In real estate listings and on HGTV’s “after” reveals, homes often appear more polished, spacious, and brighter than what you typically see in everyday life. It might leave you wondering if these homeowners have figured out how to live without grandma’s enormous china cabinet or if they can afford to buy a new sofa every time they move.
Creating a balanced and harmonious floor plan that fits your home without overcrowding or leaving it sparse can feel as complex as assembling a 1,000-piece puzzle. “It’s all about balance, like the advice to take off one accessory before you leave the house,” says New York interior designer Kati Greene Curtis.
To help you get the mix just right, we asked home stagers and interior designers for their top furniture arranging tips. Here are some of their do’s and don’ts.
Do: Consider Sight Lines
“When you walk into a room, you should be able to see everything clearly without a large sectional or a tall lamp obstructing your view,” says Michael Fowler, a D.C.-based home stager, interior designer, and real estate agent. Achieve this by floating lower-profile pieces, like a sofa with a 30- to 32-inch back, and saving wall space for taller items, like an antique bookcase. The more your eye can travel through the space without interruption, the more open and serene the room will feel.
Do: Anchor Your Furniture Around a Focal Point
Design your furniture arrangement around a key feature of the room, such as a fireplace, a window with a stunning view, or a large piece of art. “You want to notice the most attractive element in the room first,” Fowler says.
Don’t: Ignore Flow
“Flow” in design refers to how well your furnishings work together and how easily people can move around the space. “You don’t want to feel like you’re dodging furniture or constantly bumping your leg,” says Betsy Wentz, a Pittsburgh interior designer and author of Design Happy: Colorful Homes for the Modern Family.
Generally, leave a 28- to 36-inch “walkway” around major furniture pieces like dining tables and sofas. For coffee tables, position them 12 to 16 inches from your sofa—close enough to place your drink or laptop, but far enough for easy passage.
Don’t: Push All the Furniture Against the Wall
“Don’t turn your house into a bowling alley by placing everything against the wall,” says Shirin Sarikhani, founder of Seattle Staged to Sell & Design. Instead, float some furniture or give it a bit of breathing room—a four-inch gap between a chair or end table and the wall can actually make the room appear larger.
While some large pieces like a bedroom armoire or a tall bookcase may need a wall to anchor them visually, in larger rooms with high ceilings, consider placing bulky items off-center or on a less prominent wall for a surprising visual element.
Don’t: Choose a Bed That Overwhelms Your Bedroom
Curtis often finds herself advising clients against squeezing a king-sized bed into small New York apartments. “You need to be able to walk around the bed,” she says. Since most king beds are 76 inches wide, you’ll need at least that much wall space, plus an additional 28 inches or more on each side. Consider also leaving space for nightstands, which typically start at 18 inches wide.
Keep other bedroom furniture functional (like chests for storage) and calming (such as a chair and ottoman for reading). “Your bedroom should be a place of relaxation, not a storage space for everything you own,” Wentz adds.
Do: Break Your Room Into Zones
Large spaces, like expansive living rooms or basement dens, can serve multiple functions if you define each zone clearly. “Function is king now, especially post-COVID,” Sarikhani says. A den might have a sectional for TV watching in one corner and a table and chairs for games or crafts in another.
Fowler also recommends thinking of hotel lobbies when arranging a living room. “They often have different seating groupings, and you can apply the same concept at home.”
Do: Make a Floor Plan
Using painter’s tape to mark potential furniture placements can be helpful, but it doesn’t account for the height of pieces or how they’ll look against walls or under windowsills. Instead, try using a 3D floor plan app or an online tool that allows you to virtually arrange furniture and see how different layouts will work in your space. “These tools let you input the size of your space and the dimensions of your furniture, making it easier to visualize the final look,” Curtis explains.
Don’t: Forget to Provide a Table for Every Seating Area
Every seat should have an accompanying surface, like a table or stool, roughly the same height as the arm of the chair or sofa. “We use a lot of C-tables because they tuck neatly into the sofa, preventing tripping hazards,” Wentz says.
Do: Opt for Flexible Furniture
Furniture that can be easily moved, like poufs that slide under a console or anything on wheels (like a bar cart or kitchen island), is invaluable in smaller spaces. Swivel chairs are another versatile option, Sarikhani notes. “They’re great because you can turn one way to engage in conversation and then swivel back to watch TV.”
Don’t: Block Doors or Windows
It’s bad feng shui and might leave guests wondering what you’re trying to hide behind that armoire. “Even if you have multiple doorways into a space, don’t block any of them,” Wentz advises. “It’s a clear sign you have too much stuff.” While it’s okay for a chair or bed to slightly overlap a windowsill, be mindful that this could block natural light and cause fading to your upholstery or wood furniture.
