Whether you’re moving into a new home or planning to refresh your decor, it’s important to plan a practical and attractive furniture arrangement to suit your space and your lifestyle. Interior designers suggest starting with these basic guidelines, but don’t shy away from breaking the rules if it feels right.
In the living room, arrange furniture around your favorite pastimes.
Before selecting living room furniture, think about what you like to do there. Your family may gather to watch TV, cozy up to the fireplace, or enjoy the view through the windows. Whatever you like to do, organize your furniture around it.
For example, if you relax watching TV, put a cozy sofa facing the screen and place comfortable, upholstered chairs at a good viewing angle on the side. Or if you prefer reading near the fireplace, build your seating area at right angles to the hearth and provide ample lighting.
Make sure the size of your furniture works in the room, as well. Don’t fill up small rooms with overstuffed pieces. And avoid mixing a chunky sofa with delicate chairs or tables.
Regardless of room size, keep some distance between the furnishings and the wall for a more open ambiance. And space out furniture so you can easily walk around.
Once you’ve got a basic plan, add the accents. Light up gloomy corners with floor lamps and add an interesting area rug to complement your color scheme. Find one large enough to fit under the sofa, chairs and coffee table.
In bedrooms, start with the bed.
The bed is the most important and largest piece of furniture in your bedroom, so figure out where it goes before you do anything else. And as with the living room, arrange everything to suit your habits.
For example, if you like to watch TV from bed, place it so you can put a TV on the opposite wall. Or if you read before nodding off, position the bed where you can easily add lighting.
Once the bed has a home, place other pieces from largest to smallest. Keep chests and bureaus out of your pathway between bed and bathroom. Put a table or small chest next to the bed for books, glasses, phone chargers, or other handy items. Add area rugs wherever cold toes might tread. And make sure you have a lamp you can reach from the bed.
Above all, don’t clutter the bedroom. Remove any non-functional pieces for a more open, relaxing space.
In the dining room, show off your style with the right table.
Your dining room will host your most special occasions, and your table is its centerpiece. Look for a solid wood dining set made with quality building techniques, such as tongue and groove joints. Go for a classic style and finish that will work with different color schemes as interior fashions evolve. And select a table large enough to fill the room but leave plenty of walking space.
Center the table directly under the chandelier, and if you have extra space, stand an attractive hutch or buffet against one wall. For smaller rooms, consider a corner hutch to save space.
Area rugs in the dining room need to be large enough that chairs don’t sit half-on, half-off. And if you want to make the room feel bigger, add extra lighting in the corners.
Interior decorating takes thought and planning.
It’s a good idea to measure your rooms and bring a scale drawing with you to the furniture store. Or go high-tech and use a floor plan application for tablet computers.
If you’re unsure about what to do, contact us at The Guest Room for a consultation. We can help you find the best sizes and suggest ideas for placement. We can also point you to American-made brands, such as Norwalk, that offer extensive choices in high quality pieces. In the end, you’ll have home décor perfectly matched to your unique taste and lifestyle.
