Furniture care tips from Furniture Works in Olympia, Washington

Rearranging Family Room Furniture for a Completely New Look

Redecorate Without Spending a Dime

Family rooms and living rooms eventually begin to look tired, and redecorating is not always practical or feasible. However, you can change the entire look of a family room without spending any money. Instead of redecorating, consider rearranging existing furniture and room decor. You can open up a family room that feels enclosed and tight, and you can give your home the designer look you have always wanted. Rearranging furniture and existing decor can make a huge difference in the look and the feel of the space, and anyone can make a family room or living room in their home appear worthy of the finest home decorating magazine.

Begin with a Graph

Pushing and pulling on large pieces of furniture is hard on the back as well as the floor and furnishings, and if you want to completely rearrange your family room, consider making a graph of the floor plan. The scale of the floor plan will depend entirely on the dimensions of the family room. Just remember to account for doors, windows, vents, electrical outlets, light switches, a fireplace, or anything else that will affect furniture placement. Measure furnishings, and cut out colored pieces of paper to represent each item. Move them around on the graph before rearranging actual pieces. With a little time and creative planning, anyone can design a family room that will look like they hired a decorator to do the job.

Determine a Focal Point

Every room should have a focal point, whether it is a fireplace, an impressive window, a large mirror, or a painting, and the room should be designed and arranged around this focal point. If the room does not have a clear focal point, create one with eye-catching wall decor or even a large piece of furniture complete with a color-coordinating throw and comfy pillows. Use what you have to create a focal point that is sure to impress.

Rearranging Furniture and Decor

When deciding on locations for family room furniture, keep in mind the amount of space necessary for navigating the room. Allow at least two feet for pathways around furniture, and allow about eighteen inches between a sofa or loveseat and a coffee table. Making the area feel roomy and open will give it an entirely new look while providing more living space.

It is not necessary to line the walls with furniture and cram pieces together. Less is truly more when trying to make a room appear larger, and if necessary, move out a few furnishings. Instead of covering the walls with dozens of pictures and trinkets, choose a few artfully arranged items of interest. It is amazing how downsizing furnishings and decor can make a room look and feel more open and inviting.

Conversation and Entertainment Areas

A family room is a place for conversing and watching television, and to create the ideal room for visiting with family and guests, be sure to place furniture in a pattern that allows for comfortable conversation. Furniture pieces in a conversation area should be no more than eight feet apart, and they should be angled toward each other or facing if possible. In addition, allow enough space for end tables and adequate tabletop lighting.

When rearranging and choosing a location for the television, the distance from the sitting area should be approximately three times the width of the screen. Design the layout on the graph, and begin rearranging paper cutouts until you find the ideal arrangement for your living space. Rearranging plants, stands, tables, and other furnishings with balance in mind to achieve the look you have always wanted without spending a dime.