Arranging Furniture is Easy When You Create a Layout Plan



Learn professional interior design secrets for arranging furniture, and easy ideal spacing tips.

Ideal spacing and arrangement of the furniture is a very important part of your design...

And can often be overlooked.

arranging furniture



Layout - The Key to a Successful Scheme

You can choose the perfect interior design style and color...

But if your furniture arrangement is wrong, it will let your whole scheme down.

But that’s not going to happen to you.

Not with these pages on arranging furniture at your fingertips!

It helps to imagine your room
from a bird's eye view


We are going through the whole design process from start to finish, seeing how real interior designers do it...

This info will help you to decide exactly where to put your furniture for the nicest arrangement. And you will learn exactly how to create layouts that work.

Follow the Easy Steps Below...

You can use this section with your free downloadable How to Design checklist

Here's how to use all the info in this section...

  1. Start drawing your layout plan here...
  2. Use these pages to help you:

    • Tips for arranging furniture here...
    • Measurements for ideal spacing between furniture here...
    • Measurements for standard sizes of furniture here...
  3. Look at real readers' layout problems and Q&A for help and inspiration here...
  4. Free interactive online layout tool here

How to Draw a Layout Plan

  • Professional interior designers always draw a layout plan - it helps them to really play around with arranging furniture - and get it right!

  • It’s something I really recommend you do - particularly if you are starting on a major home decorating project.

    Even if you are keeping exactly the same furniture it may be worth taking a little time out to try this - you may find a great new way of arranging the furniture, that gives you the ideal spacing in your room.

    I will admit that I don’t do this now for some of the rooms in my house - my lounge, for instance - it is so tiny that there are only 2 ways of arranging the furniture...

    I have tried both - and have decided which way round I like best.

    If this is you too, don’t worry - it’s not essential. Just leave this step out - remember, this is interior design to suit you.


I have included some standard dimensions for furniture to help you with the plan.

Click here to learn how to draw the layout plan.

Free Interactive Design Tool for Floor Plans

I also recommend a great free interior design software tool, here... which will really help you to create a floor plan in just minutes



Tips on Arranging Furniture

Here are some considerations I always like to bear in mind when planning the layout of a room...

These tips on arranging the furniture will make sure your room really flows and looks spacious.

And there will always be enough room for everyone to move about comfortably.

Click here for furniture arrangement tips.

Also think about how arranging your furniture, and your layout, could affect the sense of balance and harmony in your room

If you want to plan your layout with the best positioning for TV and surround-sound speakers in mind check out the help, here...

Measurements for Ideal Spacing

When I discovered these measurements for ideal spacing between pieces of furniture in a room, I really found them a godsend.

Never have to squeeze past that tight corner - or push your chair back from the table - straight into a wall!

Click here to discover ideal spacing measurements for yourself.

Don't forget to make notes for your own layout project on your free downloadable How to Design checklist

Keep Track of Your Interior Design Project

Stay on track and get help for your interior design project - from start to finish in the main How to Design section.

Still Stuck?

Read other people's layout and arranging furniture queries, or ask your own here...

tips for arranging furniture in awkward-shaped rooms

Comments or Questions about Layout and Furniture Arrangement?

Can't quite get your layout right? Wondering where to put the sofa in an awkward shaped room? What looks best?

Ask your questions here and we'll try our very best to help out...

I love helping you out with your interior design questions and dilemmas.

But due to the volume of enquiries I've been getting recently, and other time constraints, I can now only answer a small amount of quick questions for free...

If you think your question requires a lengthy, time-consuming or more complex reply, please consider paying me for the time I take to answer your queries, and get a quote for my help with your design dilemma.


(Please note that some of the Q&A you see on the site were responded to when the site was much smaller and I had more time available to me to answer all of your questions.)


While I always make every effort to answer your questions, I'm sorry but sometimes not all submissions will receive a response.

To improve the chances of your submission being included in the website, please let me know as much information as possible about your current interior decor, and what your problem is.

Enter a Title for Your Comment or Question

What About Other Readers' Layout Problems...

Click below to see comments and queries from other visitors to this page about their layout and furniture arrangement concerns...

Help Arranging Living Room Furniture 
I have no idea where to put my furniture. The biggest problem is the location of the door and the huge picture window. I don't think it will be possible …

Small open-plan living room layout 
I have an 11' x 12' living room. The living room only has one wall, which is the longest wall in the room. The other end of the room opens up to the dining …

Living room with pocket doors on 2 walls, large window on the third wall and front door on fourth wall?? 
How can I place any furniture in a room with no walls to speak of? It's an older vintage home with the pocket doors leading into the dining room on one …

Where to put the tv in a small living/dining room 
Hi We have just bought a small flat but do have some problem on where to put our 42" flatscreen tv. We will appreciate if you could give us some idea. …

Bubble diagrams and space planning 
Good evening Charlotte I will be glad if you can provide some light on the lesson and demonstration plans on principle of interior design (bubble diagram, …

Living Room/Dining Room in a Mobile Home 
I live in a very small 1967 Mobile Home. I actually love the little place because it is so quaint. The only problem room I am having is the living …

11 feet by 14 feet master bedroom 
I have a 11 feet by 14 feet bedroom. the entrance is at the corner of the 11 feet edge and the closet area is just adjacent to the entrance on the same …

Living room (adjoining dining/kitchen) 
Room adjoins dining/kitchen......open plan(ish). Dimensions 20ft x 15ft (living room section. 1) From a technical perspective (location of chimney breast) …

