5 TIPS ON HOW TO ARRANGE FURNITURE

style & photo by NYCLQ

Just moved and don’t quite know where to begin placing furniture in your new space? Looking to revamp or restyle your existing space? Here are some tips to help you arrange your furniture in a new or existing space. Sometimes, a simple shift is all that is needed. Also, keep in mind your color selections to work with your furniture arranging. Painting a wall a dark accent color, similar to the oversized piece, can help make it disappear into the wall. This can help to make the space feel more open. After you've painted and cleared the space, here are a few suggestions you might consider when confronting your furniture placement and design dilemmas:

style & photo by NYCLQ

1. Plan & place large area rugs and furniture pieces first. Your frustration level will definitely increase if you try to start the process with small tables and accent pieces. Think of it this way: they’d always be in your way and would need to move it and move it back again. How exhausting would that be?

style & photo by NYCLQ

2. In rooms with cathedral, vaulted, or industrial ceilings, place your largest furniture pieces close to the highest wall. Furnishings such as oversized entertainment centers or oversized bookcases will work best on the tall wall to help anchor the space. It’s about balance, scale and proportion.

style & photos by NYCLQ

3. In loft, long, or open spaces, try angling your furniture. When your key furniture pieces – sofas, lounges, and chairs are all lined up flat against a wall, you lose the opportunity to create intimate conversational groupings. Take away the look of a room resembling an office waiting area, and add interest to your space.

style & photo by NYCLQ

4. When selecting furniture to be placed in a smaller room, try these thoughts on for size:



• To make larger objects feel less obtrusive, paint the wall the same color as the item. It will ‘appear’ to disappear, and thereby open up a space.
• One large oversized piece can work in a small space to make it feel large (as long as all other pieces are in proportion to the space.)
• Try to find case good pieces that are tall and shallow to give your small space more height
• Try tailored styled upholstered pieces with rounded corners.
• Include transparency: Lucite and glass tables can give needed surface space without taking up ‘visual’ space to your eye. These surfaces will also help bounce light around the room, making it feel larger.

style & photo by NYCLQ

5. If your largest wall consists of all or mostly windows, you can create a ‘soft wall’ by installing a ceiling track for panels. If space permits above window, you could also try installing a double-hung rod for layered sheers and panels. The rod, after well anchored to wall, can give the ability to hang artwork from.

BEFORE

Also to consider is how you will REALLY best utilize the space. When we purchased this town home, the dining space was naturally set adjacent to the kitchen and living area, but it felt forced and cramped when furniture was placed. But our layout has another space at the entrance of our town home.

AFTER (just ONE version)

BEFORE

WHY anyone would sponge an already stucco textured wall is behind my comprehension.

AFTER

SOLID modern neutral helped anchor the space.

So rather than cram the dining space next to the already existing kitchen counter, I purchased bar stools and converted the front area to the dining room, which helped give more space for a functional living room. To further unite the spaces, two same styled ceiling fans replaced the chandelier and builders white fan.

One last tip: To help SAVE YOUR BACK (and floors) invest in SLIDES to help move furniture with easy... Grey carpeted ones for wood floors, and the plastic for carpet or tiles furniture moving.

Happy Shifting!!