I would divide the room into two areas, one above the kitchen door and one below.
For the light I would keep it light if not pure white and have mirrors and mirrored surfaces.
Shoving everything into one end is also an option, but if done right it could work, look here:
http://ffffound.com/image/a8bfa5490857676c87384d46a43fc7acb63c4dc1

Had a similar room once. Put a loveseat on a diagonal with a small but tall bookcase behind it for storage and it seemed to give more waling around room. Agree with mirror, shiny or glass surfaces. See if you can mount that media rather than put in a stand.

Ha- walking not waling.

Wall to wall bookcases or shelving on the 7' wall by the bedroom door would help "widen" the narrowness. Keep them light -- maybe paint the inside (or the wall if the shelves are open) a coffee color -- the other walls should stay a linen white. Try a sectional -- something really comfy -- in the opposite corner -- and add a couple of ottomans to use as coffee tables or extra seating. Mix in floor lamps for lighting and use area rugs for definition of areas. Keep the "hallway" running from the kitchen to the bedroom door. Put up mirrors for reflecting light around the room, but mix them in with art or posters you love! Add color with pillows and throws. Keep it comfortable!

i looked at renting a VERY narrow railroad apartment once, and the girl had it set up so that the only seating in the room was a long couch with a chaise on the end. that way she could still veg- out when she wanted, but the chaise on the end would provide extra seating for entertaining. maybe you could add a few "cube" storage ottomans on each end of the tv stand for additional seating without taking up too much floor space with plush furniture.

my mom also has a dark, narrow hallway in her home. she has a HUGE mirror at the end of it with a ornate frame, and it's just leans up against the wall at the end of the hallway. it brings in light from the other rooms, and makes it feel SOO much bigger!

I have a long skinny room too. I've put the TV in a corner and then angled the sofa-chair-coffee table in front of that. This sort of creates a cozier space without having to use big bookcases or dividers...also it feels a little more welcoming than just slashing the room in half.

We put a buffet in the other part of the room. I'd think that you could just use whatever existing furniture you have to create the same kind of layout.

We have a living room like this, although it has windows on one long side instead of a door. We ended up putting bookshelves and a chaise lounge on one end of the room, with a piano to come. The chaise angles in to break up all the horizontal lines. On the long wall with windows we are putting a loveseat that faces a tv in the opposite corner.

not enough info. what do you need to do in there? dine, live, work? where are the windows and closets?

Having lived with a similar space, but the doors were on the short walls (even worse!) I do have some suggestions. In a small room, ceiling height is your friend. But a massive piece of furniture could get overwhelming if it doesn't have a built-in feel. So, I would put a sofa on the bedroom wall facing the kitchen wall, and have a tall, media center along the bottom right corner of the layout. Fill the space with tv, stereo, or anything else that is bulky. The space between the sofa and tv will be a comfortable distance, and you can have a long bench that can serve as a coffee table, or push it up against the bottom wall for extra seating.

I would put a round (no corners to hit in a small space!) dining table in the upper right near the kitchen, and hang a pendant light over it to give it its own sense of space. A rug in the bottom portion of the room can demarcate the living room portion too.

Consider ample lighting as well as mirrors to help. In fact, I would recommend a really big mirror along one of the short walls. It can really work wonders in a tiny room. I have one of these, and it's a really good deal: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50038213/

Other helpful hints: armless chairs (or sofa) help expand the space. And multi-purpose pieces of furniture are really great (storage ottoman, sofa bed, comfy dining chairs that can double as easy chairs, secretary desk, etc.) Always keep in mind the need you will have to walk through the space to get from the bedroom to kitchen, and making sure that invisible walkway remains clear.

Arrange sofas parallel to the short walls; mirrors on the long walls.

Looks like a great space! I would also suggest dividing the room into two conversation areas -- one for tv viewing/lounging in the bottom left corner, and maybe a reading or dining nook in the upper right. I would also recommend using furniture with exposed legs so the pieces feel lighter are airier (i.e. no skirted sofas or chairs). I'd use the height of the ceilings to your advantage -- take artwork, shelving, and mirrors up really high to draw the eye up. A lot of smaller pieces and smaller accessories could make the room feel cramped and cluttered.

My husband and I live in a 15'-wide shotgun style row house outside of Washington, DC, so we're very familiar with the decorating challenges small spaces pose.

