When arranging furniture, setup ultimately comes down to your own personal preference. However, there are several guidelines that professional interior designers suggest following as you design your floor plan. We've compiled some of the best design rules to keep in mind when setting up a room.
- When it comes to area rugs, the bigger the better. Your rug should be at least somewhat underneath your furniture. A rug that's too small can make a small room seem even more cramped. You still want to expose some flooring, but your rug should be almost as big as the entire seating area.
- Focus on lighting. Lighting is one of the most important elements in a room. You need to consider placement, brightness and total illumination area. Keep the lighting balanced and make sure not to choose harsh bulbs. Taller lamps can create the sense of a high ceiling. Ceiling lights can make a low ceiling seem even lower, though.
- Keep your curtains high. If you can, hang long drapes from the ceiling to the floor. If you hang your curtains wider than your windows, you can create the illusion that the windows are bigger than they actually are.
- Coffee tables should be large. Like rugs, coffee tables help create a cohesive feel for a living space. Plus, the bigger the table the more functions it can provide.
- Dining tables should be well lit. Ideally, you should have overhead lights over your eating area. Bonus points if they are on a dimmer!
- When it comes to bedrooms, beds should be the main focus. You should always have the bed be the focus point, which would lend to centering your bed against the wall adjacent from the entry.
- Hang paintings and mirrors in relation to your furniture. People tend to hang wall art and mirrors too high. A good rule of thumb is to hang your pieces 2-3 feet above your furniture. However, this can vary with the size of your artwork.
- Televisions should never be the main focus of a room. You wouldn't want to ignore your beautiful fireplace and mantle in place for a big flat screen. Try to mount it on the wall if you can, or incorporate a nice dresser or hutch as an alternative entertainment center.