How to Arrange Furniture: No-Fail Tricks

Furniture Arranging Made Easy

No matter if your rooms are big or small, having the right furniture arrangement will make them more enjoyable.

Check out these layout examples, plus tricks for living rooms, family rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms.

Face the View

If your living room doesn't have a fireplace, orient seating so it takes advantage of whatever view your room has to offer, whether it's a TV or a bank of windows. Create your own focal point by hanging a large piece of art on a wall or create a vignette of favorite objects on a console or bookshelf.

Arrange for Conversation

For face-to-face chats, place seating no more than 8 feet apart. In a large living room, use furniture to create comfortable islands. Face two sofas in the center of a room, and place a group chairs and side tables at one end to create a separate conversation area.

Set Up Traffic Patterns

Allow 30 inches between pieces in places where you need to be able to walk around furniture and 14 to 18 inches between a coffee table and sofa, so drinks are within reaching distance.

Put a Table within Reach of Each Seat

Use round pedestal tables as side tables between chairs and sofas. The curves of round tables make them easier to navigate around. When space is tight, use nesting tables for flexible use when needed.

Think About Lighting

Install in-floor electrical outlets to service floating furniture arrangements.

Focus on Entertainment

Place the television and computer so the screens face away from the sunlight. The viewing distance for a standard TV is 8 to 12 feet, and the best viewing angle is not more than 30 degrees. For traffic flow, create paths that flow behind viewers and not between them and the screen.

Add Storage

Consider freestanding pieces in a smaller room and wall-to-wall built-ins in a larger room. Make sure there is some storage near the TV.

Consider All Options

Don't be afraid to give your bed a slightly unusual placement, such as in front of a window, if it will help you maximize space.

Adjust for Size

In a small bedroom, use fewer furniture pieces of a slightly larger scale to maximize floor space. Opt for tall pieces, such as this armoire, that add volume in a smaller footprint.

Add Comfort

Place a bench at the foot of the bed or a small-scale armchair in a corner for bedroom seating. Consider placing a chair next to a bedside table. The chair and bed can share the nightstand. If there isn’t room next to the nightstand, pair the chair with a small garden stool, which will serve as a small table without occupying much space.

Plan Walkways Around Furniture

Allow at least 2 feet on either side of the bed to allow for space to make the bed. Avoid placing the bed within 3 feet of the door; otherwise the bed becomes a roadblock.

Select the Right Size Bed

It’s possible to use a larger bed if you don’t need a lot of storage furniture. Also, consider the visual weight of your headboard. If the bed is slightly large for the room, opt for a visually lighter headboard, such as one that features metal scrollwork. A solid headboard consumes more visual space, and taller, heavier headboards work best in bigger bedrooms or bedrooms with tall ceilings.

Consider How You Use the Room

How do you use your dining room? For family-style meals or buffet-style serving? Make furniture choices that support your needs.

Suit the Space

Circular tables with pedestal bases let folks see everyone at the table and are suitable for tight dining spaces or square rooms.  Rectangular tables limit seating, but work well in rectangular dining rooms and come in a variety of lengths and widths. Oval tables with added leaves also work well in rectangular dining rooms and offer flexibility by adapting to small gatherings or large.

Buy for Size

Be sure to allow a minimum of 36 inches from the table to the wall on all sides. Position the table so traffic flows smoothly around it

Know These Measurements

When determining how many chairs you can fit around your table, allow for a width of 20 to 24 inches and a depth of 15 inches per place setting and leave at least 6 inches between chairs.

Include Functional Storage

Make the most of square footage with a wall of shelves that provide storage for the dining room’s alternative uses -- office supplies, games, and crafts -- or dining extras such as china, linens, and barware.

Light It Right

Choose and place lighting that adapts to the room's functions. For example, hang the chandelier with extra cord length so it can be adjusted for homework or dining. Use dimmer switches, lamps, and sconces to set the mood for the occasion.

Easy Home Decor Crafts and Projects

Shelf Pizzazz

Upgrade basic white floating shelves with pretty hardware. We spray-painted our shelf supports a pretty pink. Another must-try shelf project? Turn an old drawer into a box shelf (next to chair) with a little paint, a divider, and hanging hardware.

Framed Up

Even if the art inside a frame isn't your style, a pretty frame is still a secondhand score. Round up a series of pretty frames, remove the art, spray-paint them in a unifying color scheme, and arrange them on a wall.

