How to Place Furniture in an Oddly Shaped Room
Oddly shaped rooms often present a design dilemma. Where and how should the furniture be placed? Although you're not decorating a square or rectangular space, keep in mind that the same furniture arranging principles apply. Choose furnishings that appeal to your personal taste. Whether you prefer antiques surrounded by collections or sleek modern minimalism, make sure the room is a reflection of your personal style. Keep comfort first and foremost when choosing furniture arrangements. Highlight focal points in the room by arranging the most important pieces of furniture around it. Downplay less attractive areas by using less important pieces nearby. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Start with a plan. Measure the dimensions of your room and draw it on a sheet of graph paper. Measure your furniture so it can be plotted on the paper. Lay your ideas out on paper before moving furniture.
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Start with the largest piece of furniture to be placed in the room. In a sitting room, that would be the sofa. In a bedroom, start with the bed. And in a dining room, begin with the table.
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Identify the room's focal point, such as a fireplace, and arrange furniture to draw attention to it. Group the sofa, coffee table and chairs in front of it, or point the bed to face it.
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Divide the room into sub-areas or inner rooms. Use area rugs to delineate the spaces. Anchor a sitting area with one rug, a dining area with another rug. Place the groupings outside the natural flow of traffic. Allow 30 to 36 inches between major pieces of furniture so people can freely move around them. Position the coffee table 14 to 18 inches from the sofa for adequate leg room.
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In an oddly shaped room, pull furniture away from the walls and float it inside the space. Consider placing items, such as the sofa, on a diagonal. Echo the angled placement with an area rug. This creates more interest than pushing all the furniture against the walls.
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Survey the room to make sure it is visually balanced. Heavy pieces should be spread throughout the space, not grouped closely together.
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Plan your seating to encourage conversation. Most people prefer to sit across from one another. Always keep comfort in mind when planning any room arrangement. ''The New Smart Approach to Home Decorating'' recommends spacing seating pieces in a conversation area no less than 4 feet and no more than 10 feet apart for optimum comfort.
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References
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