How to rearrange your furniture

Mho—homify Mho—homify
Laurel, MARIANGEL COGHLAN MARIANGEL COGHLAN Nursery/kid’s room
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Are you running out of space in your apartment? Do you find yourself edging around the couch, and ducking under the cabinet every time you want to get a cup of tea? Well we're here for you. Rearranging your furniture is a great way to increase functionality and give your home a fresh look without undergoing major renovations.

Sometimes it can feel like your home just isn't big enough to fit all of your belongings inside, but it's often just a matter of rethinking the position of your furniture. If you work from home it's important to have a workspace that's clear and tidy to inspire you to get down to business without having to reorganise your life every morning. Or maybe home is where you relax after a hard day's work, but if your living room is cluttered and awkward it can be tough to truly unwind. Today we're going to look at some tips for rearranging your furniture to suit your lifestyle, and to ensure that your home enables you to get the most out of your time.

1. Start with a plan

Measure the room up and establish exactly how much space you have, don't be too proud to ask for a little help with this. Then turn to your furniture and see what will be the most efficient use of that floor area. Here they have arranged the furniture symmetrically, giving themselves plenty of room around the coffee table, but also allowing room between the sofas and the wall to create an open space that increases our perception of the size of the room.

2. Choose a focal point

A living room will generally be oriented towards one spot in the room. Depending on the size this may just be a coffee table in the centre, but more commonly it will be a fireplace or the television. Choose a focal point that fits your intention for the room, and arrange your furniture towards it. It's also a great idea to include some furniture that can be easily rearranged so that if you are entertaining the guests can face each other. Try an ottoman, or stools like they have here, that can be placed in front of the focal point facing the sofa.

3. Maximise floor space

By arranging your furniture along one wall you can enlarge the room. Remember even if the actual floor space is the same, awkward shapes will make it feel smaller, but by placing the furniture on one side, and leaving the other clear, it will create a sense of expansiveness.

4. Work with the shape of the room

Maybe the best part of a dinner party is reclining after supper for coffee in the living room. If you love to have guests over it's important that the space is cosy and stimulates conversation, but it can be difficult to fit in enough seats. By working with the shape of the room you can make the most of the space. Here the lounge chair fits perfectly into the window box, affording more seating without cramping the room. If you have awkward corners or bulges in a room consider what you could place there to open up the main area.

5. Make the most of what you have

This one is especially important for those of us who share apartments. If you work from home, but you haven't got any space in the house for an office, you may find yourself creating a makeshift one in the bedroom. But fear not, you can still separate the functionality of the room with a loft bed. By lifting the bed you free up space for a working station below, and you can then fit in more casual seating like a couch for coffee breaks. We love how the stairs enclose the area allowing you to focus on your work.

6. Less can be more

Some areas are better served by doing away with furniture altogether. Here we see a work space, with an adjoining lounge area for taking breaks. Where couches would have overwhelmed the the small space available, instead the designers have opted for cushions on the floor, equally comfortable, and even more fun. If you don't have a lot of room for furniture, don't force it in, try some other creative options!

7. Create a flow

It's important that there is a flow to your room, leading people naturally through your home. If you have a sectional sofa it can be tempting to just put it in a corner, but this can cause claustrophobia, especially for those sitting in the corner. By bringing the sofa away from the wall you ensure it doesn't get too musty, and people are able to move around freely to choose where to sit. It's also important to make sure everyone has a place to put their drink, so make sure there is always a reachable surface like a coffee table or even a spare stool.

We hope these tips have inspired you to try something new in your own home, and remember there will always be an element of trial and error, so don't be afraid to experiment! But if you really looking for an overhaul, try out these great design tips.

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