Quick Questions for Layout and Furniture Arrangment

by Charlotte
(Website Editor)

A few more questions and answers all about interior design layout, and arranging furniture...

Read questions and answers, add a comment...

...or ask your own question...

Happy Browsing :)

Small House

by joanna coo
(bacolod city, negros occidental, philippines)

I have a new house which is only 35 sq meters floor area. Two rooms upstairs. I dont know what to do.

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Comment
By Charlotte
30 April 2012

Hello Joanna

Congratulations on your new home. I hope you will be very happy there.

If you have concerns about the layout of your home, your best bet is to think about the layout of your furniture, and to keep very uncluttered.

You can easily draw a plan yourself, very simply, to help you to decide which furniture you really need in your home, and where you should put it.

How to draw a layout plan

I think you will also find some of the hints and tips in the section on decorating small spaces of use.

In a small home, it is important to keep as clutter free as possible - find some tips here...

As a new home, it is an easier task to design your home interior from scratch, to suit your needs.

To do this take a look at the steps here, which should take you through everything you need to know.

Good luck with your design - and wishing you much happiness in your new home.

Charlotte

Help with lounge layout please?

by Shar
(London, UK)

hi, my lounge is 14' 6 x 10' 6

pic 1; wall in question before tv bench
Pic 2; as the room is now settee facing TV

Long tv bench blocks cupboard doors. Awkward space to work with.

Other position I tried makes room very narrow settee on left, TV bench on right.

Any tips please? I have visitors re; home swap so I want to maximise floor space and have practical layout.

regards
S

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Comment
By Charlotte

12 September 2011

Hello Shar

Sorry for the delay in reply, but I've been away all last week on holiday.

I think the best room arrangement for your room would be a combination of the 2 options you have - this is just based on the views you have sent in, as, of course, I can't see what's going on in the rest of the room...

I think you could have your table and chairs by the window, and your TV unit in the corner by the boiler door...

Try it pushed up against the right hand wall, (leaving space for ventilation at the bottom of the cupboard)...

And also try it diagonally across that corner - turn the TV on it's stand if this makes it difficult to watch, when you aren't conducting viewings.

Yes it will block the boiler cupboard but I'm assuming that you don't need regular access to the boiler cupboard and the stand can easily be moved if this is the case...

In small spaces it's natural to think that you get a better feeling of space with furniture pushed as far back as possible, but in fact the opposite is true, and you get a better feeling of space if furniture is allowed to fill the central space a bit more.

Are you allowed to put pictures up on the walls?

I think a vertical picture, print or painting in between the 2 cupboards would help, as this would then become the focal point on that wall, and detract attention away from the 2 cupboards which will otherwise be the focal points.

If you don't already have one, a larger horizontal shaped mirror or picture would really suit the wall opposite the window.

Although it doesn't look a dark room from the photos, a mirror can be useful in small and dark spaces, to reflect light around, and give a larger feeling of space.

I hope those ideas help.

Good luck with your viewings, and hope you find a house swap soon.

Best wishes

Charlotte :)

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Arranging Furniture in a Studio Apartment

by Gail
(Naperville, IL, USA)

I have a studio apartment and need ideas on furniture placement.

Charlotte's Reply:

Hi Gail

Sorry for any delay in reply, but I've been away on holiday.

As a studio apartment, I'm guessing it's quite a compact space, and you need to use space wisely.

Firstly, consider if there are any items of furniture that can serve double use, such as a sofa-bed, desk/table, or items that can be easily packed away for more space - folding tables and chairs, a fold-away bed even...

Storage is also very important so make sure you have plenty, and its well positioned and thought out to be exactly the storage you need, when and where you need it.

Custom built storage making the most of every available nook and crannie can be a very good idea to avoid even an inch of wasted space.

Pare your furniture and belongings down to the very essentials, then try drawing a layout plan, to really try out lots of ideas and layouts on paper first.

This isn't as complicated as it might sound, and is really worth doing. Click here for more hints on creating a layout plan and arranging furniture

Some of the information on this page on open plan living may be useful for you too.

Remember to really think about what YOU need and how YOU use the space when deciding.

Hope this helps you arrange the furniture in your apartment.

Best wishes

Charlotte

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