How to Arrange Furniture in Any Room of the House

What do the best interior designers have in common?

It’s not the wall colour, the style of the art, or even the furniture that’s been chosen.

These furniture arrangement tips will help you make the most of the space you have and show off your fabulous new furniture – or even inspire you to try a new layout for a fresh look!

Let’s get started.

How To Arrange Living Room Furniture

Hence the name, the living room is often where we spend most of our downtime. If you love to entertain and host family and friends, the living room is likely the focal point of quality family time and social gatherings.

Knowing the basics of how to arrange furniture will help you make the most of the space for parties, family games, and family dinners.

When you’re arranging living room furniture, consider these four things.

1. Find the focal point of the room
2. Create areas for comfortable conversation
3. Plan first
4. Give furniture space to breathe

Find The Focal Point Of The Room

By arranging your living room around a key focal point, it’ll feel more inviting. If pieces of furniture are scattered without a clear direction or intention, you’ll find yourself feeling awkward or uncomfortable when spending time there.

You can create a focal point by:

• Identifying the largest feature – a fireplace, or bookcases shelves
• Choosing your favourite architectural feature – a window, feature wall, or cozy nook
• Placing artwork, flowers, or shelves with family photos in one place
• Directing light fixtures to your desired place

Create An Area For Conversation

The average time Canadians spend watching TV is pretty shocking at almost three hours per day.

If you’re looking to ditch the sitcom binges, consider removing the TV from your living room and create a space that encourages connection.

Pivot your sofa and other seating around a more inspiring focal point, such as:

• The kitchen
• Artwork
• Plants
• A coffee table with books and family photos
• A window

By keeping conversation areas in mind when arranging living room furniture, you’ll create a more connected space that isn’t so dominated by what’s on TV.

Make Time To Plan First

Take your time!

It’s tempting to be spontaneous when you find a stunning piece of furniture. By taking the time to plan, you reduce the risk of making a purchase that’s too big for your space or that doesn’t suit your decor.

Take note of the following before you go shopping:

• Size  – Measure your space carefully to get the perfect fit and feel for the room
• Shape – Take note of what shapes will fit your living space and how much space will be left once your new furniture is there
• Colour – Colour can be very tricky, especially when ordering online. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If in-store shopping, bring curtains, fabric, or anything to aid in a confident match.

Give Furniture Space To Breathe

We can all take an important lesson from minimalism. Leaving space around furniture and reducing the bold elements in your living space achieves two things:

1. More freedom to move around the room
2. More space to appreciate the style and composition of the room

If you’re rearranging furniture or introducing a new statement piece, this is a perfect opportunity to declutter.

How To Arrange Furniture in a Long Living Room

You might assume that more space means more freedom to decorate and arrange your furniture.

But, that’s not always the case. Creating coziness and warmth in a living room becomes difficult as empty space becomes cold and echoey.

Here are a few things to do if a long living room is a dilemma.

1. Create separate spaces that hold their own
2. Use potted house plants and art to fill up empty wall space

Create Separate Spaces

Sometimes a living space may be too long for the traditional home viewing experience. No one wants a living room like a racquetball court with more blank walls than character!

Try using different coloured rugs to break up the room and create different ambiances – a darker, cozier area to watch TV and a bright, colourful area for entertaining guests.

Then, add a bookshelf and a studious yet comfortable chair like the same recliner, now a library exists where a blank space previously had. Who says a library and a movie space can't be in the same room?

Use House Plants And Art To Fill Vertical Space

Artwork and potted plants are the perfect way to fill empty wall space. If your living room has enough natural light, you can use tall potted plants to strategically fill the space, especially if you have high ceilings.

Potted plants are a lovely addition to any space for many reasons. The health benefits of houseplants are often overlooked, but it is worth mentioning that plants provide more than just beauty and colour.

How To Arrange Furniture In An Awkward Living Room

Not all homes are square-shaped. For those of us decorating an awkwardly shaped living room, there are a few ways to create an impressive space while showcasing its uniqueness.

Consider two options:

1. Slanted ceilings
2. Windows on most or all walls

Slanted Ceilings

A room with a slanted ceiling can be more difficult when deciding how to arrange furniture. Here are a few tips on what types of furniture might work well.

• Low back sofas – the heights of sofas, loveseats, and chairs should not exceed the height of the first crease in the slanted ceiling. This immediately makes the room seem shrunken, and you’ll feel like Alice in Wonderland.

• Low altitude chairs – furniture that is lower to the ground can efficiently finish a room with slanted ceilings. Low furniture can be hard on the knees, but it can be the perfect addition in a kid's bedroom or game room.

Too Many Windows

Natural light is sought-after for many homeowners, but several windows in the same space can make furnishing more difficult.

When arranging furniture in a room with a ton of windows, be careful not to cover a window – it can look awkward.

Instead, try low-back sectionals and sofas to avoid losing any of that gorgeous daylight.

How to Arrange Furniture In A Small Living Room

Living in a smaller space shouldn't prevent you from learning how to arrange furniture stylishly!

Here are four strategies to help you furnish a smaller living space:

1. Mount TVs and electronics on walls
2. Large area rugs
3. Dual-purpose furniture
4. Smaller furniture with clean lines

Mount Your TV On The Wall

When arranging furniture in small spaces, every square inch maximized is a step in the right direction. For example, mounting a television on the wall instead of setting it on a table or media stand can lend a lot of extra space that will come in handy later.

