Dining Room Furniture Arrangement Tips

Whether your dining room is elegant and sophisticated, a place for special guests and special occasions, or it is casual and comfortable, a place where the family hangs out and kids are doing homework at the table, it needs to have function and flow.

As part 4 in our four-part series on Arranging Furniture in Your Home, here are some great ideas about the best way to create to best arrangement for your dining and hosting needs:

Consider How You Use the Room

How do you use your dining room? For family-style meals or buffet-style serving? Make furniture choices that support your needs.

Suit the Space

Circular tables with pedestal bases let folks see everyone at the table and are suitable for tight dining spaces or square rooms.  Rectangular tables limit seating, but work well in rectangular dining rooms and come in a variety of lengths and widths. Oval tables with added leaves also work well in rectangular dining rooms and offer flexibility by adapting to small gatherings or large.

Buy for Size

Be sure to allow a minimum of 36 inches from the table to the wall on all sides. Position the table so traffic flows smoothly around it

Know These Measurements

When determining how many chairs you can fit around your table, allow for a width of 20 to 24 inches and a depth of 15 inches per place and leave at least 6 inches between chairs.

Include Functional Storage

Make the most of square footage with a wall of shelves that provide storage for the dining room’s alternative uses -- office supplies, games, and crafts -- or dining extras such as china, linens, and barware.

Light it Right

Choose and place lighting that adapts to the room's functions. For example, hang the chandelier with extra cord length so it can be adjusted for homework or dining. Use dimmer switches, lamps, and sconces to set the mood for the occasion.

Difficult Floor Plan Solutions

Problem: Rectangular space, no free walls

Solution: Combine chairs, benches, and settees for an eclectic look. Duplicate the room shape with the table shape to maximize seating (for example, a rectangular table with the same proportions as the dining room will make the most of the space). Include storage such as cabinets or bookcases, on the perimeter. Define the dining space with a rug that contrasts with the flooring.

Problem: Oversize space, multiuse space.

Solution: Opt for a table that preserves open space for other uses (for example, don’t buy a huge table with seating for 20 when you’ll only ever need seating for 12). Add storage that will accommodate all the activities that take place in the room. When choosing chairs, select models that can also easily be brought up to the table for extra dining seating. Anchor the secondary seating areas with lamps and occasional tables.

Remember that when you are arranging your chairs around the dining room table, you´ll need to leave about 6 inches between chairs to allow for elbow room.

Keeping all these tips in mind, you can create an impeccable dining room that also perfectly serves your needs.  

Family Room Furniture Arrangement Tips

The family room is meant to be the center of family entertainment and activity, which is why good furniture arrangement is so important. Remember from our other blog entry Living Room Furniture Arrangement Tips & Tricks that the three aspects of a well-arranged room are: 

1. Function

2. Flow

3. Focal Point

We are going to build on these ideas when arranging the family room. So here are some helpful hints and tricks to make it the room where your whole family wants to be:

Focus on Entertainment

Place the television and computer so the screens face away from the sunlight. The viewing distance for a standard TV is 8 to 12 feet, and the best viewing angle is not more than 30 degrees. For traffic flow, create paths that flow behind viewers and not between them and the screen.

Add Storage

Consider freestanding pieces in a smaller room and wall-to-wall built-ins in a larger room. Make sure there is some storage near the TV.

Mix Furnishings of Various Sizes

Every object has a height, depth and width. To add visual interest to any space, incorporate a variety of furniture with different characteristics. If you're going for a serene, unchallenging area for rest or recovery, keep the furnishing volumes in a room similar. This rustic living space from HGTV Dream Home 2011 uses an extra-large sectional with small armchairs and side tables to create an energetic space with various volumes.

Use Scaled Pieces to Create Balance

The size of pieces relative to one another and the size of the space is their scale. Similarly scaled pieces are more serene when used together, but a nice balance of pieces creates a harmonious atmosphere, utilizing the differing physical qualities of height, depth and width throughout a room. When furnishings are out of scale, you'll notice that it just won't feel comfortable or right.

Form a Healthy Relationship

The relationship of items to one another to form a pleasing whole is called balance. There are two forms of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical. Bilateral symmetry is like the human body: There are two of everything. Asymmetry refers to an imbalance, such as two candles of slightly different sizes next to each other. Symmetry is very restful, while asymmetry is used to add visual motion and excitement.

