1. Keep Entryways Clear: Make sure you have a lot of clearance when you first walk into a room. The last way you want to make an entrance is by having to walk into the back of couch, or having to fight through a large plant. This will make the room more welcoming to boot.
2. Don't Forget the 3 Foot Rule: You should have about 3 feet of walking space around the room. This is what you need to be comfortable, without knocking into furniture and bumping into walls. Any type of furniture with doors or drawers also need three feet of space to open properly.
3. Let Furniture Float: Don't push all your furniture up against the walls. Pull your sofa (or other seating) out at least 12" from the wall. It will make the space seem more inviting and cozy, instead of creating a big bunch of weird dead space in the middle.
4. Mind the Rugs: If you have an area rug, situate all seating so the legs are either completely on or completely off of it. Don't let them wobble. Try not to position the rugs so edges and corners are in the major walkways. It lessens the chance that people will trip as they walk around.
5. Watch Out for Lighting: If you have table lamps, make sure that shades aren't so large that they risk either poking someone in the eye, or getting knocked over. It goes without saying that any electrical and extension cords should be placed so no one is going to trip over them on their way across the room.
6. Select the seating: The “correct” furniture is whatever works best for your family. Some people love the idea of sofas so that there is potential for stretching out and lounging. Sofas create a more intimate seating arrangement as it forces people to sit next to each other. It also offers flexible seating so you can squeeze more people into a room. Arm chairs, or side chairs, allow you to better control where individuals will sit and what direction they will face. Chairs can help break up space without being too large. The key is to find the balance between sofas (you may not have room for more than two) and individual chairs (you don’t want so many as to make your living room look like a hotel lobby). Shopping for furniture and not sure if it will fit in the room? Here’s a great trick: get the dimensions of the furniture and tape newspaper together in the size and shape of the furniture. Lay the newspaper down on your floor and you’ll be able to easily see if you have enough room to walk around the piece (you’ll want about 30″ – 36″ of
The key is to find the balance between sofas (you may not have room for more than two) and individual chairs (you don’t want so many as to make your living room look like a hotel lobby). Shopping for furniture and not sure if it will fit in the room? Here’s a great trick: get the dimensions of the furniture and tape newspaper together in the size and shape of the furniture. Lay the newspaper down on your floor and you’ll be able to easily see if you have enough room to walk around the piece (you’ll want about 30″ – 36″ of walkway between pieces).
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