[Kristin]

By: Abe Abbas

Source: http://hf.durhamcons.com

Furniture placement can be as simple and as bringing home a few furnishing essentials and throwing them together, or it can be as planned and complex as fengshui. Most people like to have it somewhere in between.

These 10 rules might make the process easier.

1. Measure

Measuring your space as well as any furniture you plan to put in it should be the first step in furniture placement. The size of your space will determine what you put in it, how many pieces it will hold, the kind of furniture you use and maybe even the type of material.

2. Determine Function

In today's homes we often create multi-purpose spaces, so a room may serve many purposes, or a very specific one. Determining how you plan to use a room helps you plan a space that serves its intended purpose with a functional layout.

3. Draw Up a Floor Plan, or Experiment

While you can draw the floor plan on a piece of paper, there are many different ways of going about this. You can use room planners available on most furniture manufacturer websites. There are apps that help you with the visualization process.
You can also create your ideal floor plan by simply moving the furniture around. This method does not work for everyone, but is best for someone who likes to be hands on and doesn't want to spend too much time planning.

4. Define Areas

It is important to define areas so that your furniture seems anchored and doesn't float around in the room. For instance, in a living room, you may want to create one or several conversation areas.
Defining areas for different activities is especially important in a multipurpose room, or an especially large one. Areas can be defined through colors, placing rugs on the floor, or creating shapes with your furniture arrangement.

5. Leave Room to Navigate

While furniture is important, leaving enough space to navigate easily is equally important. Create traffic areas that flow easily and naturally without obstructing doors or windows. This also makes the room feel more welcoming and lighter.

Source: www.houzz.com

6. Place Sofas Away From Walls

Walls serve a purpose in defining a room, but your furniture doesn't have to hug them. It is a misconception that you create more space by pushing everything against walls. Sofas and chairs do better some distance away from walls, and create a sense of greater space. Just a few inches are sufficient.

7. Place Dressers and Bookcases Against Walls

Dressers, chests, sideboards and bookcases, on the other hand, generally work better flush against the walls. Apart from the fact that you may need to anchor taller or heavier ones with safety straps, these don't look good placed at angles or away from the walls. The only exception is when case goods are used as room dividers, because in that instance they are acting as walls and helping define an area.

8. Place Dining Tables Under a Light

Dining tables do best under a source of light, whether it is a chandelier or a pendant. Not only is it functional to have light over your dining area, the two don't have to fight for importance within the room, but together create one striking focal point.

9. Have a Focal Point

It is important to have a focal point in the room. It can be an architectural feature, a window, a painting or even a sofa. It is important to find a focal point early on and arrange everything so that it stays in its starring role without having to fight for it.
As mentioned above, a dining table can be the focal point of a dining area, while in a bedroom it makes sense to have the bed as a focal point. It is the largest piece of furniture in a bedroom and it should get some special treatment.

10. Use Functional Furniture, Especially for Smaller Spaces

Functional or multi-purpose furniture allows you to be flexible and lets you use the space many different ways. This especially true for smaller spaces

Bonus Rule: Use Accessories for Impact

Use accessories to kick everything up a notch. Lighting can help you define areas as much as any piece of furniture. Pillows can help create accents, balance things out or help with creating rhythm. Mirrors help introduce light and can make a space feel bigger.



Article Source: http://furniture.about.com/