Use an Artist's Perspective

Look at your space as a painter looks at a work of art. There are visual tricks that painters use to create the appearance of depth in a space. You can use these tools, too. 

The first trick painters use is "triangulation." In interior design, triangulation is the placement of two end tables on either side of a sofa with a painting above the sofa. If you can imagine this scenario, it is lower on the corners with the apex of the view just above mid-center at the top of the painting.

Create Depth in Artwork

The second trick painters use is the creation of depth in artwork, which is a two-dimensional medium. Paintings often have a foreground, mid-ground, background and vanishing point. Stand at the threshold of your room. Place a chair, perhaps at an angle, in the foreground closest to you. The cocktail table will provide a mid-ground and the sofa with the wall behind it will serve as the background. A window in the scene will give you your vanishing point. Or, the vanishing point can be within a work of art placed above the sofa.

Think About Form in its Totality

All furniture arrangements have a certain "totality," a "form." Large rectangular spaces can be dealt with by dividing the "form" of the space into another form. A long, narrow living space, for instance, can be split in two by creating zones of function. Say, one half is for the sofa, or the function of conversing, and the other half is for a dining set, or the function of dining. This helps you take the bite out of large rectangular rooms by dividing them into squares according to their function. Humans tend to feel more comfortable and less formal in square furniture arrangements versus rectangular.

Difficult Floor Plan Solutions

Problem: Irregular room, one wide traffic lane.

Solution: Use the perimeter of the room for a computer desk and storage console. Choose chairs with casters so that they are easy to move. Float the furniture to focus on the fireplace and the television. Ensure that the fireplace and television are visible from each seat.

Keeping these suggestions in mind, you can create a family room that is warm and inviting, and just the center of activity that your family deserves.

Living Room Furniture Arrangement Tips

Whether your living room is large or small, when arranging furniture, you want to keep in mind 3 things:

1. Function

2. Flow

3. Focal Points

Here are some helpful layout ideas and tips for arranging your living room to meet your needs:

Face the View

If your living room doesn't have a fireplace, orient seating so it takes advantage of whatever view your room has to offer, whether it's a TV or a bank of windows. Create your own focal point by hanging a large piece of art on a wall or create a vignette of favorite objects on a console or bookshelf.

Arrange for Conversation

For face-to-face chats, place seating no more than 8 feet apart. In a large living room, use furniture to create comfortable islands. Face two sofas in the center of a room, and place a group chairs and side tables at one end to create a separate conversation area.

Set Up Traffic Patterns

Allow 30 inches between pieces in places where you need to be able to walk around furniture and 14 to 18 inches between a coffee table and sofa, so drinks are within reaching distance.

Put a Table Within Reach of Each Seat

Use round pedestal tables as side tables between chairs and sofas.The curves of round tables make them easier to navigate around. When space is tight, use nesting tables for flexible use when needed.

Think About Lighting

Install in-floor electrical outlets to service floating furniture arrangements. If you have a small living room, think about wall lamps at either end of the sofa in order to avoid large end tables to accommodate lighting. There are countless lighting options out there - look around the find the best ones for your room.

Difficult Layout Solutions

Problem: Long room, entry at one end.

Solution: There’s no need to crowd; leave room for traffic and an entry drop spot. Cozy key seating pieces up to the fireplace facing each other. Use end tables as landing spaces on both ends of the sofa. Pair chairs to balance the visual weight of the sofa and to maximize seating.

Problem: No free walls, centered fireplace.

Solution: Float seating in the center of a room filled with doors and windows. Face chairs and sofa toward each other to encourage conversation. Anchor the conversation grouping with a rug and large coffee table.  Frame the space with additional seating and cabinets for storage, positioned around the perimeter of the room along the walls.

Using these great suggestions, you can have the great living room, with function, flow, and a focal point, that you deserve!

Go Window (Treatment) Shopping

For window treatments, simplicity meets minimalism with an emphasis on clean lines. No longer are heavy drapes with swags and jabots in style. The trend is much more tailored.

These are some of the looks trending for window treatments now.

Bold patterns: You can’t go wrong with fabric that is bold and bright. Geometric, trellis and large scale florals are used to make a statement.

