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The Empty Room by Jody Conley One of the most deceiving spaces in the world is the empty room.  The possibilities seem endless and the choices mind-boggling, but the room probably looks bigger than it really is because it is empty.  There may be a soaring ceiling and lots of windows, but it's the square footage on the floor that matters. The traffic pattern also makes a definite difference in how the room can be arranged.  Occasionally, the room is so large that it needs to be divided into different functions.  A few guidelines for space planning are helpful:

Today, many homes have a great room, combining family room and kitchen in one large area.  Most of the time there is a counter for barstools, which may serve as a replacement for a kitchen table and chairs.  This is an easy place to begin decorating the room.  First, measure the height from the floor to the bottom of the counter.  If you have a 42-inch high counter, you need a 30-inch seat height for your barstools.  If your counter is 36 inches, you need a 26- or 24-inch seat height, called a counter stool.  Be sure to leave adequate room for the depth of the stools, usually around 24 inches, and allow for a walkway behind them.  Architectural Standards recommends 36 inches as a passageway. If they swivel, allow 12 inches between them.  There are many styles of barstools, most with backs and many with arms.  Be sure the arm is recessed enough to give you room to get up to the counter.  You may choose wood or metal stools in the style you would like to establish for the room and then use the cabinets or countertops to select the stain or paint color for them.

Next, determine which wall is best for the TV, hopefully, before the cable has been installed. (In any case, cable placement can be moved, if necessary, to achieve the optimum room arrangement.)  Select the wall that is not appropriate for seating.  Once you position the sofa in the best spot for TV viewing, you can arrange chairs and, possibly, a second sofa, in a tight conversational group.  Putting a sofa in the center of the room opposite a fireplace can be a great room divider.  Choose a sofa with an interesting back. (A sofa table is not always necessary, and installing floor plugs for lamps can be important when floating your furniture.)

The seating group(s) should be arranged so that the traffic pattern does not interrupt or inhibit conversation. The coffee table or cocktail ottoman is the anchor that holds the group together.  Keep it 12 to 15 inches away from the sofa and be sure it is at least half the sofa’s size.  It can be bigger, but not smaller.  When selecting end tables, consider the arm height of the sofa and chairs.  For example, if the arm height of your sofa is 26 inches, the end table should be no lower than 23 inches and no higher than 29 inches.  End tables do not have to match, nor do lamps.  You can compensate for height differences by putting the shorter lamp on the taller table and the taller lamp on the shorter table.  Even a small chest can serve as an end table, and a painted piece can mix with wood tones.  Whatever contributes to the overall look is desirable, and an interesting, unexpected piece can be a big asset to a room. 

The dining room is often one of the most crowded rooms in the house as a consequence of being frequently downsized in recent building years. However, the demand for seating has changed very little.  The formula for determining the size of the table your dining room will hold is to subtract six feet from the size of the room.  Your chairs are at least two feet deep and you need at least one foot to pull them out to seat yourself.  If you want a china cabinet and/or buffet, subtract another two feet from the room and reduce the size of the table.  The width of the china or buffet is seldom a problem since most rooms have an uninterrupted wall.  It is the depth that can make the room too tight to pull the chairs out without hitting the china cabinet or buffet.  You can be creative in selecting a smaller-depth serving piece that may not "match" the dining room collection but will give you a more workable size and a unique perspective.  A dining room rug should leave at least 18 inches of wood border around the room.  If your china cabinet is 24 inches deep, then you want 24 inches of wood around the room.  Since rugs come in standard sizes – 8'x10', 9'x12', 10'x14' – select the size that best suits the dimensions of your room without going over the border measurements.

While space planning is not as much fun as selecting styles and colors, it is an essential ingredient in planning a room.  The old adage, "measure twice, cut once," is applicable here.  If you measure twice, you will not make a costly mistake, and your furniture will fit perfectly in the desired arrangement.

Contact Information:

Jody Conley has been a designer for 25 years, the past six years at Furnitureland South.  Prior to joining Furnitureland, she had her own consulting service, making house calls on design clients.  Now they come to her from all over the world.  Please call her directly at 336.841.4328, ext. 2733. Jody Conley Sales & Design Consultant Furnitureland South 5635 Riverdale Dr. Jamestown, N.C. 27282 336.841.4328 Fax 336.822.3098 Email:jodyconley@furniturelandsouth.com