The family room gets more traffic than almost any other room in the house. Most people do the majority of their entertaining in the family room and, as the name suggests, the room is a place to relax and unwind with loved ones. Furniture placement can make or break a room. A comfortable, inviting room makes it easier for you and your guests to feel at home.
Planning and Placement: Planning is the most important, yet most neglected, step of furniture placement. Many people place furniture where they think it should naturally go, only to be disappointed later by the look and feel of the room. Create a floor plan of your family room on graph paper and measure large pieces of furniture to help you envision furniture placement. Consider the size and shape of the room in relation to the pieces of furniture you want in the room. You may find that you have too much or not enough furniture to create the atmosphere you want.
Every room has a focal point. The focal point may be a feature of the room itself, such as a large window or an oddly angled wall. In plainer rooms, your focal point will probably be your biggest piece of furniture. In the family room, this is most likely your entertainment center. Play up the focal point by making it stand out in an area that can be seen from anywhere in the room. Don't crowd too much furniture or too many decorations around your focal point.
Do your planning in the family room so that you can envision the look of each furniture placement idea. Walk around the room the way you would normally go to prevent placing obstacles in high-traffic areas. Downplay imperfections and irregularities in flooring and wallpaper or paint by strategically hiding them under or behind your furniture.
Your family room is a gathering place, so make it open and inviting by arranging seating in a circle or semicircle. Don't make the mistake of thinking all furniture has to be placed against a wall. Angled furniture can create a sophisticated, yet homey design. Crowding furniture together doesn't make the room look bigger; it only creates a sense of clutter. Open up your space by placing small end tables or lamps at opposite corners, and separate armchairs instead of placing them rigidly side by side.
Feng Shui: Many people like to follow ancient Chinese feng shui traditions when placing furniture. In the family room, feng shui dictates that couches and chairs face the door, or be placed so that people sitting on them have an unobstructed view of the door. Placing seating with the back to the door obstructs energy flow, according to feng shui traditions.
Electronics are thought to create an overabundance of yang energy, so feng shui traditionalists suggest placing televisions and computers in entertainment centers with doors that close. If this is not possible, consider covering electronics with a decorative fabric when not in use.
In feng shui, the windows symbolize your outlook on the world, so furniture should not obstruct them and window coverings should be easy to open.
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