DITTO :: {WHAT I WOULD STEAL FROM THIS SPACE}:

1.    A SPACE FILLED WITH FURNITURE, BUT STILL WITH A FLOW FOR WALKING.

When faced with a narrow space, our instinct can be to keep things sparse. This can be a beautiful option, but would certainly be frustrating in a narrow living room, where furniture is truly needed. The space above is filled to the brim with furnishings, but careful allowances are made so that you can still move around the space comfortably. The benefit to filling a narrow living room to the brim is that you have an instant cozy space that is amazing for conversation. Ditto!

2.   SEATING ZONES. 

Another trick for a long, narrow space is to divide it into zones. This allows the eye more than one place to rest. At one end of this room, you can see a seating area that is situated by a television, and at the other end you can find a seating area that is particularly conducive to conversation. Ditto!! {See how I handled a large space using zones in this living room design consultation}

3.  SYMMETRY IN A FILLED SPACE.

When you have a space that is filled with furnishings, it is essential to build in some calmness and peace for the eye. Besides the number one concept of leaving any and all clutter out of the space, it is very key to have good form. By adding symmetry throughout the room {see the lamps, the pillows, the curtains, the double chairs, the art, the matching end tables}, you provide that peace and calm that a busy, narrow space needs. ditto!

4.  SEAGRASS, WALL TO WALL.

Such a beautiful look. The texture and the neutral base is so sophisticated. I really want to add seagrass {or seagrass look alike} wall-to-wall carpeting to our new library/ school room! I LOVE the look and the fact that it stands up to kiddo traffic. Check out this great post from my friend Lauren Liess for the lowdown on natural carpeting. Ditto.

5.  PAINTING YOUR TV ARMOIRE IN GLOSSY BLACK.

I don’t know that I have ever seen this ‘trick’ before. But I ADORE it. What a great way to make your TV “disappear:” paint a gorgeous piece of furnishing in glossy black, then set your TV atop it! The two become as one, and the TV becomes much less obvious. I will be remembering this trick to ditto for a client!

6.  ACCENTUATING HEIGHT WITH CURTAINS AND ART.

One way to add balance to a narrow living room is to draw attention to the vertical lines in your space. And you don’t need to have soaring ceilings to do this. Just be sure you add things such as ceiling-to-floor drapes, art that creates a vertical line, and tall lighting {as seen in this space above}.

7.  FREELY MIXING NEUTRALS.

I think that the color palette for this room is lovely: varied neutrals. Here we see several analogous tones of tan, gray, and cream. Also added in are regular pops of gold and black. Not only would I ditto this gorgeous color scheme, but I also happen to think that it helps this narrow space feel even larger. Ditto!

8. USING A BACKLESS DAYBED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM.

This keeps the eye moving from one end to the other, without any visual obstruction, and yet, it provides a division for the different zones in the room {see note #2, above}. A perfect, perfect piece for this space! Ditto!

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SO much goodness.

Love anything I did not mention? or…