When it comes to space planning, most people just put their furniture where they think they will fit best, even if that placement doesn’t really work for them. Or maybe a piece was too heavy to move elsewhere, so it was simply left in the hallway or the room closest to the door.
Once furniture is in place, it usually stays there for years, with no changes made — that is, until I come into their home.
As a designer, the moment I walk into a space I know whether the room is working or not. Most of the time, the rooms do not work the way my clients want them to, which they find very frustrating.
When I suggest we move furniture around and edit pieces, I see the panic set in. I often hear things like:
- They know their room is not set up properly.
- They have no idea what to put where.
- They know their furniture does not fit the space.
- They don’t know how to edit what they have.
- They have no idea what to do to fix it.
Perhaps you have been feeling this way as well?
Common issues found in many homes that can cause stress or frustration:
- Defaulting to having the furniture up against walls, facing the fireplace or clustered around a table.
- Treasured family pieces can have sentimental value, but may not be very functional or even liked.
- Feeling that your room isn’t cohesive or seems out of balance or proportion.
Does this sound like your home? If so, I hope the tips in this article will help you make the most of space planning.
Space planning is elusive to most homeowners and they feel intimidated when we talk about it. In their view, the space that they have to work with should work with their pieces.
Important considerations when planning your space:
- Traffic areas in the space should not be blocked by furniture to make it easy to get around the room.
- Does the room feel balanced? Are all the pieces of furniture on one side of the room?
- The amount of pieces you place in a room should feel in proportion to the space that you have. You can have too much or too little.
- How will you use your space? Do you have the pieces in the room that serve the purpose you want?
Are you downsizing your space?
Have you gathered too much furniture over the years and now have to decide what to keep and what to get rid of? Downsizing is hard enough, but added to that is it’s also usually an emotional time as well.
Here are some tips to help you along your downsizing journey:
- Take an inventory of everything you have.
- A floor plan of your new space will be helpful to see where pieces could be positioned.
- It might be a good time to sell, donate or give away pieces you cannot take with you.
- When deciding what to take with you, choose the pieces you love the most and use all the time.
- Be open-minded. Can a piece be used for a different purpose in a different space, say using a dresser as a TV stand?
- You may have to buy a few new pieces to make your space look its best and work well.
- Consider storage options such as bookcases and storage ottomans.
Looking to buy a few new pieces?
Shopping for furniture can be overwhelming, leaving you feeling like you’re walking in circles, not knowing what to select or how it will look in your space.
Tips to make your shopping experience less stressful:
- Have an idea of the pieces you are looking for.
- If shopping in person rather than online, take a measuring tape, measure the pieces you’re considering and bring this information home with you. (Most online retailers will include that information on their site.)
- Sit on couches and chairs and make sure they are comfortable and the right “fit” for you and your family.
Mark it out
When you get home with your measurements use painter’s tape to mark out the pieces on the floor. This will give you a sense of whether everything you’re considering will fit or not. Take a step back and look at the room. Does it make sense to you?
From this exercise you will get a feel for your new space and the pieces that you will need to buy.
This also works if you are looking to install a wall-mount TV and/or fireplace.
Decorating tips
- Don’t be afraid to pull chairs away from walls; they can “sit” in space. You can angle chairs as well.
- Rooms can be multi-purpose. A music room and reading room? Sure! Just set up the room that way from the beginning.
- Have an unused space? Create a usable one, such as the one above that made a conversation area with comfy chairs and a small table next to the patio doors.
- Don’t forget to infuse your personality and the pieces you love into your space.
Ready to look at your space differently? Perhaps it’s time to change it up a bit!
