How to Determine Furniture Proportion to a Room

Select the couch first. Choose a couch that is about two-thirds the length of the wall behind it. For large rooms, use a couch that is full or over-stuffed. In small rooms, use a couch that is smaller and sleek.

Place a coffee table that is about two-thirds the length of the couch in front of the couch.

Add a collection of art behind the couch. Use one large piece or several pieces together. Hang them so they are about 8-inches above the back of the couch. The collection should take up about two-thirds the length of the couch. Center it so it is balanced over the middle of the couch.

Use end tables only in a room big enough to accommodate them. Small rooms will look cluttered with end tables added to the mix. Choose end tables that are coordinated with the rest of the furniture and are matching so they look balanced on either end of the couch.

Select items for the side walls that are in proportion to each other. The left side and right side of a room need to have the same amount of furniture to feel balanced. For example, if you have a large, wide armoire on the left side of the room, use another piece of furniture, such as a desk on the right side. The pieces of furniture should be equal in proportion or one piece can be up to two-thirds the size of the other piece.

Accessorize the room using art, mirrors and other accessories that are in scale to the room. Christine Rae and Jan Saunders Maresh, authors of "Home Staging for Dummies," recommend putting away anything that is smaller than a fist. This reduces clutter. Always choose larger accessories as long as they don't overwhelm the key piece of furniture and maintain the 2:3 proportion.