Posted on: August 7, 2008

Musical Chairs

Revive a stale room without breaking the bank. For starters, rearrange furniture, ditch clutter and think creatively

By Gretchen Roberts
CTW Features

If your furniture has been in the same tired spot since you moved into the place 10 years ago, maybe it's time to get those pieces out of a rut. There's nothing like a simple (and free) room makeover to shed new light on your old things.

Furniture arrangement isn't an absolute science, but keep these six basic principles and the following room-by-room rules in mind before doing any heavy lifting.

1. Look at the big picture, advises Sharon Hanby-Robie, ASID, a Pennsylvania-based interior designer and author of "Decorating Without Fear: A Step-by-Step Guide To Creating The Home You Love" (Thomas Nelson, April 2007). "Does your room have a focal point? How will you direct traffic through the room? What do you want people to see when they first walk in?"

2. Decide whether you want a symmetrical or asymmetrical look, Hanby-Robie says. "A symmetrical look is more formal, with an emphasis on balance. Pretend the room is in the palm of your hand; if it's leaning one way or another, it's not balanced.

"Asymmetrical is more casual and flexible. You want equally interesting things randomly placed so your eye is compelled to wander around the room."

3. Think creatively about placement, says Kathy Wilson, editor of TheBudgetDecorator.com and home-decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com.

"Many people stick to the traditional 'lining-the-walls' technique, which is rarely the right way to arrange a room," she says.

4. Honesty is the best policy. "If you eat dinner in your living room every night, then arrange for it," Hanby-Robie says. "Don't pretend to be someone else. Make yourself comfortable in your own house."

5. Plot the design on graph paper first, using one square for every square foot in the room, Wilson suggests. (This will also help save your back.)

6. Don't overcrowd the room. "The best rule is, when you think you're done, take one thing away and it will be perfect," Wilson says.

Living room/family room: The standard living room arrangement is uninspired: couches and chairs turned toward the television, Wilson says.

"Don't assume the furniture has to face the TV. Try to find a focal point in the room, like a fireplace or window, that can take center stage while still allowing comfortable TV viewing."

Mary Mihaly, a certified feng shui practitioner in Cleveland, believes furniture renewal can be symbolic and psychological as well as physical. In the living room, "decide what you want to accomplish there. If you want people to be convivial and to encourage more conversation, arrange the room in a way that facilitates that, with furniture placed where people can easily talk to one another," she says.

Make sure all the items in the room have a relationship with each other, Hanby-Robie advises. "A lamp stand next to a chair works better than in a corner by itself," she says.

Bedroom: The bed should be the focal point of the room, Wilson says. "All other furniture pieces are supporting players." If you have room, consider creating a reading corner with a comfy chair and ottoman, but make sure there's still a good traffic flow in the room.

More important than what's in the bedroom is what shouldn't be in there. Two things that don't belong, according to Mihaly: exercise equipment and family photos.

"When you have an exercise bike in the bedroom that you never use, the first thing you see when you open your eyes in the morning is that you're a failure. It's subconscious, but you feel guilty, and there�s no reason to start the day that way." Family photos are a distraction, Mihaly says. "They take away energy that should be focused on two people and their relationship."

Dining room: The dining room seems to be a no-brainer to arrange: Insert table in center, populate with chairs. But there are a few alternative arrangements. As in the living room, focus on a focal point like the chandelier or a large piece of artwork, Hanby-Robie says. In the chandelier example, the table belongs in the center, but if it's wall art you're highlighting, putting the table underneath, closer to the wall, makes sense. Then you've got room on the other side to multipurpose, Wilson says.

"If the table sits against the wall with benches, you can add a family library on the other side."

Home office: Start with the desk, which many people place against a wall. "More than in any other room, the command position – sitting so you can see the entry and most of the room – is important here," Mihaly says. "Otherwise, surprises may come up behind you."

The home office is often a multipurpose room, serving as a guest room as well as the place you pay your bills. Place the desk out from the wall, facing the room, and add a futon opposite that doubles as a comfortable place to sit and a bed for overnight guests.

Don't be afraid to use the closet, Wilson says. "You can take off the door, paint the interior, and use it as a niche area for a desk to open up space in the room. Just don�t forget good lighting."

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