Each of us has had the need to purchase new furniture and then attempt to arrange it nicely when designing and renovating a space. Few of us, however, manage to transform our home into a cozy nest, leaving us with a cold, awkward living space.
Bright Side discovered what mistakes we make when arranging furniture and how to correct them. In the bonus section, we revealed a couple of mistakes that almost everyone makes when installing sanitary engineering.
1. You arrange furniture on the carpet without regarding the rules.
Designers outline three methods for properly placing furniture on a rug:
Place the furniture directly on the carpet, leaving about 12-18 inches between the furniture’s edge and the carpet’s edge.
Arrange things so that no furniture is standing on the carpet. In this case, it is critical that the carpet is not too small, as this will create a cluttered appearance in the room.
Place the furniture so that only the front legs are on the carpet. This trick allows you to visually combine several items in one group, such as a couple of armchairs and a table.
2. You choose kitchen furniture before buying household appliances.
When designing a kitchen, it’s best to start with kitchen appliances (such as a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, microwave oven, and other necessary items), then choose kitchen units such as a dining table, etc. Otherwise, you may find yourself with no place to put kitchen appliances, and the space will appear cluttered and cramped.
3. The distance between the kitchen island and the main unit is less than 40 inches.
A kitchen island is an excellent way to increase storage and workspace. However, it only works when the kitchen is extremely large. If the room is small, the island will only take up space and provide no benefit. It is estimated that the island should have about 40 inches of empty space around it. It will be difficult to move around the kitchen if you do not follow this rule.
4. Your big bathroom isn’t divided into zones.
When a bathroom is large, owners often place all of the furniture and plumbing along the walls, leaving a lot of empty space in the middle. This just doesn’t look right. Designers recommend dividing the room into zones in this case. It is possible to do so using a glass wall, partitions, or even folding screens. The best option is to divide the room into two or three sections: a washing zone, a toilet zone, and a showering zone.
5. The room lacks a focal point.
It is impossible to decorate a room nicely if it lacks a center that will serve as the designer’s starting point. A window view, a fireplace, an accent wall (especially if hand-painted), a piece of art, or even a coffee table can all function as focus points. If necessary, and if the size of the room allows, two (but no more than two) focal points can be used. A greater number of focal points will make the space appear congested.
A television set frequently becomes the focal point of a room. Designers, on the other hand, do not endorse it. If friends or family come to see you, you’ll be sitting right next to the screen, which isn’t conducive to excellent conversation. If you still want to make a TV set the focal point of a room, arrange the couch and armchairs in a semi-circle rather than in a straight line opposite the screen, so that it is more comfortable to converse and look at each other rather than at what’s on the screen.
After you’ve decided on the focal point of your area, you should begin arranging large furniture around it. Generally, all of this 6. There are objects of approximately the same height standing right next to each other.
When you glance around a room, your eye should “jump,” not go in one line, according to a rule. This can be achieved by arranging furniture of varying heights throughout the space. If you have two high closets, place one in the left corner of the room and the other in the opposite corner — this will help them “balance” each other. If you position these closets next to each other, the room will appear cluttered and tight.
Here’s another bit of advice: mix and match shapes. A round-shaped item should be paired with a square-shaped item, and straight lines should be paired with wavy lines. A round or oval table, for example, should be placed near a rectangular couch. It will give the room a lovely, unique look.
7. The table in the kitchen takes up too much space.
One of the worst solutions for a small kitchen is a large dining table. But there are occasions when we wish to get together with friends but don’t have enough space. In this scenario, the following trick is preferable: Instead of normal couches and chairs, choose benches or backless chairs. The former may be hidden beneath the table, giving you additional room.
8. The couch is located with its back facing the door.
Designers do not recommend placing a couch with its back to the door since it causes significant discomfort for a person. If you sit with your back to the door, you won’t be able to relax, and you’ll probably be frightened (consciously or unconsciously) that someone will sneak up on you.
Create an artificial barrier if you don’t have the opportunity to relocate the couch or simply don’t want to. Place a small table behind the back of the couch and decorate it with flowers or lamps — just make sure it’s something tall enough to separate the person sitting on the couch from whoever enters the room.
Bonus #1: The toilet is located opposite the door.
In terms of design, a toilet opposite the door is a poor choice. It is preferable to position it such that it is not fully visible when the door is opened. When locating the toilet, keep in mind that there should be vacant space on both sides of it (otherwise, you’ll be uncomfortable using it because your elbows will keep striking neighboring furniture or walls). A gap of roughly 8 inches on each side is adequate.
Bonus #2: A freestanding bathtub takes up the entire width of the room.
Many individuals have recently chosen freestanding bathtubs, but they do not look good in every bathroom. If the room is 7 feet long and the bathtub takes up 6.5 feet, it makes no sense to put it there because it will look unkempt. One of the primary benefits of a freestanding bathtub is the ability to clean the floor around it. If the distance between the tub and the walls is less than 4 inches, this will be difficult. The ideal distance from the farthest wall is 8 inches, and it should be approximately 1 foot from its surrounding walls.