A designer trick that makes a narrow living room feel bigger

One thing I’ve been asked often in my 13 years as an interior designer is how to make a small area feel bigger, especially a main hub like the living or family room. Many of the clients I work with in my city are renters with a laundry list of restrictions or homeowners maintaining historic homes over 100 years old, both of which challenge me to design a more open space while preserving the original character and form of the home. Changing a room’s existing footprint is nearly impossible without a major remodel, so it usually boils down to making the most of the available space with a simple concept. The trick to giving a living room (or any small room) the impression of more space is by creating a vertical presence. The effect of this old designer trick is to draw the eye up, making the space seem taller and more expansive.

Imagine filling a small space with small-scale artwork, minimal or no window treatments, and low-to-the-ground furniture. The inevitable result will feel squat and cramped, the last thing you need when you’re dealing with an already undersized footprint. By incorporating elements that take advantage of vertical space and create upward motion, you can combat the claustrophobic vibes of a small, narrow living space. These include floor-to-ceiling elements such as built-in furniture, focal points above eye level, impressive wall- and ceiling-mounted features, smart line-blurring paint tricks and special treatment of the fifth wall: the ceiling. And rarely does just one of these features properly carry the weight of expanding a space on its own. Plan to layer multiple vertical elements for maximum space.

The first trick I use to make a narrow living room feel larger revolves around what is actually brought into the space. Most standard living room furniture (and some decor) such as sofas, media consoles, and tables sit low on the floor. In a small space that can only physically fit so much, it’s easy to see how people overlook the types of pieces that help enhance the room’s visuals. These can be things like tall bookshelves, oversized or arched floor lamps, full-length mirrors, large artwork, potted trees (real or artificial, depending on your green thumb) and other freestanding pieces that are higher than eye level for visual variety. Major bonus points for including built-in floor-to-ceiling elements to really maximize the optics of height in one continuous line.

Floor-to-ceiling draperies are another highly effective element to draw the eye up and improve the feeling of spaciousness. The undulating softness breaks up the hard lines of the room’s architecture, while the vertically elongated silhouette of the panels makes your eyes feel the ceiling as high. you can Hang your curtain rods properly Going high and wide in a narrow living room, the window looks as big as possible.

Wall- and ceiling-mounted lighting can also play a big role in making a small space feel larger, as it appears at the top of the room. Large chandeliers are a wonderful design statement as well as a surefire way to draw the eye up and create the illusion of grandeur. Similarly, wall sconces or art lights create visual interest above eye level for a more vertical effect.

For homeowners or renters able to modify their narrow living room beyond furniture and decor, there are a few additional tricks I like to give the impression of spaciousness. One is to give the ceiling some love. By detailing the ceiling design instead of just painting it a predictable shade of white, you bring the room’s highest element into play, which is a slam dunk to draw the eye up. Add wallpaper in subtle patterns or colors to grab your attention while maintaining an airy feel. Alternatively, paint the ceiling a beautifully unexpected neutral or soft color – a welcome departure from typical white for interest and vertical impact.

Additionally, other paint techniques can help blur the defined lines of a narrow space, and in turn help your eyes read the space differently. Realize Advantages of dye soaking By painting walls, ceilings, doors and trim in the same shade. Lacking any normal distractions, visual stopping points, and bounding lines, the space allows the eye to continue moving and read it larger than it is. Similarly, the A color-capping paint trend that adds a splash to the living room This involves painting with two or three tonal shades to give the space a gradient or ombre effect. Since the break point between slightly different colors is usually done on a high picture rail or before substantial crown molding, this technique incorporates the connection between the ceiling and the walls, making it a fine line-blurred middle ground between painting the ceiling and soaking the color. Without the hassle or budget of a remodel, making a narrow living room feel larger is as simple as incorporating eye-catching design elements above eye level.