Furniture Placement: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

We've all been there - standing in the middle of a room, staring at furniture that somehow doesn't feel quite right. Is it the sofa? Maybe the coffee table? As building and renovation experts, we’ve seen countless homes and spaces and over time, we have also noticed some common furniture placement patterns that can make even the most beautiful space feel "off."  If you are currently struggling with a similar predicament, know that our expert design team here at Blueprint Management can help! Check out some of the most common furniture placement mistakes, and simple fixes, to help you transform your space right here.

Credit: Tessa Neustadt

The Wall-Hugger Situation

Pushing furniture against walls tends to create giant empty spaces in the middle of a room, giving it a "waiting room" vibe. We see this mistake very commonly, especially in living rooms where sofas and chairs line room perimeters like wallflowers at a dance. Instead, float your furniture! Pull your sofa away from the wall by at least 12 inches to create depth. Instead, try arranging seating in a conversational grouping where people can actually talk to each other without shouting across the room. Arrange furniture in areas where people sit together in a way that they can comfortably converse without raising their voices, or straining their necks, to create a comfortable atmosphere while also filling voids and improving flow at the same time.

The Rug Island Misstep

The dreaded rug island is one of the most common decorating missteps homeowners make. Using an area rug that's too small for a room creates a disconnected "island," on which only the coffee table fits, while all of the other furniture appears to almost hover around its edges. This fragmented look makes your space feel unanchored and poorly planned. Size up and change the overall look and feel of a room instantly! Your rug should be large enough to allow at least the front legs of all your seating pieces to rest on it.  This change alone can immediately make a room feel larger, create cohesion and define the space properly.

The Television Shrine

Arranging your entire living space around the television creates a room that feels more like a home theater than a multi-functional living space. This common design mistake can rob your space of its versatility, and personality, making everyday interactions feel secondary to screen time. The room quickly becomes one-dimensional, with conversation, reading and other activities all oriented towards a black rectangle that dominates the wall even if it’s powered off. Consider alternative focal points! Arrange primary seating to take advantage of natural views or beautiful art. Position secondary seating where it can still see the television but won’t make the screen the star of the show. Better yet, consider placing your television in a tv cabinet when not in use. This balanced approach allows your living room to serve multiple purposes throughout the day.

The Lighting Afterthought

Relying solely on your overhead lighting and tucking lamps into corners where they're too far from seating to be useful for reading and creating ambiance, can leave your space feeling dull and flat. Light in layers! Place table lamps where they will actually be used when needed – such as on end tables positioned beside seating, on console tables located behind sofas, or on bedside tables within arm's reach. Floor lamps should be positioned at the corners of conversation areas or beside reading chairs. Aim for lighting at multiple levels, for example, ceiling, eye-level and floor, to achieve a warm, inviting atmosphere that can be adjusted for many different activities.

The Traffic Jam

Blocking natural pathways through rooms with furniture is a very common mistake many tend to make.  This practice creates awkward detours, where people have to almost zigzag around chairs or tables to get though a room, or from one doorway to another. Map your flow! When contemplating furniture placement, be sure to walk through the space and ensure that there is at least 30-36 inches remaining open for major pathways. Be especially careful with dining rooms and provide enough space, at the very least 24 inches, to allow someone to pull out a chair and sit down comfortably while allowing others to still walk freely behind them.

Remember, the best furniture arrangements will consider both function and feeling. Your space should work for how you actually live.  Sometimes changing, moving or adjusting pieces, even if just by a few inches, can completely transform how a room feels and functions. Take "before" and "after" pictures to get a real understanding of the impact these changes can make, you will be amazed at how different your space looks and feels with furniture that's properly placed.  Need some extra help with your home’s interior design? Give our team a call today, we’d love to help!