The Dos and Dont’s of Arranging Furniture

When it comes to home decor, the way you arrange your furniture is just as important as the style of the furniture itself. You could have a knockout statement sofa, but if the size or placement is wrong for your room, that sofa goes from an eyecatcher to an eyesore. 

To make sure your style is always topnotch, here are the dos and don’ts of arranging furniture.

Don’t: Push everything to the wall

This is a very common mistake when it comes to placing furniture. Cramming everything up against the wall can actually make your room feel smaller, even in a small space. Allow for at least a few inches of space off the wall. Or if you’ve got more room to spare, gather your furniture pieces more towards the center of the room to create a conversational space.

Do: Separate spaces

Open floor plans are popular for their extra spacious feel and ability to let everyone be a part of the action. However, an open floor plan does create the need for you to establish designated spaces with the furniture layout. Otherwise each area just bleeds into the next.

Rugs can be extremely helpful in visually separating the spaces of your home, particularly in the living room and dining room (find our rugs here!). You can also use larger furniture pieces to create symmetry within each area and divide from other areas. You don’t have to make all your furniture match exactly, but some symmetry is helpful for keeping things from looking cluttered or chaotic in a big open space.

Don’t: Block traffic flow

There should be a clear path for navigating around each space and from room to room. Leave enough space between chairs, as well as coffee tables and couches, for people to easily walk by.

Do: Chose a focal point

Placing your furniture can feel more natural if you have one focal point to base the room around. Your space may already have a natural focal point, like a fireplace or built-in shelving. But if not, you can create one with the TV or a dramatic piece of art. 

Don’t: Forget to add light

Lighting can make all the difference in a space! Plus, decorative floor lamps and table lamps are another place to bring in your style and add some dimension to any corner. Use different heights, different styles, and different levels of brightness to create contrast.

Do: Find balance

Good design uses a variety of shapes, angles, materials, textures, and sizes to create interest and avoid sterility. But not only do you need to mix up the furniture, you also need to mix up the placement. If all of your large or small pieces are grouped together on one end of the room it will feel unbalanced. Make sure items of the same shapes, textures, etc. are spread around the space.

For more tips, check out our blogs on styling sofa pillows and choosing the right rug size!