Furniture layout and placement often can be a dilemma for homeowners. Aspects such as where to place a sofa and where a television should be placed can be visual hurdles. Strategic furniture placement comes from pre-planning, taking the time to create a floor plan and evaluating where items should be placed in a room.
When laying out a room, here are some common furniture arrangement mistakes:
Lining furniture along the walls. While the theory might be that this creates an open layout, it can leave open gaps and furnishings crowded along the walls.
Using furniture pieces that are part of large sets. Often a set is simply too much furniture, not to mention it can be overwhelming for every piece to match.
Obstructing key entrances and exits. Three feet is the general rule of thumb for circulation and for the human body to be able to maneuver. A common mistake is placing furniture too close together, which can crowd a space.
Placing furniture in front of a window. People often want to “see a view.” Placing furniture in front of a window can look messy and disjointed.
Angling furniture. In general, angling furniture is an outdated look that should only be used in rare cases in which there is a challenge to fit furniture. This dilemma can be solved by choosing furniture of a proper size and scale.
Cathy Hobbs is the owner of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes, a home staging company (www.cathyhobbs.com). She also is the owner of Highland Passive House, a Home Staging + Design Center (www.highlandpassivehouse.com). Cathy’s practical, how-to design advice can be found in her book, “Home Design Recipes.”