Stitched Lampshade

Simple stitches transformed this plain pleated shade. Choose colors of embroidery floss that match your decor and plan out a pretty design. We stitched long stitches to create the vertical lines, added V shapes in two colors, and completed the design with hash marks underneath.

Be-Ribboned Lampshade

For an even easier lampshade embellishment, try this. Cut ribbons to fit around a lampshade and tie the ends in a knot to secure. For extra stability, secure the ribbons with a few dots of hot glue.

Trim Out Curtains

Give off-the-rack curtains a custom treatment with grosgrain ribbon. Cut ribbon to length and attach to the curtain edges. You can either stitch the ribbon in place or use iron-on adhesive.

Decoupage Design Tabletop

Decoupage a lovely design on a thrift store table. Paint the table with two coats of metallic paint. Cover with metallic glaze for extra shine. Let dry. Cut a scrap of wallpaper to cover the tabletop. Coat the top with decoupage glue. Position the paper, pressing carefully to remove any air bubbles. Cover with multiple layers of glue. Let each coat dry before applying the next. Finish with a spray sealant.

Fireplace Screen

Create an easy screen to mask your fireplace -- or any space -- when it's not in use. This bold geometric print pops in front of the white fireplace and mantel.

Here's how to make it: Cut four pieces of 1/2-inch-thick particleboard to your desired size. (The screen's size depends on what you want it to cover. This fireplace is 32 inches wide; the screen is made from four 12x36-inch boards, which came precut from a home improvement store). Use interior latex paint to coat the boards in a color that complements your wallpaper (here, black). Cut strips of wallpaper 2 inches wider and longer than the particleboard. Apply a light layer of spray adhesive to one side of the board and to the back of the wallpaper. Press the adhesive side of the paper onto the adhesive side of the board. Start at the top middle and work your way down, smoothing air bubbles as you go. Wrap the excess around to the back and secure. Repeat for the other boards. Let the boards dry. Use superglue to affix small hinges to connect the boards on the painted side.

Floral Stenciled Dresser

Nondescript wood dressers can often be found for rock-bottom prices at garage sales. To give them a dose of character and contemporary style, cover the top in color and embellish the fronts with stencils. Removing drawers in favor of lined and labeled baskets is another easy way to add color and charm.

DIY Paint Projects for Your Home

Puffy Paint Pillow

Fake an embroidered look with puffy paint. To make a painted pillow like this one, trace a favorite shape on contact paper. Cut it out, and press the paper to a solid-color pillow. With a light touch, apply puffy paint dots around the outside of the design. Allow the paint to dry for three hours and then remove the contact paper. The puffy paint dots will look like embroidered French knots.

Perfect Patina

Give a piece of wood furniture a distressed finish. This simple technique uses paint, sandpaper, and a few basic supplies.

Watercolor Magic

Customize a favorite photo with watercolor. Convert a digital photo to black and white, then print it on lightweight watercolor paper or cardstock. Avoid ink-jet printers; use a laser printer, or enlist your local copy shop for help. Tint your favorite details from the image with watercolor paints (light colors work best) using a soft watercolor brush. Leave the remainder of the photo black and white, and allow it to dry at least three hours. If the first wash of color isn't bright enough, apply a second coat. Let dry completely before framing.

Painted Rug

Put a little spring underfoot, and give an inexpensive sisal rug a fun update with paint. Use green painter's tape and a straightedge or yardstick to create clean outlines. We chose an improvised chevron pattern. When you're happy with your design, use a paintbrush or foam roller to apply interior latex paint, one color at a time. 

Splatter Art

Bring a Jackson Pollock-inspired piece to your home at a DIY price tag. Place a large stretched canvas on a drop cloth. Drip, drizzle, and splatter paint until you have a design you love. Experiment with old paintbrushes, toothbrushes, and splatter tools to create different effects.

Zigzag Chevron

Tap into the chevron trend and apply the pattern to your walls or another surface. Creating a precise chevron pattern requires a bit of math. Click the link below to learn how to measure and map out a chevron design.

