Arranging furniture can be a daunting task for anyone, whether you consider yourself a seasoned, at-home interior designer or not. When you're faced with an empty room in your apartment home, filling it in a way that is practical and aesthetically pleasing can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, over the years, interior designers have uncovered a number of simple, easy-to-apply principles that work. Just follow these common-sense rules, and you'll find that arranging furniture isn't so scary, after all – in fact, it can be loads of fun!
Choose a Focal Point.
Never underestimate the power of a focal point in a room. Sometimes, they appear naturally, such as a prominent window or a built-in fireplace , while other times you may need to create them yourself, as with a mounted television set. Whatever your chosen focal point, make a decision and stick with it. You’ll want to arrange furniture around it as much as possible.
Don’t Push Furniture Against the Walls.
The size of the room will, of course, dictate how far you can pull your furniture away from the walls, but even in a small space, you’ll want to give pieces a little breathing room by allowing a few inches between the backs of furniture pieces and the walls. Despite popular belief, this little bit of space can actually make rooms feel bigger, and you’ll be less likely to move out with any damage to space.
Consider Traffic Flow.
One of the most important things to consider when arranging furniture in any room is traffic flow. People should not be tripping over furniture or each other to pass through the room. Make sure there are a couple of feet between the coffee table and sofa or the bed and entertainment center. Create a clear and conscious path, so people can walk through the room to the other without difficulty.
Use the Right-Size Rugs
Area rugs belong under the furniture — all the furniture if you can manage it. Exposing some flooring around the edges of the room is fine, but when using an area rug, make sure it’s big enough that all the furniture in a seating arrangement can rest on it. This means you’ll also want to make sure it’s not too large, either. Otherwise, it stands to engulf the entire space, and this is also not favorable.
Optimize every aspect of your life with these interesting tips and ideas, courtesy of the professional team at The Westport Apartments in Norfolk, Virginia.