Furniture Placement 101

Measure your space before making any purchases.

A pair of side chairs are angled in order to show spaciousness in a lower-level living space. Handout/TNS

By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to setting up one’s space relates to how to properly place furniture.

Knowing the basic elements of spatial design and common floor plan configurations will help to serve as a guide.

Common Room Shapes

A narrow living room is made to feel open and airy through a parallel furniture arrangement. Handout/TNS

Rectangular

Square

Angled

Curved

While rectangular shaped rooms is the most common floor plan shape it may pose challenges as it relates to floor plan layout. Glass walls or rectangular rooms with windows, closets or door openings can be difficult to plan when it comes to furniture placement.

Getting Started: The Planning Process

Two seating arrangements placed opposite each other serve as an example of a parallel furniture layout. Handout/TNS

Before purchasing any furniture be sure to pre-plan by following these Design Recipes tips:

Measure your space, both the width and length and if needed the height.

Obtain measurements for your desired furniture. Nearly all furniture selections will provide product dimensions.

Plan and Sketch. Plan out your space on paper. This step isn’t about drawing ability but is a helpful visualization tool.

Typical Furniture Layouts

A long sofa provides an example of a straight furniture placement in this living space. Handout/TNS

Straight

Parallel

Angled

L Shaped

Straight: This type of furniture arrangement works well when one has a long wall in which furniture is mostly arranged along a single wall or plane.

Parallel: This furniture arrangement works well in narrow rooms. With this arrangement, furniture groupings are placed opposite each other.

Angled: This arrangement can work well when space is challenging as angling helps to maintain the openness of a space.

L Shaped: This popular arrangement helps to frame a space while still allowing for an open feel. Design Recipes Takeaway Tip

Go modular. Modular furniture pieces allow for the most about of flexibility, furniture arrangements and configurations.

A sofa paired with elements such as a tree, side chair and side tables create an L shaped furniture arrangement. Handout/TNS

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com. Copyright 2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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