If Your Home Feels Tight: Ideas for Designing Narrow Spaces

In New York, Boston, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Tokyo — wherever a square meter costs an exorbitant amount, narrow homes or 'arrow houses' are becoming increasingly popular. These were originally part of urban development but later spread to country homes as well. It's understandable: building a narrow house is cheaper, you don't need to rent a large area of land, and construction can even take place on a tree. This means more funds can be spent on interior design or, more characteristic of Western mentality, investments. It's the reverse of a mortgage: instead of paying outrageous interest rates, you receive them and reinvest or save. Later, you can buy a large family home (if it's still needed by that time) or real estate for your children.

Let's see how these narrow 'hut' homes look from the inside! The main issue with elongated spaces is proportions. This can only be solved through thoughtful furniture placement and zoning. Let's look at how owners of such homes do it!

Minimalism in Everything

Especially in the kitchen — only the essentials!

Light tones

By the way, if furniture matches wall color, it visually expands the space.

Lighting

Point lighting placement always adds a special coziness and, importantly, corrects room proportions.

Second Level

When a house is tall and narrow, it makes sense to place the sleeping area upstairs. It's convenient if it’s just a mattress without a frame, which saves space and simplifies installation.

Ergonomic Storage

By placing a sofa or bed on a platform, you can create excellent storage spaces.

Freestanding Stairs

A portable staircase in a narrow home is essential not only to reach the bedroom but also for comfortable interaction with high shelves.

Idea for a Vacation Home

If the staircase is fixed, it should also be used to its fullest extent (e.g., as a cabinet).

Partitions

These are also made narrow and long, used when you need to fit a kitchen, living room, and bedroom into one room.

Ideas for a Small Kitchen

A dining table is best placed along the wall. By the way, it can be foldable.