Furniture Layout Mistakes You Need to Stop Making as an Interior Designer
Every interior designer wants to create a well-balanced, functional and aesthetically-pleasing space. Beyond picking beautiful furniture and décor, it’s the layout that matters. Back in the day, living rooms were solely used for formal entertaining. However today, they double up as a home office or a kids play zone. With that being said, it’s getting harder to devise a floor plan. The key to achieving a successful layout is establishing what the space is going to be used for in the first place. The best interior design schools in India often teach students the common furniture layout mistakes they should be avoiding.
If the layout of a home is not fixed, it can turn into a cluttered and chaotic mess.
Furniture Layout Mistakes that are Problematic
Always pushing furniture against the walls
Pushing furniture against a wall comes very naturally to most people. They feel like if they do so, they can create an illusion of more space. Well, on the contrary, pushing furniture against a wall can actually make a room appear smaller. It can make the layout awkward both practically as well as aesthetically. Pushing it can also make the seating appear disconnected. Experienced interior designers always say that furniture needs to breathe. In a living room for example, it may be a good idea to have the sofa set in the middle of the living room. This encourages conversation and creates a more intimate space. Even if you’re putting a sofa against a wall, make sure you have a few chairs surrounding it to make it warm, cosy and inviting.
Neglecting focal points
Every room in a home must have a focal point. Without one, a room can feel unorganised and cluttered. Think of a focal point as a strong anchor. A few examples of focal points include statement furniture, a fireplace, a TV unit or an eye-catching piece of art. Lack of a focal point can also make a room look visually chaotic. Another important point you must keep in mind is not to create too many focal points. One focal point is more than enough. Too many stars in the show can make the space look chaotic. If your living room follows an open-concept model, it’s best to divide the area and develop an individual zone.
Including too much furniture
A common bedroom layout mistake is overloading the room with too much furniture. Even the largest rooms can feel spacious and cluttered if there is too much furniture. It’s important to be thoughtful about your furniture selection and placement. For instance, the key pieces of furniture a bedroom should have are a bed, side tables, a clothes storage unit, mirrors, a dressing table, etc. You don’t need more furniture than this. For smaller bedrooms, it’s best to invest in built-in storage. Also, as far as possible purchase furniture that is multifunctional. In case your room is larger and you can accommodate some extra furniture; it may be a good idea to have a tiny coffee table and two chairs. However, this is completely your personal choice.
Scale and proportion matter
Mismatched furniture is a complete no-no. Scale and proportion are two crucial factors of interior design. In any space if you keep furniture of varying scales, it can look haphazard. For example, a tiny chair with a large desk would look completely odd. Oversized furniture can overwhelm a small room while tiny furniture will look really odd in a large room. Before buying furniture, understand the scale of the room. Choose cohesive pieces that fit well together and match the scale of the room. The point of interior design is to create visual harmony and a well-balanced layout. If you’re adding seating furniture, make sure to do so in pairs unless it’s a statement accent chair or arm chair.
Poor Lighting Choices
Besides furniture, it’s also important to use lighting wisely. In a living room or bedroom, it’s wrong to rely on a single, overhead light. It can surely make the space look flat and uninviting. Living rooms especially are considered relaxation retreats. One single bright light can be annoying. Thus, in every room, it’s important to focus on a mixed lighting approach. Use a mix of task, ambient and accent lighting. This also helps you place layouts. Add floor lamps, table lamps, and overhead lighting to add character to a space.
Conclusion
Layout mistakes are a big deal. If you don’t recognise any early signs, you will have to live with a particular layout for the rest of your life. You can’t keep changing layouts every now and then as it costs a lot of money. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can turn your home into a well-balanced and comfortable haven. Are you passionate about interior designing and want to learn more about it? At Vogue Institute of Art & Design, we offer the top interior diploma course in India.
