Top Residential Space Planning Mistakes & How To Avoid Them
Space planning might not be the most glamorous part of the interior design process, but it is certainly one of the most important. Without proper space planning, your beautiful furniture and accessories can end up looking lost and out-of-place. (Photo: hallmarkdesigngroup)
On June 21st, Decor and You Denver will be hosting Space Planning 101 Dabbler class, covering such topics as measuring furniture, effectively managing traffic patterns, and balancing different dimensions and scales. Anyone looking for interior design classes in Denver should not miss out on this event, so make sure you register here.
For now, we want to share three common space planning mistakes. All too often, these mistakes keep a room from reaching its full potential. Fortunately, they are easily fixed with a few space planning tips and techniques.
Top Residential Space Planning Mistakes & How To Avoid Them
Mistake #1: Unnecessarily obstructing traffic
We've all been there- you're at a dinner party, mingling with a drink in hand, and suddenly you're stuck, trapped by an unwieldy piece of furniture. In the name of good design, homeowners often arrange furniture in unnecessarily complicated patterns. Far from actually achieving good design, such arrangements obstruct traffic flow in a room and leave the space feeling cluttered and confusing.
How To Avoid It
- Arrange your furniture in straight, clean lines
- Look at your space and figure out where you want to direct traffic. Arrange your furniture to border these traffic pathways, thereby ensuring that they are clear and well-defined
- Try to keep your pathways linear- avoid unnecessary turns or detours
In this lovely living room, the linear arrangement of the furniture, anchored by the large rug, keeps walkways neat and open. Notice that the piano is placed on the same lines begun by the two chairs, a neat space planning trick that makes the room feel cohesive. (Photo: House Beautiful)
Mistake #2: Dismissing the logistics of delivery
That huge leather sofa might look incredible, but it will do you no good if you cannot get it into your room. All too often, homeowners get carried away by a piece of furniture and forget all about the logistics of moving that furniture into their room. This results in many headaches for homeowners and movers alike.
How To Avoid It:
- Keep a list of door and entryway measurements in your house. Take this list with you when you go furniture shopping, along with a tape measure to take the dimensions of your furniture. Allow at least a few inches of space on either side.
- If you must have a large piece, look for pieces that can be moved in sections
You really don't want to be that guy... (Photo: sofadisassembly.com)
Mistake #3: Choosing furniture that is too big for your room
Have you ever heard the expression "your eyes were too big for your plate"? It refers to the common problem of picking up too much food at the buffet and finding yourself unequal to the task of finishing it. Turns out, your eyes can also be too big for your room.
However wonderful a piece of furniture is, you need to make sure that its proportions match the proportions of your room. A giant coffee table simply will not work in a small living room space- it might look beautiful, but it will also disrupt traffic patterns, overwhelm other furniture, and make your room feel cramped and overcrowded.
How To Avoid It
- If you have a smaller room, look for smaller furniture with more delicate proportions
- If you must have one large piece, make sure that all of your other pieces are smaller in scale
- Try using multiple smaller pieces instead of one large one. For example, you could use several end tables instead of a large coffee table.
Using two chairs instead of a bulkier sofa or loveseat opens up this small seating area. The glass-topped coffee table is a similarly light touch, maintaining the overall feeling of openness. (Photo: House Beautiful)
For more great space planning tips and tricks, don't forget to register for our Dabbler Space Planning 101 event.