Striped Pillow

Not only is this pillow painted, the cover is sewed from flour sack towels. Choose a pillow form, then fold and trim your towel to size. The cut towel should wrap around the pillow completely with an additional 1 inch on three sides for seam allowances. With right sides facing, sew the side seams together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Sew the remaining side, leaving a 4-inch opening in the middle. Turn the pillow cover right side out, lay flat, and insert a piece of cardboard to prevent paint from bleeding. Use painter's tape to make stripes on one side. Spray fabric paint over the untaped areas as desired and according to manufacturer's directions. Let dry and remove tape. Add stripes as desired in a second color. Let dry and insert your pillow form. Whipstitch the opening closed.

Faux Bois Headboard

Skip an actual headboard and go for one painted on the wall. A fun patter, like this faux bois design, will have the same focal point affect as a regular headboard.

Tone-on-Tone Stenciling

Stenciling brings pattern to walls and an interesting break from solid hues. Download this free stencil pattern, and follow the link below to see how to stencil a wall.

Lighter Than Lace

Brighten a basic solid-color lamp base with delicate motifs. A white oil-paint marker is the perfect tool to put your sketches in the spotlight. Draw simple spirals and interlocking paisley or flower patterns for an intricate look. Start at the top and work your way down for the best results.

Kitchen Floor Stencil

Put pattern underfoot by stenciling your floor. Click the link below to see how to stencil a floor, and get the free pattern used in this project.

Color Washing

Give furniture a subtle lift with color washing, a technique using watered-down paint to apply color in a whisper-soft finish.

Three-Way Mirrors

A few coats of paint can transform an old mirror frame, and the fresh effect is amplified when the look is multiplied. While one mirror would have been impactful, a trio of mirrors ups the wow factor. Simply mask off the mirrors, and paint the frames a hue that matches your decor.

Square Off

Go geometric with a simple makeover. Paint a dresser your base color and let it dry. Mark off squares with painter's tape, and paint the entire dresser with a desired color. (We used white as the base color and blue as the top color.) When the top color is dry, peel off the tape and let your design come to life.

Boost Curb Appeal

Easy paint projects aren't just for your home's interior. Brush a little color on your home's exterior for quick curb appeal. Try painting the front door -- a simple, done-in-a-weekend project -- a favorite shade that coordinates with other exterior elements and the surrounding landscape.

Personalize Your Bedroom

Dress up a wooden headboard with paint and a stencil. First, paint the headboard with your desired base color. Once dry, position a stencil on the headboard, and tape in place. Fill in the pattern with a contrasting paint color.

Made in the Shade

A plain lampshade is the perfect venue for painted motifs. This one, embellished with zinnias, is easily re-created with the help of a rubber stamp, a sheet of clear acetate, and a soft palette of sunshine-and-shadow green hues.

Remove and Revive

This standard dining set received a crisp update with white paint. When revamping furniture, don't be afraid to remove decorative elements that don't suit your style. (Just make sure they aren't integral to the function or structure of the piece.)

Dated medallions were removed from the table legs to give this set a more current aesthetic. The holes were filled with wood filler and given a light sanding. Then the entire set was primed and painted. Covering the seats with a graphic fabric completes the fresh, cheery look.

Pattern Perks

Using a stencil and acrylic paint, transform inexpensive solid-color sailcloth curtains into designer-worthy draperies. This elegant arabesque motif repeats at staggering intervals to create an eye-pleasing design. Lay the panel flat and plan your arrangement before you start painting. Be sure to have a protective layer such as newspapers beneath the panel so the paint doesn't leak through the fabric onto your work surface.

Aged to Perfection

Bring signature style to a basic white dresser with a few coats of dry-brushed paint and a set of antique handles. Milk paint provides this dresser with a rich-looking finish, and narrow trim on the drawers gives the once-flat structure dimension. Antiquing glaze rubbed over the entire surface completes the transformation.

Pretty in Paint

Pick a palette of bold paint colors and fun patterns to personalize a dining space. An oversize cane pattern painted on one wall offers a bold background for bright hues throughout the room. After painting the wall's base coat, use painter's tape to make a grid pattern (for best results, add any angled lines last), then paint over the design with your desired background color. Let the paint dry completely, then remove the tape.

Dream Decks

Make it Wonderful with Water

Use a fountain to soften the noise of a busy street or to create a soothing background sound. It's easy to add a water feature to your deck. Tuck small fountains in corners where they'll be out of the way or use a bolder, built-in piece as a dramatic focal point.