Banding: Adding a simple band around your draperies give character to your drapes without going overboard on pattern. It creates a clean and sophisticated look.

Sheers: They are taking on a more decorative look with unique interwoven materials and embossed or printed patterns.

Roman shades: Always a favorite, you can go bold in pattern and color with this style of window treatment.

Longer, looser pleats: Pleats are getting softer and longer to create a contemporary look.

Wider Drapes: Drapes are getting wider and longer to make windows look larger. Velvet and silk will help emphasize this rich look.

Eco-friendly shades: The drive to be more earth conscious has made Eco-friendly shades popular. From grasses, sisal, reeds or bamboo, they create a unique texture.

Tone on Tone: If you like a softer look, choosing a fabric that is similar to the surrounding wall color will define the window without making it a focal point.

If you are around the Cincinnati area, a great source for all kinds of window treatments and more information is:

Affordable Blinds of Cincinnati: 

Wyatt Carroll, 513-317-8101

Just Picture It - Complete Guide to Hanging Pictures

The pictures and art that you put in your house are literally the face of your home. It seems like something so simple, some easy DIY, but the reality is that hanging pictures can be really complicated, both conceptually and logistically. How high should you hang them? How should you arrange a group of pictures? What if you mess it up and leave holes in your walls?

Never fear! Aiva is here to help! Here are expert designer and handyman tips to help you put your best face forward in any room:

Let´s take this step by step.

1. A Great Frame of Mind

• Think about the look of the room, the style and colors when choosing the type of frame you want. Wooden frames can be classic or modern, metal frames have a contemporary look, and plastic frames provide a straight-lined appearance.
• Choose photos or art that reflects your tastes and also enhances the room. Think about the colors in the room and the general feel you wish to portray.
• Prints, photographs, posters, drawings, and sometimes watercolor or acrylic painting can be framed alone or with a mat. Paintings on canvas are framed with a canvas stretcher (best done in framing or art shop). When framing artwork that requires a mat, specify a mat with 8-ply thickness; the increased depth can make anything look important.
• For photos that will be displayed together, consider having all the photos framed compatibly. The frames can be in various patterns of the same color or material and should all have the same mat color. Mixing wood-framed pictures with metal-framed pictures works best in an eclectic home. For a more formal look, try to keep the same color for all the frames. 

2. Making the Arrangements

• Don't go poking holes all over your wall before you really know what you want. If you're not sure how to arrange them, first make templates of your frames and hang them to see if you like it. Cut scrap paper to the size of the frame and mark the nail location on the paper. Using painter's tape, move the paper templates around the wall until satisfied. Then hammer the nail through the marks. Remove the paper template and hang!

• There are literally thousands of ways you can arrange your pictures, but here are 54 ideas to get you started:

• Here are some other designer rules of thumb about spacing to make sure you've done it just right:
• Don't put one little picture on a large wall. If there's not enough artwork to fill up more space on a large wall, consider putting mirrors or a shadowbox in the grouping. Conversely, don't overload a small wall with a large picture.
• Keep a minimum of 9 inches between the art and the tops of sofas and chairs
• When hanging a series of pictures together, keep the gap between them 2-2.5 inches to really utilize the wall space
• Always hang pictures with the mid-line at "eye level", or if you're not sure, 63 inches at the center above the floor is perfect viewing height for most pieces
• The perfect amount of space between a mirror or frame and the top of the mantle is 7 inches
• Don´t use mirrors in every room or over every mantle- mix it with artwork
• Don´t hang a mirror between windows. The spatial void it creates distracts from the view

• Remember that pictures do not always need to be on a wall. Also consider resting pictures on shelving hammered directly on to a wall. Or display them on a plate rack in place of plates. Consider a bamboo, wrought-iron or wood easel to complement the room.
• There are lots of ways to enhance how pictures are displayed with picture nails and various knobs. You can also use an eye screw at the top of the frame and then dangle the frame from a wire or ribbon attached to a screw in the wall

3. Getting the Hang of It

• Don't Eyeball It - it takes just a few extra moments to measure, but a badly hung picture will be staring you down, mocking your negligence, for years to come. 
• Once you've measured, put toothpaste where you will want the nail to go. Then, press the picture to the wall where you want to hang it so that the toothpaste from the back of your frame sticks to the wall. 
• For physically hanging the pictures on the wall,  look for a picture-hanging kit at the hardware or home store. It will include everything you need. And keep in mind, the picture's weight will determine what size hook to use. For a very large picture, use two hooks.  For heavy decor, use wall anchors to protect you drywall.
• Try this method of creating a portable picture hanger to make sure you get it just right Picture Hanging Tip
• If using a drill or large screws, add a simple, folded Post-It underneath your marked hole to collect most of the dust made from your pilot hole
  
  

So there you have it- everything you ever needed to know to perfectly arrange all your wall decor. Use these tips and suggestions to make your home perfectly reflect how awesome you are.

