{"id":356754,"date":"2021-07-22T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=356754"},"modified":"2024-01-03T13:29:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T18:29:48","slug":"how-to-arrange-furniture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/how-to-arrange-furniture\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Arrange Furniture + Layout Ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/a>
This colorful and contemporary London living room by Samantha Todhunter Design<\/a> employs a symmetrical furniture layout. Photo by Jonathan Bond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to find yourself paralyzed by indecision when faced with an empty room. Arranging furniture<\/a> and deciding where to place each element of your living space can be a difficult and time-consuming task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we present tips on how to arrange furniture in a living room<\/a>, many of which are applicable to all the spaces in your house. First, we\u2019ll give 12 pointers for designing a layout that flows well, followed by sample layouts that might suit your particular living room. Finally, we\u2019ll answer some commonly asked questions about furniture placement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12 Tips for Arranging Furniture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with several tried-and-true tips to help you arrange the furniture and decor in your living space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Draw a Floor Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s best to begin with a comprehensive plan. Take your room\u2019s measurements to create a layout using an online tool or old-fashioned pen and graph paper. Measure your existing pieces of furniture, then cut out pieces of paper to represent each one, which you can move around on the floor plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process will help you determine what\u2019s most important to you when designing a room. Is it the flow of foot traffic, the stylistic elements, facilitating conversations among visitors or drawing attention to the entertainment system? Once you\u2019ve made a plan, you\u2019ll have a better idea of where to start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Pick a Focal Point<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a>
The fireplace<\/a> is the focal point for this living room designed by Anouska Tamony Ltd.<\/a> Photo by Chris Snook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to choose a focal point for your living room. This could be a fireplace<\/a>, large window, TV, bookshelf<\/a>, coffee table<\/a> or piece of art<\/a>. To decide, ask yourself: What do you want people to notice first when they walk into the room?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve chosen a focal point, you can design around it, angling furniture and decor<\/a> to draw the eye to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Bring Balance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To bring balance to your space, be mindful of the shapes and colors<\/a> of your furniture and decor. Group pieces to create arrangements with an appealing variety of forms and hues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to create balance is by juxtaposing brightly patterned elements<\/a> with neutral ones<\/a>. For example, if you have a colorful accent chair<\/a> that stands out, place it next to muted decor while incorporating that same accent color elsewhere in the room<\/a>. This will help make your space both aesthetically pleasing and visually interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Create Conversation Areas <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to create conversation areas in a living room. Position sofas<\/a> and chairs<\/a> so that seated guests can talk with one another naturally, without straining their necks or having to move the furniture. In a small room, you can focus on just one spot where people can sit and chat, but in a large room, you might want to create several such zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating conversation areas involves anticipating how people will use the space. In the same vein, don\u2019t just leave a chair floating by itself. Place it near a sofa, where the sitter can easily interact with others. Or, to facilitate reading<\/a> or other activities, pair it with a side table<\/a> and floor lamp<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Ground the Room with a Rug<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Photo<\/a>
This living room designed<\/a> by GRISORO Studio<\/a> features Gerrit Rietveld<\/a> Utrecht XL chairs and a large rug. Photo by Kirsten Francis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In your main seating<\/a> area, tie the elements together with a large rug<\/a>. Make sure it is big enough to lie under all the furniture<\/a>. The exception would be substantial pieces, such as a sofa, which can sit with its front legs on and its back legs off the rug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Consider Traffic Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Style is a big part of furniture layout, but traffic flow is even more important in creating a functional space. Make sure there is a clear and comfortable path throughout the room for people to navigate. To do so, place furniture several feet apart \u2014 even farther in places where people will be walking often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Layer the Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"A<\/a>
Several types of lighting fixtures<\/a> appear in this living room designed by Pleasant Living<\/a>. Photo by Phillip Ennis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To produce attractive layers of illumination in your room, use a mix of sources<\/a>: overhead fixtures to produce ambient light, sconces<\/a> or floor lamps for accent lighting and table lamps<\/a> for task lighting. For variety, stagger the heights of the different sources. Point the lighting fixtures<\/a> in different directions so that they play off one another in engaging ways. Pair floor lamps with lounge chairs<\/a>, and use stylish table lamps on end tables<\/a> to brighten darker corners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Think about Scale and Proportion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking into account scale and proportion will help you group pieces of furniture in natural-looking arrangements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n