How To Arrange Furniture

  • May 11, 2009
  • 4,340 Views
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Position your furniture in a way that’s fun, functional, and fetching.

You Will Need

  • A focal point
  • A U-shape seating arrangement
  • And traffic paths
How To Arrange Furniture: Find the focus

Step 1: Find the focus

Determine your room’s focal point, which is the most dramatic thing in the room, like a fireplace or a bay window. Or you can make one yourself with a striking piece of art or a large flat-screen TV.

The ideal viewing distance between a sofa or recliner and a TV screen is three times the size of the screen.

How To Arrange Furniture: Form a U

Step 2: Form a U

Plan your sitting arrangement in a U-shape around the focal point, so everyone has a view. This shape also allows for conversation, since everyone can see each other no matter where they sit.

How To Arrange Furniture: Keep conversations cozy

Step 3: Keep conversations cozy

Keep all sofas, love seats, and chairs within eight feet of each other.

The height differences between sofas and chairs should be no more than five inches to keep everyone on a relatively even level.

How To Arrange Furniture: Don't be distant

Step 4: Don't be distant

Place coffee tables 14 to 18 inches from couches. Make sure everyone who is sitting is within reach of a place to set down a glass.

How To Arrange Furniture: Think outside the box

Step 5: Think outside the box

Think outside the box. Despite their name, wall units do not have to be shoved against walls. They can be used to divide a long, narrow space in two.

How To Arrange Furniture: Check traffic flow

Step 6: Check traffic flow

Keep enough space for people to navigate the room easily. Traffic paths should be at least two feet wide and should not interrupt major furniture groupings.

How To Arrange Furniture: Don't overload it

Step 7: Don't overload it

Don’t overload rooms with furniture. Not only do rooms appear larger and cleaner when they’re less cluttered, but studies show they make people feel more relaxed.

In feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging space to achieve health, harmony and happiness, sofas should never face a bathroom door.

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