9 Rules to Keep in Mind When Arranging Your Furniture
Decorating a room can be overwhelming. Most of the time, you simply don’t know where to start. Designers suggest that when it comes to arranging your furniture, simply follow decorating rules, and you’ll get stunning results. Whether you are setting up the living room or dining room in your new house, achieving aesthetics and functionality will become much easier if you stick with these 9 furniture placement rules.
Choose a focal point.
To get started with the furniture arrangement task, you must decide on a focal point. A focal point is the area of emphasis, which captures people’s attention upon stepping into a room. It can be your fireplace, television, artwork, or the bright red wall. Once you have chosen your focal point, you can now begin arranging the furniture around it.
Don’t push all furniture against the walls.
Even in a small space, consider giving your furniture a breathing room, allowing a few inches distance between the back of the furniture piece and the walls. Pulling out your sofa 3 to 5 inches from the wall will make your living room appear bigger.
Have similar seat heights.
Besides placement, you need to carefully pay attention to the furniture types and sizes you purchase. One way to create conversation areas in your living room is to get sofas and chairs that have similar heights. That way, when all your family and friends are sitting together, you can comfortably talk to each other, and no one is awkwardly at a different height.
Place tables at arm’s length.
Don’t let a cozy armchair just hang out by itself in a corner, position a table beside it, so the user can have something to rest a cup of tea or a light to read by. The rule is every seat should have access to a table either placed to the side or at the front. This will save your guests and visitors from the inconvenience of having to leave their seats when putting down or retrieving drinks.
Create pathways.
Always consider traffic flow in a room when arranging the furniture. Don’t forget to leave a few feet of floor space around and in-between furniture. This will prevent people from bumping into each other or tripping over furniture. In a living room, the ideal distance between the coffee table and the sofa is 16 inches to 18 inches.
Keep the horizon clear.
You don’t want to crowd your space with furniture or decor pieces. If you want a room to feel open and airy, always keep the horizon clear. This means putting away pieces that block the view when looking across a room. Placing items in front of windows and traffic paths will make the space feel small and cramped.
Position seats 7 feet from the TV.
The way you position the TV can greatly affect the functionality and visual aesthetics of a room. Position the TV in a way that the screen does not meet the sunlight. The viewing distance must be 7 to 12 feet, and the viewing angle shouldn’t go over 30 degrees. To avoid interruptions when watching your favorite TV show, create pathways behind the sofa and not between the furniture and the screen.
Add storage.
Adding furniture that provides storage is essential in interior decoration as it helps create an organized and clutter-free space. Get a coffee table or TV rack that offers storage space for your books or magazines under. When planning to add a bookcase in your living room, make sure to purchase one that is at least 12 inches deep; otherwise, items will hang out from the shelf.
Set up mood lighting.
Lighting and furniture placement go hand in hand. During night time, you can best appreciate your interior decoration by providing lighting on or around side tables, shelves, and accent chairs. When pairing your seating with a lamp, make sure the lamp is not too tall or short. Ideally, lights should be around eye level.
Improve your home’s air conditioning for added indoor comfort
Your interior spaces should be as functional and comfortable as it is aesthetically pleasing. One way to achieve that is to get your home’s air conditioning running smoothly all the time. Don’t forget to schedule a regular AC tune-up with your trusted local contractors. Most HVAC companies are now offering a 24/7 air conditioning service!
