13 Ways to Decorate a Narrow Room
If you feel as though the walls are closing in on you, these ideas may help make narrow rooms feel cosier, less cluttered and roomier
Deirdre Avenell
30 July 2016
Houzz editorial team. DIY/decorating nut, photographer and jewellery designer.
When you find yourself with a room in your home where you can easily touch the walls on either side while standing in the middle, decorating the slender space can seem something of a challenge. But a narrow room is nothing to fear. In fact, it can be an opportunity to explore your creative side, and find new and interesting ways to deck out a space. From embracing minimalism to even giving the man-cave vibe a chance, here are some inspiring ideas to help you nut out the decor for your narrow rooms.
Living Room
1. Keep it simple
One of the most obvious ways to make a narrow room feel less cramped is to declutter it. This living/work area makes the most of what little space it has by keeping furniture to a minimum and freeing up floorspace with a built-in desk and storage space.
While the soft grey, white and beige colour scheme helps to give the zone the appearance of having more breathing room, the scoop of colour in the electric-blue chair and the added interest of greenery keeps it from being boring.
1. Keep it simple
One of the most obvious ways to make a narrow room feel less cramped is to declutter it. This living/work area makes the most of what little space it has by keeping furniture to a minimum and freeing up floorspace with a built-in desk and storage space.
While the soft grey, white and beige colour scheme helps to give the zone the appearance of having more breathing room, the scoop of colour in the electric-blue chair and the added interest of greenery keeps it from being boring.
2. Go big or go home
Embrace oversized artworks and strong, vertical lines to draw attention away from a lack of floor space. Leave out furniture pieces that are assumed to be necessary, but often aren’t. For example, forego a coffee table, which would shrink the room, in favour of side tables.
Embrace oversized artworks and strong, vertical lines to draw attention away from a lack of floor space. Leave out furniture pieces that are assumed to be necessary, but often aren’t. For example, forego a coffee table, which would shrink the room, in favour of side tables.
Bedroom
3. Make the most of height
Exposed beams are all the rage these days, and they draw the eye upward rather than allowing one’s line of sight to bounce from side to side. Make a feature of a ceiling, even if it’s not particularly high, and you will create a sense of space in even the narrowest of rooms.
The wall of glass dominating one side of the room adds to the illusion of a more expansive space. Plus, the bed actually folds into the wall when sleep’s done for the day, so this room can also be used as a work space.
3. Make the most of height
Exposed beams are all the rage these days, and they draw the eye upward rather than allowing one’s line of sight to bounce from side to side. Make a feature of a ceiling, even if it’s not particularly high, and you will create a sense of space in even the narrowest of rooms.
The wall of glass dominating one side of the room adds to the illusion of a more expansive space. Plus, the bed actually folds into the wall when sleep’s done for the day, so this room can also be used as a work space.
4. Think Zen
Built-in under-bed storage is one great way to increase space in a narrow room, but the Zen-like appeal of this simple single pallet-style bed also gives the illusion of extra width, thanks to its slender mattress. Built-in shelves and a narrow but long shelf desk help to free up floorspace, as in previous examples, while the statement light fixture adds a touch of flair to the pared-back space.
How to create a Zen-inspired home
Built-in under-bed storage is one great way to increase space in a narrow room, but the Zen-like appeal of this simple single pallet-style bed also gives the illusion of extra width, thanks to its slender mattress. Built-in shelves and a narrow but long shelf desk help to free up floorspace, as in previous examples, while the statement light fixture adds a touch of flair to the pared-back space.
How to create a Zen-inspired home
5. Turn it on its side
Turning the bed sideways in a narrow bedroom can give the impression of a larger space, especially with the addition of a glass wall at the foot of the bed to prevent the space from feeling short-sheeted.
Another way to make a narrow bedroom seem like a cosy retreat is with the help of plush textile layers – in the carpet and on the bed – along with minimal furnishings. Again, neutral tones add a breath of fresh air to the space and make it feel expansive.
Turning the bed sideways in a narrow bedroom can give the impression of a larger space, especially with the addition of a glass wall at the foot of the bed to prevent the space from feeling short-sheeted.
Another way to make a narrow bedroom seem like a cosy retreat is with the help of plush textile layers – in the carpet and on the bed – along with minimal furnishings. Again, neutral tones add a breath of fresh air to the space and make it feel expansive.
Bathroom
6. Walk up the walls
Utilising wall space is one of the most effective ways to make the most of narrow rooms, particularly when you can use built-in fixtures and features to provide extra storage. The doubled-up wall-hung towel rails seen here, combined with a floating, wall-length vanity and recessed mirrored storage, really free up floor space in this bathroom while providing plenty of places to stow stuff away.
Also, positioning the shower stall and toilet at the end of this long, narrow room means that the flow of the space is as uninterrupted as possible.
6. Walk up the walls
Utilising wall space is one of the most effective ways to make the most of narrow rooms, particularly when you can use built-in fixtures and features to provide extra storage. The doubled-up wall-hung towel rails seen here, combined with a floating, wall-length vanity and recessed mirrored storage, really free up floor space in this bathroom while providing plenty of places to stow stuff away.
Also, positioning the shower stall and toilet at the end of this long, narrow room means that the flow of the space is as uninterrupted as possible.
