Room layout and furniture planning - Part 1

Room Layout and Furniture Planning - Part 1

Working out how best to lay out a room and where to place furniture is essential to the success of a design – and I'm going to show you the simplest way to do it, without the need for complex computer programmes.

Creating a Furniture Plan

You will need:

• A tape measure
• Tracing paper
• Blank paper
• A ruler
• A pen
• A pencil
• An eraser
• A permanent marker

1. Measure your room, and do a very simple drawing of it – it doesn't need to be exactly to scale, but it should be a general representation of the measurements and shape of your room. It's a good idea to write down the measurements on your drawing, as these will help you later.

1. Place the tracing paper over your drawing, and mark the corners so you have a holding pattern and can line it up in the right place every time.

1. Assess the conditions of your room, and mark onto the tracing paper with a pencil any that might affect the room's layout – for example, do you need to leave a clear path to get into an adjoining room?

1. Next, consider the needs of the room and what it requires in order to function how you want it to. If it's going to be where you eat as a family, a dining table is essential, or perhaps space for a games table is a non-negotiable for you. Think also about what you need to house in the room – whether that's a treasured collection of art, or a large piece of existing furniture.

1. With an understanding of the conditions and needs of your room, you can start to use a pencil to place the largest and most important pieces. As well as thinking practically, also think about creating visual symmetry and balance.

1. Once you are happy with the final arrangement, you can go over your pencil marks with a pen or permanent marker.