THE PERFECT FIT - TIPS FOR FINDING THE RIGHT SIZE FURNITURE FOR ANY ROOM

 Are you moving into a new home, or thinking about redecorating your current one? Sometimes selecting furniture can be a daunting task whether you are choosing an individual piece, or working with a blank canvas.  You hear too often of people spending hours looking for the right piece of furniture for their home, only to find that when they get it home it doesn’t fit, or even worse – they can’t even get it into the house! (yes – this happens more often than you think!)

One of the most important things to remember is to plan in advance.  Firstly consider the space and its purpose.  This sounds simple enough, but a rooms layout and function is as unique as your family.  For example, does your family like to entertain? Perhaps a larger formal dining table is needed.  Or do you enjoy movie nights? This might mean a larger couch and additional seating is required.  Apart from knowing the style you want to work with, measuring your room will give you a clear idea of what you have to work with and remove the guesswork from the situation. Even if you find an item you like out of the blue, its always helpful to put it on hold so you can go home and make sure it suits before you buy it.  It’s also important to consider access to the room.  If access is tricky, consider smaller or modular items.  Many companies are supplying clever designs that can be taken apart for situations such as these.

That brings us to our next handy tip - measuring up.  It seems like a simple step, but many people jump straight in and purchase pieces for their home without measuring first. This is especially common when we find a great bargain (guilty as charged!)

It is important to see if each new piece will suit its new home.  Will it fit under that window? Or will it block that passageway? Will it overhang? Will it make the space feel cramped, or is it too small and get lost in the room? One simple way to do this is by mapping out the area with pieces of newspaper or tape in the same dimensions as the new piece. This will allow you to stand back and get a good idea of how much space it takes up, or if it balances well with the size of the room. Mapping out the furniture will help you see if there is enough room leftover for other pieces of furniture and to be able walk past with ease, particularly with something like a bed, lounge or coffee table.

When choosing selected pieces of furniture, its important to get an idea of how much space is left between furniture and walls for access, particularly with larger pieces such as beds and couches.  The correct spacing and placement can make the difference between a room feeling awkward and feeling ‘just right’.  There are many resources available to guide you on exact dimensions for specific pieces of furniture, but as a general rule of thumb leave a minimum of 700 – 900mm between furniture to allow for clear walkways. Think about each pieces unique function. For example you need to place the coffee table far away enough from the couch to sit comfortably, but close enough to reach it. Items such as wall mirrors need to be positioned so they are functional, being centred roughly at 1600mm high.  But again, your home is as unique as your family, so treat each piece of furniture and accessory with some consideration of how you want it to look and function in your home.  These steps will help you create a comfortable and functional home for you and your family.

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