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10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture

  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    By Brynn Mannino for Woman's DayCelebrity designer Angelo Surmelis says “you want to expose some flooring, but for the most part, go big, almost as big as the seating area.” An undersize rug makes a small room seem smaller and a large room look disconnected.
    http://static1.glo.com/photos/Original/11578_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    “Placing a couch even a few inches away from the wall will create a little breathing room and make a space seem larger,” Surmelis says.ON WOMAN'S DAY: 10 Most Common Home Decorating Don'ts
    http://static.glo.com/photos/Original/11579_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    Lighting is one of the most important elements in a space,” says HGTV designer Erinn Valencich. “And placement should maximize light in the room.” Spread light sources around a space, she explains, and make sure every corner gets equal attention. Surmelis agrees: “You want to keep it balanced,” he says.
    http://static2.glo.com/photos/Original/11580_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    Bed placement should acknowledge the focal point of the room, says Valencich. “If your room has French doors, place your bed opposite them.” Having a small room presents a big challenge for bed placement, warns Surmelis, but placing the side of the bed against the wall is a good option.
    http://static.glo.com/photos/Original/11581_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    “Go as high as you can possibly go,” Surmelis says. Sassaman agrees: “It’s best to hang drapes from the ceilings to the floors — it makes the ceilings seem a lot higher.” ON WOMAN'S DAY: Save or Splurge on Home Furnishings
    http://static2.glo.com/photos/Original/11582_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    For dining tables, Surmelis always suggests the classic placement in the center of the room under a light fixture. “Do something fun, like placing it against the wall and creating bench seating.”
    http://static.glo.com/photos/Original/11583_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    “Go as big as you can,” Surmelis says. “If you can’t go too big because you have a narrow living room, then go skinny but long.” An oversize table contributes more to a room in terms of both function and aesthetics, Valencich adds, and coffee tables should be placed 12 to 24 inches away from your couch.
    http://static1.glo.com/photos/Original/11584_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    Dressers look best up against a wall. “Placing a dresser in a corner creates a weird, dead space behind it — like a black hole,” Valencich says. ON WOMAN'S DAY: 11 Common Decorating Setbacks Solved
    http://static.glo.com/photos/Original/11585_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    “People have a tendency to hang pictures too high,” Sassaman says. So when putting it over a piece of furniture, hang it 24 to 36 inches above, though that rule varies depending on the height of the artwork itself.
    http://static.glo.com/photos/Original/11586_Original.jpg
  • 10 Commandments of Arranging Furniture
    It’s best to hang the TV on the wall to save space, or use the focal point of the room as a reference. “You don’t want to ignore the fireplace or something else that would architecturally be a natural main element in the room,” Sassaman says.
    http://static1.glo.com/photos/Original/11587_Original.jpg

  • 1. Area Rugs Belong Under Furniture

    1 of 10

    By Brynn Mannino for Woman's Day

    Celebrity designer Angelo Surmelis says “you want to expose some flooring, but for the most part, go big, almost as big as the seating area.” An undersize rug makes a small room seem smaller and a large room look disconnected.

  • 2. Couches Should Be Surrounded by Space

    2 of 10

    “Placing a couch even a few inches away from the wall will create a little breathing room and make a space seem larger,” Surmelis says.

    ON WOMAN'S DAY: 10 Most Common Home Decorating Don'ts

  • 3. Light the Entire Room

    3 of 10

    "Lighting is one of the most important elements in a space,” says HGTV designer Erinn Valencich. “And placement should maximize light in the room.” Spread light sources around a space, she explains, and make sure every corner gets equal attention. Surmelis agrees: “You want to keep it balanced,” he says.

  • 4. Beds Are the Main Focus

    4 of 10

    Bed placement should acknowledge the focal point of the room, says Valencich. “If your room has French doors, place your bed opposite them.” Having a small room presents a big challenge for bed placement, warns Surmelis, but placing the side of the bed against the wall is a good option.

  • 5. The Higher the Curtains, the Better

    5 of 10

    “Go as high as you can possibly go,” Surmelis says. Sassaman agrees: “It’s best to hang drapes from the ceilings to the floors — it makes the ceilings seem a lot higher.”

    ON WOMAN'S DAY: Save or Splurge on Home Furnishings

  • 6. Dining Room Tables Go Under Overhead Lights

    6 of 10

    For dining tables, Surmelis always suggests the classic placement in the center of the room under a light fixture. “Do something fun, like placing it against the wall and creating bench seating.”

  • 7. Coffee Tables Should Be Large

    7 of 10

    “Go as big as you can,” Surmelis says. “If you can’t go too big because you have a narrow living room, then go skinny but long.” An oversize table contributes more to a room in terms of both function and aesthetics, Valencich adds, and coffee tables should be placed 12 to 24 inches away from your couch.

  • 8. Dressers Are Not Stand-Alone Pieces

    8 of 10

    Dressers look best up against a wall. “Placing a dresser in a corner creates a weird, dead space behind it — like a black hole,” Valencich says.

    ON WOMAN'S DAY: 11 Common Decorating Setbacks Solved

  • 9. Hang Paintings, Mirrors in Relation to the Furniture

    9 of 10

    “People have a tendency to hang pictures too high,” Sassaman says. So when putting it over a piece of furniture, hang it 24 to 36 inches above, though that rule varies depending on the height of the artwork itself.

  • 10. Televisions Aren’t the Main Attraction

    10 of 10

    It’s best to hang the TV on the wall to save space, or use the focal point of the room as a reference. “You don’t want to ignore the fireplace or something else that would architecturally be a natural main element in the room,” Sassaman says.

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