The skill of arranging furniture includes a variety of techniques that produce a cohesive and functional layout in a specific space. Beyond the simple placement of furniture, this process requires careful consideration of various factors, such as the room’s size, purpose, and the unique preferences of the room’s occupants.
Whether you want to create a cozy conversational setting, a relaxing space, or a more dynamic design, these ideas will transform your space into an arrangement that completely changes the look of your room.
Steps for Arranging Your Furniture
Arranging your furniture in a new way can give your room a different look without having to spend extra money on new pieces. Use a new arrangement of your existing pieces to revitalize your space and increase its functionality.
- Assess the Physical Space
Assessing the physical qualities of a particular room is a critical first step in thinking about ways that you can rearrange your furniture. Take note of the room’s dimensions, architectural features, and existing layout. Consider the room’s openings, like windows and doors, and any large walls that might work as a focal point. Pay special attention to any obstacles in the room, like radiators or other built-in features, that would limit the arrangement.
- Define the Purpose of the Room
Defining the purpose of a particular space will serve as the guiding principle for how you want to arrange the furniture in the room. For instance, a home office might be a space for focused work, collaborative interactions, or a space for your kids to complete homework. Defining and stating the purpose of the room will be the most important guide for knowing the key elements you need in the room, like lighting, furniture, and decor, and how you can arrange these items to suit your needs.
- Create a Floor Plan
Use the room measurements to create a simple floor plan for the room. Having a floor plan that you can see from a bird’s eye view gives you a completely new perspective on new ways that you can arrange your space. Using either grid paper or plain paper, mark out the room’s dimensions, being sure to note any doors, windows, built-ins, or areas with architectural interest. If possible, create scaled two-dimensional paper models of your furniture so you can arrange them on paper before moving them around. Make a special note on your floor plan of any interesting features or potential focal points that you want to highlight, such as fireplaces, large windows with scenic views, or a large wall with a prominent piece of wall art.
- Consider Different Room Arrangements
There are several types of room arrangements to consider when planning your space. Your room may lend itself to a specific type due to its size, shape, or function, but it is beneficial to consider new ideas if you want to refresh the look of your space. Here are some room arrangement options to consider:
- Symmetrical Arrangement: A symmetrical arrangement consists of identical furniture on each side of a central focal point. This room arrangement creates a balanced and formal appearance and is common in classical or traditional designs.
- Asymmetrical Arrangement: Asymmetrical arrangements balance elements in a room without mirroring them. This results in a contemporary and modern look that is dynamic and visually appealing.
- Floating Furniture Arrangement: This method involves moving furniture away from the walls to create a more open and spacious feeling room. This arrangement is ideal for large rooms and promotes a conversation-friendly environment.
- L-Shaped Arrangement: This layout is ideal for multi-purpose rooms, such as a living room and dining room. Furniture arranged in an L-shape, such as a sofa with a perpendicular love seat beside it, creates distinct zones while maintaining the room’s open feel.
- U-Shaped Arrangement: A U-shaped furniture arrangement consists of arranging furniture around a central focal point, like a coffee table. This type of arrangement works well for creating a conversation space.
- Zoning Arrangement: This type of furniture placement divides a large room into several functional zones. For example, you could divide a large bonus room into three areas for study, play, and TV-watching. Creating these zones allows you to arrange furniture within each zone based on the purpose of each activity.
- Diagonal arrangement: Placing furniture at an angle to the walls results in a more dynamic and unpredictable layout. This arrangement can add visual interest to any room and is an excellent way to break away from traditional linear arrangements.
- Study the Traffic Flow
Before you decide on a new arrangement of your furniture, consider how it will interact with doorways and affect the natural flow of traffic through the room. The best furniture arrangements for the room will allow for easy movement between areas of the room. Avoid blocking doorways or making the space feel too cramped with too many pieces in one area.
- Strive for Balance and Symmetry
Arrange your furniture in a way that creates balance and symmetry in your space. This does not necessarily mean using a symmetrical furniture arrangement, but it does mean distributing weight evenly through the room. You can do this by striving for balance in a zoning arrangement by making sure each zone has an equal distribution of visual weight. Asymmetrical arrangements achieve balance by combining multiple items to balance the weight of a larger item, like combining two chairs to counter the visual weight of a sofa on the other side.
- Anchor the Area With Rugs
Furniture arrangements can look disparate and random without something to anchor them in the space. Use an area rug to anchor each zone in your room, making it appear more cohesive and planned. Choosing an appropriate rug size is critical. The rug should be large enough to accommodate all the furniture within the group. Even if you cannot place all the legs of the furniture on the rug, you should at least be able to anchor the front legs of each furniture piece on the rug.
Other Tips for Arranging Your Furniture
Interior designers know best practices and guidelines for arranging your furniture in the most comfortable and functional way. As you consider new arrangements for your furniture, be sure to keep these in mind.
Rearrange Smaller Pieces
Some room sizes and shapes lend themselves best to one furniture layout. For these rooms, it can be hard to imagine how to create a new look. Simple adjustments to these pieces can change the flow of the room and give it a fresh look. Large furniture items like a sofa or sideboard may be hard to move, but consider rearranging smaller pieces like side chairs, side tables, a coffee table, and lamps.
Rehang Your Wall Art
Just moving your wall art to a new wall within your space or creating new groupings can give your room a new look. Experiment with different layouts for your artwork. Rather than a gallery arrangement, try a salon-style with artwork clustered together. Use a symmetrical arrangement for a more formal look, or try an asymmetrical design for a dynamic, eclectic vibe.
Be sure to hang your pictures at the appropriate height. Try to maintain wall art at eye level, typically 57-60 inches from the floor, for free-floating art. If you are hanging art above a piece of furniture like a sofa, bed, or console, hang the art between 6-12 inches above the piece to create a visual connection between them.
Embrace Minimalism
You can simplify the room’s appearance while also giving it a fresh appeal by adopting a minimalist style. Declutter your space by cleaning out items that you no longer need or use. Consider removing unnecessary furniture from the room to create a more streamlined look.
Add a New Item or Two
Sometimes all you need to do to update your space is add a new statement piece. Just one piece can create a new focal point in your room, completely changing its appearance. Consider adding a brightly colored chair, a one-of-a-kind coffee table, or some eye-catching wall art. A new piece of furniture, such as a bookcase or shelving unit, can provide an opportunity to rearrange your furniture while also adding storage.
You can also add a new color component to your room by adding new accessories. Remove certain decorative items and replace them with new color or pattern options. This could include new throw pillows, window coverings, or a freshly painted focal wall.
Experiment and Iterate
Remember that rearranging your furniture is a creative process that may require adjustments along the way. When you have decided on a new arrangement, test it out for a while to see how it works. Gather feedback from other members of the household to determine how it works for everyone. Take all of this feedback into account and decide whether you want to keep the new arrangement. Never hesitate to make other changes or tweaks to the new arrangement that may improve it.
