| It’s a funny thing about furniture | | | | hide key features of your room with your |
| placement. When you get it right, your rooms will | | | | furniture! Don’t use your sofa to block fire |
| feel welcoming, even if the surroundings are | | | | places, sliding glass doors or terrific views. |
| mediocre. When you get it wrong, your room will | | | | - Problem: You just killed your focal point! Key |
| always feel awkward no matter how much | | | | features in a room are natural focal points. Play |
| money you throw at it. Learn three common | | | | them up. |
| mistakes to avoid and how to fix them if | | | | - Fix: Find one or two of your favorite things |
| you’ve already made them. | | | | about the room and make those be your focal |
| #1 Blunder | | | | points. Orient your furniture in such a way that |
| By far the most common mistake made, is the | | | | you get to appreciate them every time you take |
| bowling alley syndrome in large living rooms. You | | | | a seat. If it happens to be a fire place and a great |
| know what I’m talking about. All the | | | | view, make sure they are seen! |
| furniture in the room is pushed up against the | | | | You pay good money for those high value |
| walls with a big empty space in the middle. Sorry, | | | | features in your home. Play them up, show them |
| having kids is no excuse. | | | | off and don’t forget why you fell in love |
| - Problem: No conversation area! When you are | | | | with the house to begin with. |
| visiting with someone it’s nice to feel like | | | | #3 Blunder |
| your actually sitting in the same room together. If | | | | This one is understandable, but has its |
| your friend is sitting on a couch eight feet away | | | | consequences. Mistake #3 is placing too much or |
| from you, the talking distance becomes naturally | | | | too little furniture in a room. I know, I know, it all |
| uncomfortable. We humans are just that way. | | | | comes down to money or emotional attachment. |
| We like to be in closer proximity to one another | | | | Either you don’t own the furniture or you |
| during conversation. | | | | have no place to store it. |
| - Fix #1: Place your couches and chairs in an | | | | - Problem: The room feels crowded, cluttered and |
| ‘L’ shape pattern with no more than | | | | uncomfortable or cold and lonely. Either scenario |
| 24”-36” between the end of your | | | | screams “Let me out of here!” |
| couch and the end of your love seat or recliner. | | | | - For the overstuffed room: Take some of those |
| This leaves plenty of space to pass between the | | | | pieces out! Put them in another room, store them, |
| furniture or place an end table. | | | | sell them or give them away. If you must live in |
| - Fix #2: Place your sitting pieces across from one | | | | tight quarters, for heaven sakes make it pleasant. |
| another; couch opposite chairs or couch opposite | | | | Letting go of clutter is liberating. You might just |
| loveseat. Leave no more than six feet of space | | | | find your place isn’t so small after all! |
| between them. This allows seating close enough | | | | - For the empty room: Get some furniture. Real |
| to feel intimate and plenty of room for a coffee | | | | furniture. Grown up rooms have furniture. |
| table. People don’t need more than | | | | It’s about creating a life style for yourself. |
| 18” to comfortably pass between tables | | | | It’s about creating an environment that |
| and sofas. | | | | makes you feel good. Make the decision and |
| If you find you have a bunch of empty space | | | | make it happen. |
| after ‘grouping’ your furniture, | | | | Great furniture placement is time well spent and |
| GREAT! Every square foot of your home is | | | | it’s free! It sets the tone for the whole |
| valuable real estate. Now you have room to place | | | | room. When a room flows, it feels good. When it |
| a writing desk, small game table, reading nook or | | | | feels good, you feel happier. After all, isn’t |
| a ‘play’ area for the kids…you | | | | that what life is all about? And just think, now |
| get the idea. | | | | that you have great flow you can get down to |
| #2 Blunder | | | | the real business of decorating your |
| This one is a horrific mistake. Please don’t | | | | space…but that’s another article. |