The header of my newsletter this month is hot pink (for Valentine’s Day). Because I wanted to coordinate the first photo with the colour of the header I ended up featuring this short post I wrote about Small Space Layout; Sofa and two chairs vs. a loveseat. This got me thinking about space planning which is the first step to any successful interior!
My client’s living room is potentially large enough to accommodate two seating areas. She already has a wonderful, cozy sectional (and 2 chairs) from Living Space and just assumed (as most people would) that the furniture should be arranged around the fireplace. However, the obvious way to position the sectional around the fireplace did not work for them, so they ended up splitting it up and flanking it on either side of the fireplace, this left one longer than the other and it looked awkward.
However, the more important focal point of this room are the large floor-to-ceiling windows (at the back of the living room) overlooking trees and a private garden and this arrangement did not take the garden into consideration whatsoever. My client has a great sense of humour and she told me I was not the first person to walk into her house and say,’Can we talk about how the living room is arranged?’
Once we moved it to where it should be (back together as a sectional) and closer to the windows (and the view) it immediately became a more inviting space and the furniture we need to buy is now much more defined. Five hours later, we had also made decisions on millwork in the playroom/media room, chosen a colour for the front door as well as discussed the furniture plan for the entry and guest room. (Sorry I only have an ‘after’ picture of the living room and it’s far from being finished, so that photo will have to come later).
So back to space planning, What if you have a flat screen TV that needs to be installed directly into the wall? Gone will be the days when you could re-arrange your living room on a whim. Once you install the TV into the wall, you could go for years without being able to move it!
The biggest piece of advice I could give you is to move your furniture away from the walls. Nate Berkus said it best once on Oprah, “When you have all your furniture lined up against the wall it looks like it’s under arrest”. Let it breathe, and create a conversation area. You should avoid an arrangement that forces you to walk through the room to get to another room or the patio doors (if possible).
And if you are still not having an ‘aha moment’? Best to hire a professional to organize it for you. Then you can go shopping armed with the confidence that you are buying the right pieces!
Related posts:
Do you need a Tree for your Interior?
Happiness is. . . A Beautiful Vignette
Must have custom order for your Bedroom
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