Large Area Rugs

Large area rugs can actually give the appearance of more space in a small room. Be sure to choose a large enough area rug that an entire scene of furniture can fit. Small rugs can chop up the main space making small spaces appear even smaller.

Dual-Purpose Furniture

Who doesn't love to optimize their budget as well as their space with multipurpose items? Dual-purpose furniture like chests that can double as coffee tables, and console tables that can function as entertainment stands will offer more storage and hidden areas.

Choose Smaller Furniture With Clean Lines

Simplistic and modest furniture with clean lines can still be comfortable and stylish.

Sofas and loveseats with loud and bright patterns can appear to take up more space even if they are the same size as their more modest counterparts. 

Recommendations for Small and Large Rooms

How To Arrange Furniture In Your Bedroom

Just because this space is more private than the rest of your house doesn’t mean it shouldn’t enjoy the sophisticated design charms as the rest of the house. Your bedroom is your sanctuary, and it should make you feel happy.

So, what are some fail-proof design tips for arranging your bedroom furniture?

Map it out first

Arranging your furniture without direction quickly becomes tiresome and stressful. Set some time aside to consider the space you’re working with, read your favourite blogs or magazines, and sketch out a layout that works with what you have. Once you have a couple of layouts you like, you’ll feel more confident rearranging your furniture.

Prioritize the biggest things

Your accessories should be finishing touches. Where you position your bed, dresser, and mirror is your top priority. Start from the bed and work your way down the list.

Set intentional spaces

If you’ve got the space, consider creating a nook or area for you to enjoy some downtime – whatever that looks like for you. If you’ve been meaning to make time to read a new book or practice more yoga, now’s the perfect opportunity to dedicate a space to that hobby.

Give everything a ‘home’

When rearranging your bedroom furniture, try setting the goal of giving everything you own a designated spot – from your photos to your candles, to your books. If something doesn’t ‘fit’ amongst the rest, maybe it doesn’t belong in your bedroom – or maybe it’s time to throw it out!

How To Arrange Furniture in a Small Bedroom

Your Pinterest may be flooded with spacious, minimalist designs for your bedroom. But, if you don’t have much space to work with, you’ll find yourself fighting a never-ending battle against clutter!

Here are four ways to arrange furniture in a small bedroom:

1. Storage, storage storage
2. Dresser in the closet
3. Use tall dressers
4. Use a stool or bench instead of an accent chairs

Storage, Storage, Storage!

When the optimization of space is a top priority, storage is crucial. For example, when arranging furniture in a small bedroom, chests or storage benches can be used, adding style and efficiency to a smaller sleep space.

Dresser In The Closet

When it is a struggle to find space for clothes and belongings in a small bedroom, try incorporating your dresser into the closet to offer more floor space.

Use Tall Dressers

Small spaces still offer vertical space, so use it!

Taller dressers take up less square footage while adding much-needed storage space. 

A contemporary and clean-lined piece like the Defined Distinction Chest is a good example of ample storage without taking up a lot of floor space.  allows for more storage space without being so cumbersome.

Use A Stool Or Bench Instead Of Accent Chairs

A sitting area is ideal in any bedroom. However, creating a space like this in a small bedroom may prove problematic.

Try using a stool that can be tucked away or something like the Milestone Bench that can sit at the end of the bed, offering storage and a place to sit. Triple threat!

How To Arrange Furniture in a Dining Room

When considering how to arrange dining room furniture, it will depend on the size of your dining table. Is this a quaint, dining room for two or a family dining room for the whole crew? Either way, an intimate yet comfortable dining experience is the goal.

1. Pick a size appropriate dining table
2. Consider light fixtures that can be mounted to the ceiling
3. Ensure there’s enough space around the dining table

Pick The Right Size Dining Table

Whether it's a refurbished family heirloom or a new modern table, it’s important to know how to choose the right dining table for your home.

This Friendship table is the perfect adjustable dining table. Its height and width can adapt to a variety of uses – from dining to working or even as an island bar!

Consider The Light Fixtures

Lighting is essential to set an intimate, cozy ambiance when dining –

Will the light shine directly in someone's eyes? Does it provide enough light that people can clearly see their plates? 

Lighting considerations are easily overlooked, but essential for arranging furniture in the dining room. It is recommended to allow two to three feet of clearance between hanging lights and the dining tabletop.

Ensure That There’s Enough Space Around The Table

No one wants to hold in after a holiday dinner and squeeze behind guests to get in and out of their seats. Cramped dining spaces can be both uncomfortable and catastrophic when handling food and beverages.

So give at least an arm's length worth of space behind each chair.

According to Hunker, the recommended distance between dining chairs should be a minimum of 24 inches (measured from the centre of the seat). This should allow a minimum of six inches of elbow room.

For armchairs like the Foundation Arm Chair, allow 30 inches from the centre seat.

Recommended Dining Table Spacing

Conclusion

Having a stylish and comfortable home isn’t about how much space you have, it’s how you use it.

Knowing how to arrange furniture will help you create a completely new space either with new furniture or the pieces you have and love. If you’ve just invested in new furniture, these tips will help you make the most of your available space while showcasing your new favourite sofa or table.

If you’d like some assistance arranging your furniture, or aren’t sure which piece is best suited to your room, contact the design team at  Bondars.

As Calgary furniture and interior design specialists, we’ll help you out!