How much space should be occupied by furniture?

Furnishing a house is an important stage of the design process. When all you have are walls and floors, it's always a challenge to understand how much space should be furnished and how much should be left empty to make a nice and harmonious interior. Let's speak about a perfect ratio and general furnishing basics.

Big airy spaces are extremely comfortable to work with

Space planning

The requirements for furnishing greatly depend on the type of room and its size. It's vital to understand the acceptable dimensions of various furniture items as well as the appropriate distance between them. Remember that every area of your house has certain functions. Still, the space can be additionally used to express yourself. It's important to realize the full potential of each area.

Let's speak about space planning. With the best realization, it takes the following things into account:

• Traffic patterns of a room
• The size of a room
• Normal space between various furniture items and walls
• The number of people, who will use a room
• The feeling of the space, which is desired to be achieved
• The amount of natural light.

Living room

The following rules are crucial when thinking about the correct furnishing of this area:

• Sofa & coffee table distance. A perfect distance is about 2 feet. Thus, there will be enough space for legs.
• Seating area & TV. It's better to leave at least 6-7 feet of free space between them to reach a harmonious interior and comfort.
• Distance between seats of furniture items. It should be about 1 foot to provide a nice atmosphere for communication.

Dining room

For a kitchen or a dining room, the following requirements should be regarded:

• Walls - table. It's better to have a distance of at least 3 feet. It works for both walls and other furniture.
• Table & entrance. Here, it's better to leave a free space of 4-5 feet to provide an opportunity to come in and out of the room without problems.

When choosing a size of a table, take the room size into account. Always remember that your family members and guests should feel comfortable sitting and easily getting to and from their seats. It's better to provide 3-4 feet of free space around the table. In the case of small rooms, opt for a different shape of a table, for instance, oval or round.

Bedrooms do no need a lot of space

Bedroom

There're certain perfect rules, which will make your room the coziest place in the world. However, smaller spaces can also work for you. Consider a few recommendations:

• At least 3 feet of free space in a bedroom (for instance, between the bed and the wall). As a result, the room will feel airy and comfortable. An alternative for the comfortable use of a room is 2 feet.
• Nightstands can be eliminated if there's little space. As an alternative, the bed can be placed closer to the side wall to save more area, with shelves made over it.

In addition, you can think about a smaller bed size if it's possible for you.

Open space concept works wonders with contemporary approach

Finding a ratio

There're a few general tips, which might be helpful in creating an ideal proportion in any room:

• Choose larger furniture items for big rooms and smaller ones for small rooms. The same concerns the decor and accessories. The latest can be even eliminated when the area is small enough.
• All furniture items should correspond to each other. For example, it will look quite strange when a large sofa is combined with a tiny coffee table.
• Ceiling height should be taken into consideration. The general rule is the higher the ceiling is, the taller the furniture items can be.
• White space should also be left. It usually refers to the area around various furniture items. Avoid the situation when every square inch is occupied. Certain walls and surfaces should be left empty to provide a feeling of harmony and comfort.
• Be careful with prints. Use small ones (or none) for small areas. For large areas, it's possible to think about bigger ones.
• Create furniture groups. For example, when organizing a seating area in a living room, make it a bit separated from the other elements. It will create a visual balance instead of a chaotic feeling.

Experts claim that there's a general perfect ratio, which is applicable not just in interior design but in many areas of life. Fill 60% of the area with furniture and leave 40% of space free to reach an ideal balance. This golden ratio will work for every room and help easily create a wonderful design. It's better to create a plan of a room to understand how everything will look in the end.

Furnishing the house is an important stage of interior design, which requires taking many issues into account. Start with measuring walls, ceilings, and floors. Then consider the space that can be occupied in accordance with a ratio, and look for the most suitable furniture items to make your area look cozy and pretty.