Avoid furniture faux-pas when arranging a space
Size matters when choosing the right sofa or dining table to best suit your home
When creating a knockout space with optimal function, flow and balance, selecting the right size of furniture is essential.
But determining how big a sofa, chair or coffee table should be can stump many amateur designers.
“A lot of people make the basic mistake of either buying furniture too big or too small for the space,” says Eva Healy, principal designer and owner of Toronto-based firm Avenue Design.
“Too big furniture won’t make the most of the room and will create a bulky feel to the space, taking up the footprint without adding to the functionality of room,” she says.
“Furniture that is too small has the effect that everything is floating in the space and can look cluttered, as people try to make up for the fact that the room isn’t filled by adding more pieces into it.”
When approaching a new project, Julie Taylor, of Julie Taylor Interiors, says planning ahead saves plenty of headaches later. This means becoming good friends with your tape measure.
“If you can’t get it through your door or down the staircase, you need to know now,” she says.
“Also, map out the footprint of the furniture pieces you’re considering. Use green painter’s tape on your floor, or create paper templates, so you’ll know exactly how things will fit and if you’ll have enough room to comfortably move around. Then go see the furniture pieces and try them out.”
Healy advises using a main piece, such as a sofa, as a focal point to anchor a room. Then, design from there, adding extra accent seating, a coffee table and perhaps an ottoman.
“Think about the scale and proportion of the pieces you are looking for,” she says. “Remember that everything looks somewhat small in stores because they are sitting in a huge space with high ceilings.”
Before perusing furniture and decor shops, take photographs of rooms being worked on and, if possible, go armed with a floor plan or dimensions, including the location and sizes of windows, a measuring tape, paint chips and even flooring samples.
For those restyling on a budget, Taylor says even minor improvements can create a big impact, from a fresh coat of paint to eye-catching artwork, which she calls the “soul of the room.”
Although personal style is important, allowing esthetic alone to be the main guide when purchasing an item can lead to a home-design flop.
“Keep the furniture neutral in colour, add pattern and texture in the area rug, accent pillows, artwork and drapery,” says Taylor.
“These are items that can easily be changed out down the line but the expensive pieces withstand the test of time and whatever colour combo you want to do.
“Grey is still the go-to neutral as it’s a clean starting point for both crisp whites and saturated colours, as well as jewel tones and beiges if you’re more transitional or traditional in design esthetic. There are many shades of grey, so keep in mind the accent colours you’ll be using in the space and choose the right cool or warm grey to accommodate the general direction of the space.”