How to Arrange Furniture

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Position your furniture in a way that's fun, functional, and fetching.

Step 1: Find the focus
Determine your room's focal point, which is the most dramatic thing in the room, like a fireplace or a bay window. Or you can make one yourself with a striking piece of art or a large flat-screen TV.

Tip
The ideal viewing distance between a sofa or recliner and a TV screen is three times the size of the screen.

Step 2: Form a U
Plan your sitting arrangement in a U-shape around the focal point, so everyone has a view. This shape also allows for conversation, since everyone can see each other no matter where they sit.

Step 3: Keep conversations cozy
Keep all sofas, love seats, and chairs within eight feet of each other.

Tip
The height differences between sofas and chairs should be no more than five inches to keep everyone on a relatively even level.

Step 4: Don't be distant
Place coffee tables 14 to 18 inches from couches. Make sure everyone who is sitting is within reach of a place to set down a glass.

Step 5: Think outside the box
Think outside the box. Despite their name, wall units do not have to be shoved against walls. They can be used to divide a long, narrow space in two.

Step 6: Check traffic flow
Keep enough space for people to navigate the room easily. Traffic paths should be at least two feet wide and should not interrupt major furniture groupings.

Step 7: Don't overload it
Don't overload rooms with furniture. Not only do rooms appear larger and cleaner when they're less cluttered, but studies show they make people feel more relaxed.

Did You Know?
In feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging space to achieve health, harmony and happiness, sofas should never face a bathroom door.