The Best Furniture Layout for a Large Room

Planning

• Prior to bringing in any furnishings, spending some time planning will go a long way in achieving the desired look and use of a large room. There are a number of inanimate factors that will affect the design and furniture selection. Carefully consider how the entryways will work within the design. If doors open inward, leaving space for this is essential. If the room will be used for entertaining, pathways should be available to other important areas of the home, particularly the kitchen, bathroom and patio. For entertainment purposes, the design and layout must be flexible and able to be adjusted or added to as needed.

Focal Point

• Most rooms will have something that is a focal point, an area or feature that draws the eye and serves as the center of the design. In living rooms, this is usually the entertainment area, in bedrooms, it’s the bed, and in a library or den it could be a fireplace. Determine this focal point and design accordingly, with this feature becoming the center of attention. If there is no discernible focal point, create one using visually interesting furniture, wall art, window treatments or a striking paint technique.

Furniture Placement

• Furniture placement in a large room is identical to that of a small room, but on a larger scale. Avoid small furniture pieces and instead opt for something proportional to the space. In a living or family room, leaving space between the sofa and chairs is essential to promote easy movement. In a standard space, this measurement is between 48 and 100 inches, but this is adjustable depending on the size of the room and personal preference. Leave 14 to 18 inches between the sofa and coffee table, and at least a 3-foot-wide space for pathways leading into or out of the room. In a bedroom, permit at least 24 inches between the bed and wall on all sides and approximately 36 inches between the bed and a bathroom door.

Scale and Arrangement

• When faced with a large, open space, a good rule of thumb is to avoid placing furnishings against the walls. This leaves too much space in between pieces for comfortable conversation or interaction. Begin at the focal point and arrange furnishings around that, keeping scale and room flow in mind. Break up the room by creating separate spaces or areas. In a living or family room, have one area focused on entertainment and another that focuses on child’s play time or activities. In a large bedroom, one area is designated for sleep, while another offers seating space for reading or relaxing.