If you're interested in seeing some of our decorating solutions:
www.oldtownhome.com

Good luck!

someone mentioned, long couch with a chaise. Think about a book shelf or just shelving for the wall. I just did a 4 year stretch in a 500 sq. ft railroad and my furniture did not work at all when I moved in. After living there for a while I was able to figure what the best pieces are. I'd also suggest if you are able to, putting up French doors in the bedroom, maybe with frosted glass if you are concerned about privacy. It allows the light to come in from the bedroom so you don't have that caved in feeling.

your long media stand will look fine on the short wall just outside the bedroom door. put some art and lighting over there, too. couch with chaise facing that, about 2/3rds down the room, with a coffee table and side table. display space on the other short wall (maybe a long table or a buffet) with lamps and other artifacts on it, big mirror on the wall. great place for flowers. chair, small table and lamp in the space to the right as you come out of the kitchen door, swivel would be great. think lamps, mirrors, and plants

I think the room is too small to divide.

'The decorating rules' can be helpful in these situations. The sofa goes on the longest unbroken wall. In this room, that's the wall labeled 7'6" at the bottom of the drawing. The media wall is opposite of course, and I would put a desk opposite the bedroom door.

If you want to forego a sofa, this might be a good opportunity to go all Friends on the place and get two huge recliners, or four over stuffed chairs.

Good luck. And congrats on your new place!

Can you add ceiling lights? I think lots and lots of lighting, task, overhead, table lamps, will help. A chandelier would draw the eye up and give a point of visual interest that you're missing with the lack of windows. As for color, I think the more intense and contrasting the colors, the more closed in the space feels. If you're going for an intimate feel, you could use that to your benefit. But if you want to expand the space, monotone, light neutrals with just pops of color should help.

One style I think works in a space like that is a lounge feel, with long, armless couches, large coffee tables, two or three seating groupings, and a very monotone color scheme.

imo, a long media center would be fantastic, as it would house all of your storage needs for the room and free up the rest of the space for furniture.
i would place that on the 'north' wall (the top of the photo), as that would be the easiest place due to the two doorways on either side. floor to ceiling would be commanding in the space, and some may find it too 'heavy' but i think it would look fantastic and anchor it well. just make sure it's in a lighter tone since there's no windows.

then, barring you can find a sofa that's 7' wide or less, place that at the opposite end of the room, maybe with a sofa table or wall shelf directly behind it since there won't be any space for end tables on either side. that would allow you to place decorative items, drinking glasses, etc. and add a large painting above it.

as long as you don't need a 'study space', then just add in 1 or 2 side chairs, a heavy textured rug and a coffee table, and you should be set.

as far as paint colors, keep it light and neutral, as you can add color to the walls with art pieces instead. i think the room would be much too small to pull off anything other than a neutral tone. maybe a soft gray at most?

I see an opportunity for a small sectional along the 13' wall facing the media center on the shorter wall and built in shelving (with mirrored backing and shelf lighting) housing your media center on the 7'6 wall. And a storage ottoman as your coffee table.

And a conversation/seating or dining area in the corner across from the bedroom door. Large hanging or leaning mirrors to reflect light coming in through the doorways (maybe matching pairs or a trio of them. And maybe a gallery wall on the long wall at the top of the drawing - opposite your entertainment center, to walk by on your way to the bedroom.

Keep it fairly monochrome, with varied textures and some reflective surfaces. A bit of contrast here and there, along with the textures will provide visual interest. I am seeing an L-shaped, armless sectional hugging the walls on the far end of the room; pay close attention to measurements when purchasing. Something armless will keep the eye uninterrupted -- as would a tight seat and back. Leather would help reflect light. Furniture on legs will allow your eye to see more floor, keeping the space as airy as can be. TV on the wall just perpendicular to the bedroom door. Another (soft, armless) chair in the corner, angled next to and slightly in front of the media console. Perhaps a striped rug that runs the width, not the length, of the room might help widen it. Don't be afraid of large accessories, art, mirrors. A large piece will often appear less cluttered than a few small pieces. Lighting in all directions will be your friend. Torchieres for up-lighting, table lamps for ambience, task lights where needed. Perhaps your media console will be high enough to store a couple ottomans below for extra seating? Good luck!