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Fresh Design Ideas

Planning a Furniture Layout

One of the easiest, least expensive (it costs nothing!), yet most impactful changes you can make in your home is furniture arrangement. The arrangement of furniture and furnishings within each space is the foundation upon which your other interior design decisions will be based. Ask yourself the following questions.

What Is The Primary Focus Of The Room?
· Identify the most important or compelling feature of the room. This may be the fireplace, if the overall function of the room is gathering and conversation. It may be the media center, if television or electronic entertainment is the room's purpose.
· Use the primary focus as the starting point in placing your major furniture. Rooms with enough space often have secondary functions, which will require separate, usually smaller, furniture arrangements.

What Are The Traffic Patterns and Architectural Features In The Room?
· Be sure that doorways and the main routes to and through them are clear of furniture. The rule of thumb is to leave close to 3 feet in front of each door, and enough space for the door swing, if there is one.
· If possible, leave about a foot of space in front of each window to allow for someone to open and close or wash it.
· Leave enough space around all heating and cooling units to allow for good airflow.
· The hearth area of a fireplace should remain clear as a safety precaution.

Before

How Should Furniture Be Grouped?
· Position your principal seating pieces facing and/or grouped around the primary focus.
· You will generally want to have good seating for at least five people in the main grouping.
· Be sure to place a table surface close to each comfortable seat.
· Lighting for the main grouping must be adequate.

Is The "Weight" Of The Furniture Evenly Distributed?
· Heavier furniture should be spread throughout the room so that one area does not look top heavy.
· Be aware that doors, windows, and fireplaces have visual weight roughly equal to the clearance space allowed in front of each.

By following these simple guidelines, you will have a room that is not only visually pleasing, but also arranged in accordance with its intended purpose. As with all aspects of your home décor, it is important that your furniture arrangement accommodate how you live and what is important to you.

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