Questions about Furniture Placement?

Decor Pad - Good Furniture Arrangement Allows for Good Traffic Flow

In my redesign travels or speaking engagements for women’s groups, I often get questions about furniture placement. Today’s post will focus on answering some of those queries.

Q. I am planning on purchasing new furniture for my family room. How much seating should I accommodate?

A. An average seating group should have enough seating to accommodate four to six people in comfortable sofas and chairs. After that, it’s time to pull up extra chairs or even ottomans.

Decor Pad - Seating Arrangement

Decor Pad - Seating Arrangement

Q. I feel like I have so much empty space near my entry staircase, how can I accentuate this area?

A. You can furnish the area under a staircase with a desk and chair, or chair, ottoman and table with accessories. I’ve even seen small loveseats and bookcases placed under, to the side, or in front of staircases. Don’t be afraid to place a chair or some decorative accessories like mirrors, vases with curly willow or large plates on stands on a landing leading up to your second story.

Decor Pad - Furnishing the Staircase Landing 



House of Turquoise - Furnishings - Side of Staircase



Decor Pad - Under a Staircase



Decor Pad - Bookcases on the Side of a Staircase

 

Q. I have a chair, table and lamp in a corner of my family room. Where should I have the lamp for best lighting?


A. If possible, avoid shadows by placing lighting to the left of the seat. Be sure the bottom of the lamp shade is higher than eye level when seated.




Decor Pad - Lighting on the Left Side of Seat





Southern Living - Lamp to Left of Seating

Traditional Home - Lamp to Left of Chair



Q. I am buying new furniture for my great room. My husband wants a recliner but I don’t like them. How can I fulfill his need for lounging and my desire for a more stylish look?

A. I get this question a lot. Recliners can be bulky and unattractive. Although, there are some smaller attractive models available. Try buying a chair and ottoman combination. This combination is much more versatile. When you have company, an ottoman can then be used for additional seating or even serve as another coffee table. If you absolutely have to purchase a recliner, buy one with legs as opposed to one which sits closer to the floor. It will not appear as bulky.

Decor Pad - Chairs with Ottomans

Decor Pad - Club Chair with Ottoman



Surefit.net - Leggy Recliner



If you have a  decorating question, e-mail it to me at encorehomestaging@comcast.net .

"Forget the floor plans.  Arrange the furniture where it is the most comfortable and will look best." ~  Albert Hadley - The Story of America's Preeminent Interior Designer 

Experimenting With Your Furniture Arrangement?

                                                                         House Beautiful

Do you often have trouble placing furniture in a room? Have you rearranged your furniture several times and still don’t think it’s correct? If your furniture placement is awkward or unattractive, you are probably feeling a sense of unrest. (remember – the ”chi” is trapped) Furniture placement in a living room or family room can be easier if you concentrate on a few important principles. First, you should consider what the focal point of the room is. It is the main area of interest in the room and could be a large window, a television, a large piece of furniture, or a fireplace. If you don’t have a focal point in the room, you can create one by placing your large piece of furniture or television on the dominant wall – the wall you notice most when entering the room. Ideally, your furniture should face the focal point of the room. The second concern should be creating a good conversation area which can easily accommodate 5-6 people by linking the sitting areas as close as possible . To do this imagine an invisible circle eight feet across. Place your groupings to fit within this imaginary circle. The third detail is creating good traffic flow. You want to ensure that guests are not trapped in your conversation areas . There should be ample space to move throughout the conversation area. Allow for these areas to be about 3-4 feet wide. How can you accomplish this? Let’s take a look at a few seating arrangements.

                                                             photo by Jason Boutsayaphat      
The first and most common seating area is the "U-shaped "configuration shown below. Chairs and couches are placed in a “U” configuration facing the focal point.

                                                                               House Beautiful

The second configuration is the diagonal  arrangement which adds the illusion of width to a room. It also adds drama and interest and appeals the most to people aged 25-54 years old. If you were staging your home to appeal to this age group, this would be the configuration to use if possible. The sofa could be placed at a deep angle with a loveseat or 2 chairs next to the sofa angled towards it. The picture below illustrate this concept.

                                                                            Remodel.com

The third arrangement is the traditional “L-shaped “placement which appeals to seniors. It is simply having a loveseat or two chairs placed perpendicular to the main sofa forming an "L" shape as pictured below. guests

                                                                          Remodel.com
Another arrangement is the circular arrangement of chairs around a cocktail table which is great in a square room but too visually cluttered for staging.

                                                                   Decor Pad

Have fun experimenting with the furniture arrangement in your living room or family room.  You can always move it back if you're not happy.   Just remember focal point, conversation space, and good traffic flow. 


~ "All life is an experiment." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson