When is it o.k. to….
Have you ever gone in someones house and wanted to start moving furniture around? I know we have all been in that house at one time or another. If you are someone who just does not know how to arrange a certain room in your home, this blog is for you. How to improve your living space, make it more family and guest friendly.
As we all know flow is everything in a room. Do you flow in the room easily or do you run right into a couch or chair? That sometimes can be painful. When standing in a room that does not flow one begins to feel a bit dizzy and disoriented. Sometimes it is just a matter of rearranging a few things to make the world feel balanced again.
Goes without saying you should consider who lives in this space. Adults, kids and pets, everyone should feel welcomed and comfortable in the home.
Let us start at the entrance of the room. A family room usually has one or two focal points, a fireplace and or large flat panel T.V. The seating should face your focal point and not be too far away from each other in order to have conversations with your guests. If the room is larger, it is o.k. to make little conversation areas. I feel that works if the size of the room can handle it.
How many couches are too many? What about too many chairs?
First thing, remove everything that is removable. You need to look at the space without distractions. (This includes all the items on the walls.) I find it helpful to use graph paper to draw your space out. This helps to visualize the space without having to move the furniture around and around. Decide what is coming back in the space, what is staying out and if possible what is something new that can be added.
I think it is a bonus if your focal points can be next to each other. This makes arranging the furniture a bit easier, especially if the T.V. can go above the fireplace. I really love the invention of the flat screen. Also consider the size of furniture in the space. Is everything at one end of the room, making it feel a bit tilted to one side? Balance is another important ingredient in the layout of the room.
I personally feel you should allow enough seating for the number of people living in the house. If you have company you can always bring in extra seating from other rooms. (Unless, your room can handle the extra chairs.)
Another nice touch if possible is to create a reading corner in the space. What a wonderful spot to curl up and read a book with someone special.
So there you have it! Your space has balance, flow and welcomes family and friends with open arms.
