Arrangement Checklist~~~Lesson #4

Once you have considered the many variations of the arrangement of your room and have narrowed your choices, you closely examine the positioning of pieces according to the following guidelines. Most of these are just good common sense, however, they are quite easily forgotten.

1. Examine the location of all outlets. Are they convenient for lights, TV, etc?...

2. Has the traffic flow been interrupted? Identify primary and secondary zones. Sometimes this is a necessary evil, but should be avoided if possible.

3. Does every seated person have access to a table top surface? All tables do not need to be very large. A small occasional table, as well as a hearth or bookcase or shelf, will do.

4. Does every seated person have access to a light or lamp? Not everyone in the room will read at the same time and the best lighted seats often have to be shared. In most cases (other than specific duties) general overhead lighting will suffice.

5. Can most everyone view the television without much difficulty? Generally, for most room-size screens, a distance of 8-12 feet is good but 5 to 7 is best.

6. Is there adequate or too much distance within the conversation group? Generally 10 feet is comfortable for normal conversation.

7. Is there good balance between legs and skirts? A room with all legs seems to float and a room with all skirts will seem heavy and weighted down.

8. Finally, are there any specific requests or tasks you wish this room to perform? If so, does it?

These things may seem trivial but when looking for the best arrangement these hints can play a key role in fine tuning a space. For example, lamps are great at the side of a sofa or bed, but if unreachable without stretching it's an easy fix to make a slight move.
Photographs are also key in seeing what you can fix...sometimes an image gives a "better" view to the owner and allows them to see what may need to be changed or adjusted;)
Cheers, French;)