Blur the Edges

Grow perennials, shrubs, or small trees at one end of your deck to create a sense of enchantment (and to add a bit of privacy). The plantings will also help blend your deck with a surrounding garden. Include your favorite fragrant plants, such as lilacs or gardenias, to complete the magical setting.

Here's a hint: Place your taller plantings right up against your deck to make it clear there's a barrier.

Layer it Like a Cake

Add interest to your deck by creating different levels. To enhance the effect and eliminate tripping hazards, add outdoor lighting to each level.

Here's a hint: You don't need a tall deck to create drama -- even a foot or two of height difference from a built-in planter can bring your deck from expected to extraordinary.

Add Architectural Elements

Dress up your deck with a pretty pergola or other architectural accent. This pergola, for example, creates a stunning focal point overhead and provides shade that shields a handy outdoor cooking area.

Hide it in the Garden

Enjoy a peaceful getaway by tucking your deck into a secluded corner of the yard. After all, there's no rule that says your deck has to be attached to your house.

Here's a hint: Place your deck in a private spot to make it more of a sanctuary. Flowering vines, such as wisteria, can help create intimacy, as can a simple pergola.

Give Yourself a Getaway

Mature trees make this detached deck feel nestled in the landscape, and a water feature off the end creates a moat effect. These elements combine perfectly to make the deck seem like it's in the middle of nowhere -- even though it's just feet from the house.

Go Swimming

Make your deck feel more upscale by adding a pool or hot tub. If you crave a dramatic look, consider adding a vertical-edge pool (sometimes called an infinity pool), which looks as if it drops off into the space below.

Here's a hint: Check local codes to see if your deck or pool will require a railing or fence for safety.

Be Playful

Add character to your outdoor spaces by creating different designs in the deck flooring. Not all of the boards have to run the same direction, nor do need to be made from the same material. This cheerful deck bears a border of soft green paint that helps to frame the main seating area.

Create Curves

Make your decking playful by adding curves. You can make curved decks from a number of materials, including wood and composites (manufactured from wood and plastics). The design requires a little more work, but the effect is well worth it.

Fill it with Plants

Soften your space with beautiful blooms and lush greenery from container gardens. It's easy to tuck a few containers here and there -- and if you use a drip-irrigation system, the planters will practically take care of themselves.

Here's a hint: You might not be limited to growing annuals. Perennials and shrubs survive outdoors in containers if the container is large enough, which might be 4- to 5-feet wide in northern climates.

Run for Cover

Cover your deck with a roof made from plexiglass, fiberglass, or similar material, and you'll never have to worry about being rained out. Choose a clear material to let the sun shine through on bright days, or if you're in a hot climate, try a translucent material that will provide shade.

Bring the Indoors Out

With today's sturdy outdoor fabrics and wide selection of outdoor furniture, you can make your patio or deck as comfy as your living room. Choose from lounge chairs, love seats, and even sofas in just about every style imaginable.

Here's a hint: Consider adding accessories such as outdoor rugs to dress up your deck floor and canopies that will create shade and offer a ceiling.

Use Dramatic Details

Add distinction to your deck with unique accents. Be creative and select the features that best suit your personality and your style. This sleek deck, for example, boasts an attention-grabbing trellis that adds a splash of modern style and appeal.

Sit and Stay Awhile

Give your guests a selection of spots to sit by providing plenty of built-in and freestanding seating options. (But remember, the more built-ins your deck offers, the less furniture you’ll need to purchase.) Keep in mind if you live in a hot, sunny climate, shade from large trees or buildings can make your deck even more welcoming.

Solve a Slope

Turn a troublesome slope into an opportunity to showcase your deck. Here, for example, the deck was carved into the hillside and surrounded by a retaining wall. On top of creating a dramatic presentation, you'll add usable space to your yard.

Get Your Feet off the Ground

This elevated deck makes smart use of a sloped backyard. And while most of us don't have extreme hillsides like this to conquer, you can apply the same idea in a smaller space. Simply floating your deck 2 or 3 feet off the ground on one side can make it a showpiece.

Make it Cozy

This small deck offers a great balance of comfy furniture and lush surroundings. Its stylish decor and convenient amenities make it the perfect fit for summertime entertaining. Adding features that suit your needs is all it takes to create the deck of your dreams.