Top 5 Furniture Arranging Tips
I’ve tackled dozens, maybe hundreds of rooms at this point? My own homes, friends and family, and of course client projects. And no matter the space; big or small, old or new, tricky or straight forward there are some furniture guidelines that always seem to apply. Of course, there will always be some random example but by and large, I’ve found that there guidelines that help me out with any space. I’ve narrowed it down to my top five and sharing the best furniture arranging tips here. So, sit back and take notes – then apply to your own space!
Place Area Rugs Under Furniture
One of the all time best furniture arranging tips is to place furniture so the front legs sit on the rug. A lot of people wonder should furniture sit on an area rug and the answer is yes! This creates a layered, grounded feeling. Otherwise, the rug and furniture pieces feel like they are floating around.
For a living room, this means that the area rug will sit under the couch and accent chair legs. For a bedroom, it’s ideal to have the rug under the bottom half of the bed. And a dining room area rug should be large enough to sit under both the table and chairs completely.
Occasionally, a space may be too small or awkwardly shaped for this rule. In that case, like for a living room, I typically prioritize allowing the couch to rest on rug and accent chair to be adjacent. Head over to my Rug Size Guide for more specifics on sizing.
Arrange Couch Length ⅔ of the Wall
“What size should a couch be?” is one of the most common questions I get for furniture arranging. And it’s a pretty straight forward answer. Couches work best when they are about ⅔ the length of the wall they are up against or ⅔ of the outlined space. For example, in a larger open concept room, the actual wall might be quite large but the actual living room seating area will be smaller. Use that guideline to choose a couch size.
Now, it doesn’t have to be exact. If the room is a little small and cramped, I’d go lean on the smaller end of ⅔. If we’re working with a larger playroom, we might nudge it up just a bit to account for sectional seating.
Low Profile Chairs for Open Concept
Another solid furniture arranging tip is to choose low profile accent chairs for open concept layouts or rooms where there is line of sight to another space. By choosing shorter chairs, it keeps the eye line unobstructed for open concept spaces. I also like to use low profile chairs if they are placed next to a main walk through.
Higher back chairs create more of a maze-like feeling and can make even the largest of rooms feel crowded. These type of higher back chairs work best on a diagonal in a corner or in a formal sitting room where they are the main focus.
Avoid Blocking Windows
Whether we’re looking at the bedroom, living room, or family room, a decorating rule I live by is avoiding blocking the windows at all cost. Not only does blocking windows reduce precious natural light, it tells our brain, “hmm, something just doesn’t add up in here.”
Think of it this way – we know windows serve a function (light, air, access), so if we block them our brains instinctively get the feeling that something is off.
Having lived in a variety of homes, including some really old ones, I know this can be tricky. But it’s one I will fight for! Here are some easy ways to avoid blocking windows:
- Choose lower backed couches for lower living room windows
- Bring furniture forward & away from windows to allow some breathing space
- In bedrooms, if necessary, opt for a lower profile headboard if bed is below a window
- Reconsider placement all together if original idea includes blocking a window
- Allow the window to be the focal point or the “artwork” instead of trying to work around it
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Dining Tables Match Shape of Room
An easy way to figure out which type of dining room table to choose it simply match it up to shape of room. For example, A rectangular dining room does well with a long, rectangular or oval table. A square space, on the other hand, works best with a square or round table.
Of course proportion is important but just knowing this furniture arranging tip can make choosing a dining room table a million times easier.
No, key pieces like sofa and chairs can be placed 3–12″ off the walls to create better flow. This helps keep windows and walk ways unrestricted.
In general, about 30-36″ is a good distance for main walkways around couches, beds, and from one room to another.
When possible, use the longest, uninterrupted wall for the bed placement. If there is a window, try not to block the window by using a lower profile headboard.
Final Thoughts on Furniture Arranging
I hope this is helpful as you work to figure out the best furniture placement in your home. Of course, every home is different, and one rule doesn’t apply to everything but hopefully these furniture arranging tips can serve as a guideline for making solid, intentional decisions. Whether you’re focused on living room furniture arrangement or bedroom placement, these general tips should give you a good starting point!
