Railroad Apartment Design Tips: Open Up That Narrow Space

Of the many types of apartments in New York City, the railroad usually strikes the most dread in people’s hearts. Consisting of a long, narrow, straight floor plan, with one room leading directly into the next, the railroad apartment can be a tricky business. But despite the layout challenges they present, railroads can also have huge appeal. First of all, there’s no wasted space; second, they’re often found in older buildings that are brimming with character and charming details (hello, high ceilings!); and finally, they tend to be more budget friendly. Here are our top decorating tips to help a railroad apartment — or any narrow room — feel more wide open.

Keep Furnishings to a Minimum

Floor space is at a premium in a railroad apartment, so too much furniture will work against you. Search for multipurpose pieces, like a storage ottoman that also works as a side table and a footstool, a bed with built-in drawers underneath, or a dresser that can double as a TV stand. And keep the floors clear by making use of your wall space wherever you can — for example, instead of standing lamps, why not go for a couple of cute sconces?

Banish Clutter

Packing too many items into a tight space can make it feel oppressive. Paring your possessions down to the essentials will create an overall feeling of airiness and space, while also making what you do choose to display look even better. To keep clutter at bay and surfaces clean, introduce subtle storage wherever you can. In a cramped kitchen, for example, floating shelves can hold essential dishware, and pots and pans can be hung from hooks or a narrow pot rack — everything in its place. 

Let in the Light

Natural light is always desirable, but in a railroad apartment, it’s truly your best friend: Sunshine streaming in can make the difference between a home that feels depressing or delightful. As much as you might love dramatic velvet drapes, stay away from heavy window treatments and stick to light, sheer options — or even skip them altogether if you are able to without sacrificing privacy. In the center of a long railroad space, where there are usually no windows, mirrors are a great way to bounce light around the room.

Draw the Eye Upward

Railroads often have beautiful high ceilings, and that’s a feature you want to accentuate — and put to good use — with tall furniture pieces. So instead of a low, wide bookshelf, choose a lofty one. Don’t be afraid to make a few bold gestures here and there, like a tall mirror over the mantel or above a table, or a towering fiddle-leaf fig plant that climbs toward the ceiling. 

Stick to a Neutral Palette

When it comes to painting the walls, keeping to neutral shades, like whites, creams, and grays, is your best bet for making a railroad apartment feel calm rather than chaotic. But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid color altogether. Introducing pops of color here and there, whether in a piece of accent furniture, a rug, or artwork, will help infuse your space with style and personality without weighing the place down. 

Keep It Cohesive

Rooms flow from one to the next in a railroad style pretty seamlessly, so if you decide to go for a particular “theme” or decor style, be sure and use it throughout the entire apartment. For example, if you decide to go midcentury modern in the living area, you won’t want to stray too far from that style in any of the other rooms either. If you go for ’60s chic in the bedroom and traditional Victorian in the living room, it’s going to throw everything off balance and feel jarring. Choose one style and stick to it! 

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