Decorating Basics: Furniture Arrangements

January 1, 2011

Now is the perfect time to give your space a decorative refresh. Learn the basics of furniture and how to best arrange it, then reconfigure your room for a completely new look—and without spending a penny!

Analyze Your Space

Focal Point: Every room has a main subject. A space used for entertaining might focus on a fireplace or a conversation piece, such as a painting. If it’s where the family relaxes, the main feature could be the entertainment center. As a rule, the largest pieces of furniture should face or complement the focal point.

Tip: As you rethink your room, try changing the focal point. Instead of mounting the TV over the mantle, move it to the side and hang a family portrait there.

Foot Traffic: Be sure your arrangement allows people to move about easily and that no entryways are blocked. If possible, create a path that doesn’t cut through your main seating arrangement.
Windows: They fill your space with natural light and offer beautiful views, so do your best to showcase them. Avoid placing a sofa or bed directly against or beneath a window—come winter, the area will become extra cold. Also, consider sunlight glare when positioning items like TVs.
Outlets & Air Vents: Make a note of where these features are placed in your space so you can avoid accidentally covering them up with heavy furniture.

Furniture Basics

Start Big: Begin with your largest furniture piece. Once you place it in relation to your focal point, begin filling in the rest of the space with smaller pieces.
Create Pairings: Identify items that can go hand-in-hand. Instead of spreading them apart, set a pair of matching armchairs next to each other for a symmetrical look. If you have an angular desk and an ornate picture frame, plan to pair them for a contrasting effect.

Before you reposition your pieces, give them a thorough clean with Swiffer® 360 Dusters. They have over 500,000 fibers that trap and lock dust particles on your furniture and décor accents.

Think About Function: For every seat, there should be a light source and a table for resting items nearby. Use side tables or repurposed nightstands and small lamps to create functional nooks.
Check for Variation: When you look at a well-designed room, your eye should move continuously through the space. You can achieve this both through color accents and the placement of your items. To learn more about using scale and proportion successfully, read The Basics of Decorating with Size.
Import Something New: Have a chair that’s always been in your office? Take a chance and see how it feels in the next room over. The addition of one new piece can make a space feel entirely different.

Moving furniture is the perfect time to give the floors around and underneath your furniture a thorough clean. Do it with ease when you use Swiffer® SweeperVac®—its all-in-one design picks up dirt, dust and even pesky pet hair.

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