Kitchen
7. Go one step further
While simple decor will go a long way in making a room feel larger, there’s nothing more minimal (and comfortable to work in when space is compromised) than an all-white handless kitchen, with built-in appliances and floor-to-ceiling storage cupboards. This space even has recessed lighting to add to the streamlined look, making the most of what space is available in this narrow kitchen.
Is a handleless kitchen right for you?
7. Go one step further
While simple decor will go a long way in making a room feel larger, there’s nothing more minimal (and comfortable to work in when space is compromised) than an all-white handless kitchen, with built-in appliances and floor-to-ceiling storage cupboards. This space even has recessed lighting to add to the streamlined look, making the most of what space is available in this narrow kitchen.
Is a handleless kitchen right for you?
8. Double up
If you’re lucky enough to have double-height ceilings in a narrow space, take advantage of the vertical space and use this to create a standout feature in an otherwise simple scheme. Here, dark joinery and furniture grounds the slender space, while the high clerestory windows allow light to flood in, highlighting the sculptural light feature that should make the homeowners and visitors alike stand that little bit straighter in admiration.
If you’re lucky enough to have double-height ceilings in a narrow space, take advantage of the vertical space and use this to create a standout feature in an otherwise simple scheme. Here, dark joinery and furniture grounds the slender space, while the high clerestory windows allow light to flood in, highlighting the sculptural light feature that should make the homeowners and visitors alike stand that little bit straighter in admiration.
Dining Room
9. Get your angle on
The sharp angles of the simple furniture in this dining space make no attempt to disguise the dimensions of the skinny room. Instead, they reiterate the long lines of the walls and lead the eye out to the tranquil garden view that lies beyond.
9. Get your angle on
The sharp angles of the simple furniture in this dining space make no attempt to disguise the dimensions of the skinny room. Instead, they reiterate the long lines of the walls and lead the eye out to the tranquil garden view that lies beyond.
Entrance
10. Draw focus
Draw attention along a narrow space, such as a hall or entryway, by adding in slender, purpose-built furniture and storage solutions. Clean lines, a minimal palette and hanging storage, as seen here in the row of hooks along one wall, combined with bench seats that double as additional storage, gives this coming-and-going space everything it needs to serve a practical purpose without looking too confined. The black-painted door at the end of the hall complements the storage pieces, reiterating the colour scheme while also drawing the eye down the length of the space, making it seem that little bit bigger.
10. Draw focus
Draw attention along a narrow space, such as a hall or entryway, by adding in slender, purpose-built furniture and storage solutions. Clean lines, a minimal palette and hanging storage, as seen here in the row of hooks along one wall, combined with bench seats that double as additional storage, gives this coming-and-going space everything it needs to serve a practical purpose without looking too confined. The black-painted door at the end of the hall complements the storage pieces, reiterating the colour scheme while also drawing the eye down the length of the space, making it seem that little bit bigger.
Laundry
11. A place for everything
Make sure everything is tucked into a place of its own with plenty of built-in storage. In this light-filled laundry, the white-fronted cupboards offer plenty of space for tidying away towels, hampers, cleaning products and pegs, creating a unified look that ties in perfectly with the crisp white walls. Luxurious light fittings and a fresh, lemon-coloured floor keep the room from becoming bland and utilitarian.
10 ideas for high-functioning laundries
11. A place for everything
Make sure everything is tucked into a place of its own with plenty of built-in storage. In this light-filled laundry, the white-fronted cupboards offer plenty of space for tidying away towels, hampers, cleaning products and pegs, creating a unified look that ties in perfectly with the crisp white walls. Luxurious light fittings and a fresh, lemon-coloured floor keep the room from becoming bland and utilitarian.
10 ideas for high-functioning laundries
Home Office
12. Reach new heights
Why not use a library ladder as a decorative feature as well as a practical solution for reaching the top of that floor-to-ceiling storage unit? This smart space uses warm woods and the continuous lines of the furniture and floor boards to emphasise the length of the room, while splashes of red in the drawers and the ladder keep things interesting.
12. Reach new heights
Why not use a library ladder as a decorative feature as well as a practical solution for reaching the top of that floor-to-ceiling storage unit? This smart space uses warm woods and the continuous lines of the furniture and floor boards to emphasise the length of the room, while splashes of red in the drawers and the ladder keep things interesting.
13. Build up
Again, built-in furniture and storage are a must in the confines of this narrow home office/library. A long built-in bench provides plenty of desk space along one wall, while the floor-to-ceiling shelves make the most of the opposite vertical wall.
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Again, built-in furniture and storage are a must in the confines of this narrow home office/library. A long built-in bench provides plenty of desk space along one wall, while the floor-to-ceiling shelves make the most of the opposite vertical wall.
TELL US
Have you managed to fit out a narrow room to your satisfaction? Uploads photos to show off your handiwork in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more small-space photos
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#4 focus is on shelving and the bed/storage whilst I noticed the angled flooring. Am about to move into a narrow house with 5.6m x 3m living room and think having the bamboo laid this way might give impression of more width. Anyone agree?
Per una piccola stanza mettere il letto al centro e avere libere le quattro pareti per quadri, oggetti e seduta, è una soluzione che sorprendentemente fa sembrare lo spazio più ampio.
For a small room to put the bed in the center and to have the four walls for paintings, objects and seating, it's a trick that surprisingly makes it look wider.