Space Planning 101
Space planning is really just figuring out how to arrange your furniture, but you'd be surprised at how tricky that can get, especially when thinking about feng shui. There are many things you should keep in mind when space planning in order to utilize the area and avoid overcrowding. It's vital that you take the time to do some space planning before you end up with that beautiful sofa you love that just doesn't quite fit in your living room like you thought it would. Therefore today, we're giving you a lesson in the basics of space planning and providing you with some guidance to creating the most functional and stylish home possible!
Proper space planning starts with the floorplan.
Your architect or designer should have this. If an official floor plan isn't available, create a to-scale drawing of each room based on your own personal measurements. Your floorplan will serve as a guide for how your furniture should be arranged and will help in determining what will fit in each space.
Decide On Priority Pieces
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The next step in the space planning process is to decide your most important/highest priority pieces (sofa, media console, lounge chairs) and the second most important pieces (side tables, cocktail tables, storage pieces). These can be existing items or items that you are planning to purchase. Regardless, these items are necessary and should be considered first when creating a furniture layout. Before you venture into arranging the furniture, it's important to take into consideration a few more things. First is the function of the room. Will the room be used as a living room, bedroom, media room, office, etc? The purpose of the room will dictate the type of furnishings needed.
Traffic Patterns
The second thing to consider is traffic patterns. Take note of where the doors and windows are located. Where are the most natural "paths" to walk through the room if it provides access to another room. You will need to be sure to avoid placing furniture in these paths.
Consider You & Your Family's Lifestyle
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Is there anyone elderly living in your home? Furniture accessibility or wheelchair access might need to be kept in mind if that's the case. Same goes for infants and small children. The type of furniture you use along with how you arrange it will be determined by your family and their individual needs.
The Focal Point of the Room
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The last thing to consider would be whether there is a focal point of the room. Do you want your furniture to be arranged around a television or fireplace? Or is there a pretty picture window with a marvelous view that you wish to be on display?
Create Your Furniture Layout
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Now that you have taken a proper assessment of the use of your spaces and things to keep in mind, it's time to create your furniture layouts! Take measurements of each piece of furniture and draw them into your floorplan or individual drawings (starting with your priority pieces first). It's good to have at least two options of furniture layouts and then you can decide which option, in the end, will work best for your family and your lifestyle!
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