How to Decorate a Long Narrow Living Room (Without Losing Your Mind)

A long narrow living room is a serious design challenge! Lesley Myrick decorated this living room using area rugs to define areas, floating the furniture away from the walls, and using design elements to draw the eye upwards.
3D rendering of a long, narrow living room by Angolt Renders for Lesley Myrick Interior Design

Long, narrow living rooms are some of the trickiest spaces to decorate. They’re awkward. They’re unbalanced. And if you’ve ever walked into one and thought, “Where the heck is the furniture supposed to go?“, you’re not alone.

These rooms are often the result of older home layouts or quirky renovations, and they don’t naturally lend themselves to those magazine-perfect setups. You know the ones: symmetrical sofas, centered coffee tables, a fireplace where it’s supposed to be. Yeah, that’s not what you’re working with here.

But here’s the good news: long and narrow doesn’t have to mean cramped or chaotic. With the right layout, a strong point of view, and thoughtful design, you can make this kind of space feel intentional, inviting, and tailored to the way you live.

At Lesley Myrick Interior Design, we work with clients all the time who are stumped by funky floor plans, especially in historic homes, where character is abundant but modern functionality…not so much. And solving these challenges is our favorite kind of design puzzle.

So if you’re wondering how to decorate a long narrow living room that actually works and looks beautiful doing it, you’re in the right place. Let’s dig in.

(Prefer to watch instead of read? Check out the video of this blog post here.)

A long narrow living room floor plan by Macon interior designer Lesley Myrick
Long, narrow living room floor plan by Lesley Myrick

Tip #1: Divide and Conquer

Create intentional zones that make your space work harder – and feel more relaxed.

A long living room doesn’t have to be treated as one long living room. Try thinking of it as two (or even three) cozy, purpose-built areas. A sectional with a media setup can anchor one end; the other end could be a reading nook, a play space for the kids, or a smart little work-from-home corner.

We often use low-profile furniture, oversized rugs, or a well-placed console table to subtly signal that this is a different zone. You’d be amazed at how grounded a room feels when it’s designed for how you actually use it.

Tip #2: Float Your Furniture

Wall-hugging layouts kill the vibe. Pull things in.

In narrow rooms, it’s tempting to shove all your furniture against the walls to “create space”, but that’s actually the fastest way to make your room feel like a hallway.

Instead, anchor your main seating area away from the walls. Floating your sofa across the room’s width helps visually widen the space and defines a purposeful layout. Add a slim console behind it to balance the view from the other side.

A long narrow living room 3D floor plan by Macon interior designer Lesley Myrick
3D floor plan of a long, narrow living room by Lesley Myrick Interior Design

Tip #3: Soften Your Lines

Too many straight edges? Bring in the curves.

Long rooms have strong sight lines, and that can feel rigid fast. You can counteract all those straight edges with a few well-placed curves. Think round coffee tables, circular mirrors, or a pair of sculptural armchairs that soften the flow.

Not only do these shapes add visual interest, they help slow the eye down. That’s key in a narrow space where everything tends to lead your gaze in one direction.

Soften the design lines in a long, narrow living room with rounded accent chairs.

Tip #4: Use Rugs to Define Spaces

Rugs are one of the easiest (and most beautiful) ways to create visual structure in a long space. Place a large area rug under your main seating setup, and layer in a different rug for any secondary space, like a reading nook or play area.

Don’t overthink it – your rugs don’t have to match, but they should speak the same design language. Think shared tones, textures, or patterns that complement without competing.

Eclectic living room moodboard by Lesley Myrick interior design featuring a cognac leather sofa, teal lacquer coffee table, white faux fur accent chair, Anthropologie curtains, and a green velvet floor lamp
Moodboard by Lesley Myrick Interior Design; shop the room here

Tip #5: Embrace Vertical Space

When floor space is tight, design upward.

Long, narrow living rooms can feel a bit hemmed in, especially if your ceiling isn’t particularly high. We love using vertical elements to draw the eye up: tall bookcases, oversized art, elongated wall sconces. These choices create balance and add a sense of grandeur to even the trickiest proportions.

If you’ve got windows? Extend those drapery rods well above the window frame. It makes the whole room feel more open and architectural.

Ready to Love Your Long Narrow Living Room?

You don’t have to figure out how to decorate a long, narrow living room alone. At Lesley Myrick Interior Design, we specialize in transforming challenging spaces into bold, beautiful, personality-filled homes that actually work for the way you live.

If your living room is long, narrow, and totally uninspiring, we can help you reimagine it into something fresh, functional, and completely you. Inquire to start your design project.

About Lesley Myrick

Interior designer Lesley Myrick brings bold style to a bright, modern kitchen in Macon, Georgia. With crisp white cabinetry, striking geometric pendant lights, and a statement blue backsplash, this space blends classic charm with fresh, playful energy—just like her signature design approach.

Lesley Myrick is an adventurous, intuitive, and exceptionally organized interior designer specializing in designing distinct “forever homes”. She works with high-achieving professionals to create playful, personality-driven and family-friendly spaces that are as functional as they are unique.

At Lesley Myrick Interior Design, we make the typically confusing design process seamless. Our high-touch, deeply engaged design process means that we accept just 6 large-scale remodeling projects per year. 

Learn more about our full-service interior design and inquire here to start your design project.