free or fill it with open shelves and small racks.
- The kitchen apron can be made from a dark material with a pronounced texture to accentuate the short wall.
- A bar counter or a sofa with its back to the cooking area and being the main element of the dining area would be a good choice for zoning.
Living room
The design of the living room should be approached especially carefully, because this room is always full of people and the lack of space is especially sensitive here. To hide its length, do not put the sofa along the wide wall, experiment with its location, and perhaps refuse it altogether. Armchairs, a coffee table and a couple of chairs will be a very interesting option. In such a living room there is no place for a bulky furniture wall, which will finally turn the room into a railway carriage. Use open racks and shelves that let in light. Do not hide the window with heavy curtains and drapes. This will fill the space with natural light.
Bedroom
Divide the bedroom interior by painting the walls in several colors. The wall of the room behind the headboard can be highlighted with a rich abstract pattern or photo wallpaper. Long walls should be done in warm neutral tones. The amount of furniture in the bedroom should be minimal, replace large chests of drawers and wardrobes with small bedside tables standing in the corners, or a tall wardrobe located near one of the walls. A podium under the bed can also be a good option, which will perfectly hide the difference in wall lengths, will become a bright interior detail and an excellent place to store bed linen. Try a bed that is completely folded into a furniture wall. But if this method is not for you, then arrange the sleeping area along the short wall or with the headboard against it.
And some more useful tips
There are a number of general rules for finishing doors and windows in such rooms.
- Natural light conceals the disproportionality of an elongated room and makes it visually larger.
- Hang sheer curtains to the edge of the window or light blinds instead of heavy drapes. Roman blinds will also look great.
- Thick horizontal bars will visually make the window, and along with it the walls, wider, so try to choose frames with wide horizontal and narrow vertical bars.
- The entrance opening in a narrow wall can be made in the form of an eye-catching arch.
- If the door is located in a wide wall, try to widen it as much as possible so that the wall appears narrower.
- Install sliding interior doors, they will save space and decorate the interior much better than traditional hinged structures.
By using these simple rules and imagination, you can transform an awkward, narrow, elongated room into an original and very functional space that will give you a lot of comfort and coziness, and will surprise your guests much more than the sight of a banal ideal square.