Best Floor Plans: Furnishing Your New Home (2023)

Moving into a new home is an exciting new adventure, but it can also feel like an endless list of decisions to make. backset due date, oneinsurance policyAs with moving companies, even fun decisions -- like furniture placement -- can wear you down.

To make these details of furnishing a little easier, we've enlisted the advice of interior decorating experts and talked to the best.California Realtors Andrew OldhamriceShangaraDesigned to highlight the character of the hotel. Combining these pro tips can help you optimize the setup of each room so you feel at home in no time.

put it first

Let's face it - furniture is heavy. Instead of using the "pivot!" strategy, start by making a model of the room. Your muscles will thank you later!

Simple drawings on graph paper can get you started. Or try using an online floor planner such asPlanista5DrubleRoomStyler3Dfor higher precision.

First, consider previous owners (orlevel) everything is in order.

Oldham knows how much thought and work has gone into thisReal estate brokerWear it to give your home a brand new look. "We want to transmit a certain amount of energy in the house," he said.

take a look at your new homepost photoWhen arranging your furniture, mimic aspects you like.

choose a focus

A focal point is exactly what it looks like – a focal point in a room that will naturally draw the occupant's attention.

"One of the focal points of the living room is the fireplace," says Shankar. Additional focal points can be large windows, a piano nook, or an entertainment center.

Once a focal point is identified, place furniture so that all seats have a full or partial view of that focal point.

For balance and fluidity, not all seats are directly facing the focal point, but every seat should be positioned to offer at least one viewing possibility.

work around process

"Rooms need to be spacious and fluid, so people can see how one room interacts with the other," says Shankar, who has a background in interior design.

Mobility refers to the availability of furniture arrangements. Good fluidity allows for natural patterns of movement and does not require guests to take unusual routes to the living areas.

Flow recognizes the need to prioritize function over form, especially incommon living space.When creating flow, interior designers typically try to allow at least 30 inches of space around furniture. Less will feel too tight to be used as a walkway and will create an unnatural flow.

create balance

Most of the time, we think about balance in terms of weight. Scales, balance boards, and balance boards conjure up images involving balancing weights.

In interior design, balance also refers to weight. Balance creates visual calm; an unbalanced room creates visual clutter. The weight or volume of furniture pieces must be distributed throughout the room to achieve proper balance.

Empty (weightless) space on one side of a room contrasted with overcrowded (excess weight) space on the other side of the room can be unbalanced.

However, balance does not necessarily mean symmetry. One large element (such as a sectional) can be balanced with two smaller elements (such as two armchairs). asymmetric in size and shape, but theirVisualweight balance.

It is also wise to balance colors and patterns. If you have a colorful chair on one side of the room, consider adding colorful throw pillows to the other side of the room.

Organize specific areas in open spaces

While it's important to place furniture around a focal point, sometimes larger open spaces may need additional definition. Open floor plan can be divided into more usable spaceCreate a specific areafor various purposes.

For example, you can create a play area with a small table and chairs, or create a book nook with a comfortable chair next to a large bookshelf. The semi-circular furniture arrangement creates a natural conversation area for the company – today's answer to the "living room" of yore.

No matter which area you choose, make sure you don't leave any furniture behind, following the "everywhere has a friend" interior design principle. Never use a chair or table unattended; without a "companion" it is less functional.

leave room

As a new home buyer, it can be easy to feel like you have to use all the furniture you bring with you. After all, you took the trouble to port it, so you might as well use it, right?

In fact, a room with lots of furniture looks likemessy and cramped- This is the last thing you want from your new home! "Simple, clean lines elevate a room," says Shankar, while too much furniture can overwhelm a room and reduce its value.

With this in mind, try not to lean furniture against the wall as much as possible. And leave enough open space between the various components to give the interior an airy sense of freedom.

let the light in

Natural light is one of the most desirable features in a room. Oldham says lighting is one of the things his clients notice right away when they look at a house.

“One of the most common criticisms we get from buyers is lighting. No one ever says ‘too much light in this house’ – it’s always ‘not enough light’.

Guests in your home will undoubtedly pay attention to the lighting, so it's best to choose furniture arrangements that accentuate the windows.

Don't block light (or view) by placing large objects or televisions in front of windows. Also, if you can opt for lighter drapes, it will let more light into your room.

Keep the table within reach

To provide a functional seating area, each seat should have a table within arm's reach. People need space for drinks and other small items.

If you don't have room for multiple coffee tables in your traffic, consider a larger coffee table. A coffee table is best placed in between14 and 18 inches apartedge of the sofa.

Get the right size pad

"Don't use too much rug," says Shankar. "They can make a space feel smaller."

would rather leavebeautiful floorBe the main attraction of the room, exposing it as much as possible. In this way, the space appears more open and grand.

Use rugs only in the living area, and choose ones that will protect the furniture in that area. If possible, the front legs (or all legs) of any furniture should rest flat on the cushion. Following this principle of open space creates a sense of comfort and continuity when people gather in a living space.

add awesome lights

Don't just rely on ceiling lighting in your home. While beautiful ceiling lights can certainly come in handy, a room without a floor or desk lamp can feel dull, especially at night.

A simplified rule of thumb for living spaces is that you should have four light sources working together for optimal lighting. For more information,Interior designers use the following lighting formulas:

Room Length X Room Width X 1.5 = Required Lighting Power

This means that a 20 x 20 foot (400 square foot) room requires 600 watts of lighting. If you're using one 150-watt bulb in each bulb, that means four bulbs distributed evenly throughout the room will bring the perfect amount of light to the space.

"Keeping a room bright makes it more inviting," says Shankar. But not all light is created equal!

Although LED bulbs are preferred from an energy standpoint, their white light intensity looks almost commercial. Instead, Shankar recommends warm white bulbs and recessed light dimmers.

Consider your storage needs

forminimize confusionIn the living space, don't forget to add storage solutions to your furniture arrangement. Elements designed for hidden storage are as functional as they are beautiful.

Consider the following creative storage solutions:

• Storage bags: Great way to store blankets in the family room
• sideboard: can be used to store board games behind the floating sofa
• storage bench: Ideal for storing gloves, hats and scarves in the hall
• storage table: Hidden compartment to store the remote neatly in the living room
• key cabinet: put crafting materials or "good dishes" in your corner

hang a scale

Beautiful wall decor can draw attention to your room's best features—including furniture.

"Art is more eye-catching than television," Shankar said. So even if your TV is your focal point, your artwork can help highlight other beautiful parts of your space.

Scale or scale is the key to good graphic placement. In short, don't hang small art on a large wall or large art on a small wall. And don't hang a small painting above the largest piece of furniture.

Typically, graphics should be approx.50% to 75% of widthfurniture under it. If a large piece of art is missing, you can achieve a well-proportioned look by combining smaller pieces together.

Play

When furnishing your new home, remember that all furniture can be moved! Don't worry about the perfect location now.

After living in your home for a while, experiment with the layout and rearrange the furniture. You're here for the long haul, so take your time and make up your own mind.ideal homeover time.

Header image credit: (Pixabay/Pexels)