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Get your priorities right!

Obviously, your home furniture has to look good - you have to like it! But a room should work well, it should fulfil its role in the home. And it will only do this if home furniture is properly arranged. That's why this section is important.

If you are ever caught between the aesthetics of a piece of furniture and its practicality, go for the practical. Of course, this doesn't apply if the item of furniture is never used and is only for show.

A room doesn't work well if...

  • You don't like the furnishings
  • There is no single focal point
  • You can't move easily around the room
  • The furniture is uncomfortable to sit on
  • There is no adequate light for reading
  • There's nowhere to put down your cup of coffee

To help you arrange your home furniture, try to think of space as much as furniture. Rooms tend to look better when areas of space are left free. A room filled with furniture can be restless and intimidating.

But there is also a very practical reason for space in a room. People need to move around freely.

So think about these suggestions.

  • Where you have a main walkway in a room, make the width of the walkway about 4 ft.
  • Have your coffee table no more than 18 inches from the sofa or chair, so people can easily reach it.
  • Remember to allow room behind dining chairs so your guests can easily move their chairs back without clattering against other furniture or walls.
  • Where you have drawers (dresser, bureau, etc) allow about three feet in front of them.
  • Be extra careful in bedrooms. Make sure that there is enough room to open doors and drawers and at the same time allow room for people to move around

Climate

Light, heat, cold, humidity - all these are factors in way you place your furniture. Strong sunlight will fade wood, carpets and fabrics. So be careful way you place your furniture.

If sunlight is a problem, then consider having shades or sheer drapes fitted at the window to protect that area of the room.

If you have air-conditioning make sure the humidity is set correctly. Home furniture, especially antique, can be drastically affected by central-heating, and especially humidity. If your heating makes the room excessively dry, then you could use an unobtrusive humidifier. Don't place furniture too near to radiators, warm air vents or your open fires.

Are you environmentally friendly?

A quick summary...

There's quite a bit to remember, isn't there? Well, to gather all this information together, here is a summary of the things look out for when arranging furniture.

  • Priorities - have you put people first?
  • Space - is there room for people to move around - are the walkways clear?
  • Communication - when people are seated, can they easily talk to one another?
  • Facilities - is there adequate lighting, and plenty of table surfaces for drinks etc?
  • Balance - does the furniture arrangement make the room appear balanced - are you happy with the scale of furniture and the relative positions? Is there a focal point?
  • Practical - have you considered the effects of light, heat and humidity?
  • Aesthetics - does it all look good?
  • Comfort - as a result of all the above, is it a comfortable room to be in, and most of all, is your furniture comfortable to sit in (or lie on in a bedroom)?

Living Room Furniture
Here you'll find more hints and tips on choosing and placing furniture in your living room.

Bedroom Furniture
You need to take care when selecting your bedroom furniture, so you'll end up with a comfortable and practical room.

Kid Furniture
You've got a lot of options when you start to look at kid furniture. This section will help you to choose.

Home Office Furniture
You can often use existing furniture for your home office, or obtain ready made furniture for a more tailored home office.