Room Arrangements in a Snap

If you've just moved into your first place, new place or have been living in your home for a number of years and just cannot figure out how to arrange that pesky front/living room, den/family room, entrance, dining room, bedroom(s), etc.  well you are not alone!  There are many people out there like you who love many different looks but cannot settle on one to help create that livable, functional space that you so desire.
Here are some tips to help you arrange that room in ten steps:

1. Think about your space and ask yourself these questions:
1. What is this space designated for?  What is its purpose?
2. What do I currently have in this space?
3. What can I live with? What can I live without?
   
   
2. Once you've identified the necessities above, you can start to think about the flow and function of the room.
1. Is this a pass-through space? Is it private?
2. Does it have many functions? i.e. Living + Dining OR Living + Dining + Office, etc.
   
   
3. Once you have narrowed down the function and flow it's time to think about the overall colour and feel of the room.
1. It is going to feel warm and cozy? Fresh and cool?
2. Pick a colour scheme such as: red & white, blues & greens.  If this is not your forte, consider looking at some websites and books to help get inspired about the color scheme for the room.  When in doubt, neutral is always best.  This way you can introduce colour with impact through accessories and artwork.
   
   
4. Consider the light sources for the room.
1. Is there lots of natural light from windows or a skylight?
2. Is there an overhead ceiling fixture? Floor/Table lamps? Wall sconces?
   
   
5. Measure out the size of the room.  Take note of any oddities such as columns, walls jutting out or bay/bow windows.  If your room is not a square or a rectangle make sure that you take this into consideration when arranging the room layout.
   
   
6. Now its time to think about the main furniture pieces for the space.  Here are some ideas:
1. Living/Family Room or Den:
1. Sofa(s)
2. Coffee/Cocktail Table
3. Side Tables
4. Bookcase(s)
5. Entertainment Unit
2. Dining Room
1. Table
2. Chairs
3. Sideboard/Credenza/Buffet
3. Office
1. Desk
2. Chair
3. Bookcase(s)
4. Bedroom(s)
1. Bed
2. Night tables
3. Wardrobe
4. Chest of Drawers
   
   
7. Take stock of those items that are already in the room and remove the ones that don't "fit" in with the overall purpose.  You can always add pieces back or introduce new pieces later.  If your sofa overpowers the room in size for example, you may have to consider moving it to another location or purchasing one with better dimensions.  The last thing you want is for the room to be all sofa and nothing else!
   
   
8. Conceptualize and create a focal point in your space.  It could be a painting, a fireplace, a sofa, etc.  You are going to build around the focal point in your space by drawing from it the colours and textures.  Consider the placement of the focal point, it should be one that people can easily identify with then they walk into the room.
   
   
9. If you have a hard time visualizing the size of the furniture pieces and how they will fit into the room make a newspaper template of the furniture item to its true dimensions.  This way you can place the templates around the room without having to hire movers!  Once you've found the fit and taken all of the necessary considerations for the purpose, flow and function of your space add the large pieces into their new spots. Once you have these in place you can start to add in items such as an area rug for under the coffee/cocktail table, side tables for beside the sofa, night tables next to the bed, etc. Slowly bring items back into the space.
   
   
10. The last step is to introduce accessories and decorative objects for the room.  This includes artwork, baskets, bowls, bobbles, candles, lamps, etc.  Keep one thing in mind when introducing decorative objects into your space that there is a fine line between simplicity and clutter.  It is better to slowly integrate items into the space, take a step back, look around and see if an object would look better in a different location; does that vase really work in my space?; I think I might have one too many candles on the table, etc.  This will help to keep the look and feel of your space more under control.  Just make sure that you lose the choctchkies and dried flowers!

Happy Decorating!!
Here are some sources for inspiration:
Creating atmosphere with colour - styleathome.com
Incorporating smart pieces into your decor - styleathome.com 
Canadian House and Home: Galleries - houseandhome.com
Design*Sponge: Sneak Peeks - designspongeonline.com