Layout - sectional sofa size + color 
Hello, first - great website! very informative information. I need help, my family room is 10 ft (south side), 16ft (east), 13ft (north) with a fireplace …

Sofa set dimensions 
Hi, I have a friend of mine who is planning to buy a sofa set for her living room. She already has the dimensions of the full set. For example the …

Arranging furniture in an open plan living and dining room 
It is 20 feet by 9ft11. I have a small chocolate brown sofa and dark wood coffee table. The TV is on a long beech unit and there is a small beech 2 …

Dining Room Layout Problem 
My dining room is 8x15 feet long. One wall has the front door, a section of wall, and a large picture window in it. Then at the bottom of the picture …

New Extension Open Plan Living 
Hi Charlotte, I am new to your e zine and enjoying it very much, it's amazing the time you put into it! I'm embarking on a large double extension and …

12 x 16 Living Room 
Here's my problem: living room has large sofa and a love seat with 62" between them and an area rug in that space. TV/Stereo is on 12' dimension …

Living room layout with dining table? 
The room is large with 2 dbl sofa beds and 2 arm chairs. Huge Hi Fi unit and book case also a small computer desk. I need a large dining table to serve …

How do I arrange my place??????? 
Hi, I have just bought this apartment.... They are two of them but I have turned them in to one...... I am posting a picture along as I am open …

So confused on how to arrange the seating in the "living room". 
Hi there!! First of all I love your site! :) I've been trying and trying to come up with the perfect way to arrange my (not bought yet) furniture. …

A living room with high ceilings, placement of room arrangement with fireplace and large screen tv 
I have a high ceiling living room. The space is 18ft. long by 13ft. wide. The focal point is a fireplace with windows on each side. It has a 13 …

Open plan design - the living space 
I have a ranch home, built 1964. The living dining area w/ a "hallway" that is delineated by the flooring only, are just inside the front door. The space …

Decorating an L-Shaped Living Room 
I've looked at dozens of decorating sites and can't find anyone else with a similar problem. I have an L-shaped living room; not a living room/dining …

Interior Design- Small space suggestions! 
Help! I have a very small dining/ living area which is a corner shape (2 large windows comprise the corner walls) and I am having issues with ways …

More Questions and Answers on Furniture Arrangement Not rated yet
I have a new house which is only 35 sq meters floor area. Two rooms upstairs. I dont know what to do. ............. Comment By Charlotte 30 …

Click here to write your own.



More Reader Arranging Furniture Q&A

Dustin needs help positioning the TV in his room layout

Katrina needs help with a layout for a cluttered feel

Dipan wants some help in creating an open plan layout

Donna wants help with a bizarrely shaped 'double' living room

Ask your own layout questions, here...

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Standard Dimensions for Furniture

These are standard dimensions - for typical pieces of furniture.

If you don’t have a specific piece of furniture in mind - these will help enormously with your layout planning and arranging the furniture.

  • Living room furniture
    • 3 seat sofa - 185cm x 85cm /6 ft 2 x 2ft 9
    • 2 seat sofa - 150cm x 85cm / 5ft x 2ft 9
    • Armchair - 85cm x 85cm / 2ft 9 x 2ft 9
    • Small armchair - 50cm x 40cm / 1ft 7 x 1ft 3


  • Dining room furniture
    • Dining table - 150cm x 90cm / 5ft x 3ft
    • Dining chair - 50cm x 50cm / 1ft 7 x 1ft 7


  • Study furniture
    • Desk - 130cm x 70cm / 4ft 3 x 2ft 3
    • Chair - 50cm x 50cm / 1ft 7 x 1ft 7


  • Kitchen
    • Width of countertop units - 63cm / 2ft


  • Bathroom fittings
    • Bath - 170cm x 70cm / 5 ft 8 x 2ft 3
    • WC - 70cm x 55cm / 2 ft 3 x 1 ft 9
    • Washbasin - 56cm x 42cm / 1ft 10 x 1ft 4
    • Shower - 90cm x 90cm / 3ft x 3ft
    • Bidet - 56cm x 42cm / 1ft 10 x 1ft 4


  • Bedroom furniture
    • Single bed - 90cm x 190cm / 3ft x 6ft 3
    • Double bed - 135cm x 190cm / 4ft 6 x 6ft 3
    • King size bed - 150cm x 200cm / 5ft x 6ft 6
    • Super king size bed - 180cm x 200cm / 6ft x 6ft 6
    • Single wardrobe - 60cm x 60cm / 2ft x 2ft
    • Double wardrobe - 120cm x 60cm / 4ft x 2ft
    • Chest of drawers - 75cm x 45cm / 2ft 5 x 1ft 5
    • Bedside table - 40cm x 40cm / 1ft 3 x 1ft 3
    • Dressing table - 135cm x 45cm / 4ft 5 x 1ft 5

Ready to Start?

Make sure you also have the measurements for ideal spacing in your room

Now you have these measurements, start your own layout plan

Or get help with how to arrange the furniture

Readers' Measurement Questions

Nadine needs help with how to measure a sofa

Don't Forget Your Checklist

Well, good luck with your layout and arranging your furniture.

Make notes on any information you need for your own layout project on your free downloadable How to Design checklist

Next Step:

After planning how to arrange your furniture, the next step is to look at your lighting - this is a very important part of the interior design process - and should definitely not be overlooked.

Ask your own layout questions, here...

Return from this page on arranging furniture to the page on interior design tips and checklist

Return from this page on arranging furniture to the Home Page

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