Tips from a Real Interior Designer on Furniture Arrangement
Arranging furniture is an art. It's one thing to plop a couch in front of the television and call it a day, but it takes real skill to create a functional and stylish living space.
It's crucial to have thoughtful space planning and excellent interior design. It's the difference between having a lovely, tranquil room you and your family want to spend time in and arriving home to a chaotic mess after a hard day.
This guide will show you how to measure a room and arrange furniture in a medium-sized living room like an interior designer.
Space Evaluation
Interior designers in Orange County in California assess the vacant space first. Find any focus points, then wander through the area. The basic furniture placement should be determined using these locations as a reference.
Wherever feasible, make use of the room's geometry.
Large furnishings like the sofa or area rug should be placed in the middle of the room, facing a wall or other prominent architectural element.
Give the room a minimum of 3' of walkway space. This will keep the area from appearing congested while ensuring everyone can move about easily.
Sectionals and Sofas
Ratio: The sofa(s) or sectional should have a size that is appropriate for the space. Consider the sofa's breadth and length in compact rooms to prevent cramming the area with a large sectional. Instead, consider adding a loveseat, settee, or chaise into extremely compact and multifunctional rooms.
Position: A couch or sectional's front, excluding the chaise, should be placed at a comfortable viewing distance of around 7' to 8' distant while facing a TV.
Whenever feasible, couches and sectionals should be placed amid a wall or other architectural element. In general, sofas should be centered on the area rug. However, there are certain exceptions:
When using a sectional couch, remember that its asymmetrical design might give the impression that it is off-center.
When placing objects of various sizes on each end of the sofa (such as a side table and floor lamp, as shown in the example model).
Area Rugs
The various uses of space within a single room can be visually designated with area rugs.
Additionally, they add cohesiveness by tying several pieces of furniture into a sitting arrangement or vignette. A properly sized area rug (or two!) may entirely change the appearance of your house.
Proportion: The size of the area rug in the main seating area should be similar to the seating configuration you want to design, leaving enough room for side tables, floor lamps, etc. to be positioned on either side of your couch and to extend past its ends (where applicable).
A rule of thumb is that the area rug's length should be 1/4 to 1/3 longer than the couch or sectional length (this ratio may exclude extra small spaces).
If the room is large enough to handle a larger rug, it will make the space feel more open. However, area rugs shouldn't be so enormous that they must be placed against the baseboard. To eliminate the illusion of crowding, there should be at least 5" of space between the border of the area rug and baseboard.
Area rugs should, if feasible, be centered on a wall or other architectural element (excluding angled hide and sheepskin accent rugs).
Conclusion
There are a few key things to keep in mind when arranging furniture like a professional interior designer. First, create a floor plan and use a tape measure to ensure that all your furniture will fit in the space. Second, use furniture to create focal points and to fill space. Third, consider the traffic flow in the room and arrange the furniture accordingly. Finally, accessorize your room with items that reflect your style. With these tips and the help of an interior decorator in Orange County, CA, you can make a beautiful and functional space you'll love spending time in.
At Orange Coast Interior Design, we strive to design stunning environments that meet our clients' demands and distinctive personalities. Contact us if you’re looking for the best interior designers in Orange County, California!