Long living room ideas: How to add interest and create texture

In order to benefit from the feng shui of stylish living rooms, you need to get creative with your narrow square footage. Check out our ideas in the carousel below for some visual inspiration. We’ve also put together some top tips for decorating a long living room to help keep you on the straight and narrow.

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Long living room ideas are all about creating an illusion of character. We’re not all blessed with period features in Georgian townhouses or split level lounges with rustic wooden joists. Sometimes, we need to create the interest ourselves.

In order to benefit from the feng shui of stylish living rooms, you need to get creative with your narrow square footage. That's why we’re here to help you avoid decorating it like you’re about to show off your fashion choices every time you come home. (You don’t need that kind of pressure in your life).

Check out our ideas in the carousel below for some visual inspiration. We’ve also put together some top tips for decorating a long living room to help keep you on the straight and narrow.

Top tips for long living room ideas

Arrange furniture in L or U shapes

Think L shaped sofas with an accent chair on the end. Add a circular coffee table in the middle for interest and throw down a rug for extra design credit. If this doesn’t tickle your fancy, consider adding loveseats opposite your couch and angling them towards your sofa.

Chop up space with separate areas

Depending on the length of your narrow living room, it might be worth dividing it into distinct areas. For example, you could have a seating area at one end, a shelving unit that divides the space, and an office or dining area at the other end. Placing two large area rugs in both spaces really helps break up the room.

Create texture with mismatched heights

Think tall bookshelves, short cabinets, low rise furniture and lots of randomly sized artwork. Build upwards in narrow rooms to create an illusion of layers. You don’t want uniformed decor. The keyword here is ‘mishmash.’

Counter the straight lines with curved shapes

Geometric or circular furniture is perfect for adding interest to square rooms. This includes rugs, chairs, coffee tables and lampshades. Pull the furniture away from the wall to add depth and create shadows that break up the flat walls.

Add a curved walkway and avoid clutter

Create a clear walkway through your living room, but curve it to avoid the dreaded catwalk/bowling alley effect. You should be able to walk from one end of your living room to the other without stubbing your toe on anything, but the path you take shouldn’t be linear.

Like what you see? There’s plenty more where this came from. Discover more ideas, inspiration, tips and how-tos via Checkatrade’s blog.

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