Complete Area Rug Guide

Continuing our weekly theme of Furniture Arranging, we are now getting to the bottom of things, literally. You have learned how to arrange the furniture in every room of your house, but you are not done yet. You now need to bring the whole room together, and you do that with, (drumroll please) a great rug!

Thanks to Lisa Ferguson (www.lisafergusoninteriordesign.com), we have great tips for everything you need to know about rugs - what size to buy, what shape, where to put it, and material options. This is your quintessential guide for every room in your house!   

The Skinny on Rugs! The rules, the facts and the options…..

Where to begin?  The first step is to assess what fiber best suits your needs.  If the rug is meant for a high traffic area that is at risk for spills and stains, then you will require a low maintenance, easy clean option.  Once this is determined, the world is your oyster.  See below for the skinny on all things rugs….. I like to keep it simple! Enjoy..

THE RULES

Rule #1 Buy what you love; let the rug inspire the space!  Choose a pattern or a colour scheme that can set the mood

Rule #2 Scale -measure your space before you buy.  A small rug in a large space tends to visually shrink the room

Rule #3 Always! Always! Always!  Use a quality under pad. Not only does it add to the longevity of the rug, it cushions your steps; helps insulate the room as well as aids in noise reduction

Rule #4 Furniture should either fit the rug perimeter and or overlap the edge

Rule #5 Be open!  Be flexible!  Choose a rug with life.  Entertain the possibilities.  A rug that may look a little wild or bold in a monochromatic space can be a fabulous piece of art

Rule #6 Remember broadloom can be cut and bound for an inexpensive coordinate. You can choose the exact size you require vs. using the standards

The facts:

A simple guide to outline the various differences in fiber, cost, usage, and ability to clean:

Cotton-The least expensive, easy to clean, fibers are natural and soft.  Usually used as throw rugs and/or in low traffic areas such as bedrooms and baths

Wool- Mid-to-high price points; requires professional cleaning, Often used in living rooms and/or common low traffic areas

Nylon-The strongest synthetic fiber; easy to clean.  High static probability; therefore not recommended for commercial use or for an office.  Great for basements, family rooms, kitchens and dining areas.  Pricing varies, more than cotton, comparable to some wool

Polyester- Less expensive than nylon and wool. They are static resistant, very durable, and easy to clean

Olefin- Mid price; often used for indoor/outdoor application.  They can withstand moisture and are very durable.  Static resistant.  Perfect for patios, dining areas, front porches and even offices

Pile It On

The options:

Loop-They are just that – loops of fiber.  The most common example is Berber.  Very durable; however, a caution to pet owners, claws can damage the loops

Cut pile/Low pile- Rug threads are trimmed, cut pile is soft, and plush.  Quite durable. Downside is the pile can be crushed and or flattened.

Shag- Plush long threads, a great textural application.  Very comfortable.  A little high maintenance although it hides a multitude of sins

Sisal/Jute/Coir- Natural fibers.  Stains are a challenge.  Wears quickly.  They are not soft underfoot.  They offer amazing textural opportunities. NOTE**  If you love this look there are fabulous synthetic versions available

Flat weave- The weave is flat without pile. They are very durable and can be used in high traffic areas. (Example: A braided rug)

As you can see, there is no shortage of information relating to purchasing the rug of your dreams or finding a temporary inexpensive solution.  Do your homework.  Know what you are buying.  Love what you choose!

WHERE TO PUT IT

Now let´s talk about how you will arrange that great rug of yours in your space. Below are diagrams for all your rooms: 

Dining Room

Bedrooms

Living Room

Now you are fully equipped to arrange the perfect room you deserve.

Good luck!