With 2020 behind us, we wanted to touch on some of the 2021 buzz around the interior design world. Everyone’s talking about how to make interior spaces more livable, adaptable and comfortable.
Let’s talk about focal points in room design. Whether its your living room or a game room, a focal point is the visual element that draws you into the room. You have to know what to pay attention to and what to draw the eye away from, so that you create the special space all your own. Here are our top tips to arranging your living room like a pro!
Know Your Focal Point
This is the best starting point when designing any room in your home. Consider your focal point, will it be a home entertainment center with T.V., a captivating fireplace, or a lovely bay window? After you have decided what the focal point should be, arrange your furniture in a way that accentuates the focal point.
For instance, if your focal point is the home entertainment center with T.V., keep in mind that you will want your furniture pieces to be aligned in a way that everyone can see the television, and that traffic flow in and out of this room will not impose on the view. Consider placing the sofas and chairs in a way that brings your “sitters” together and is also comfortable for viewing the television focal point. We don’t want traffic in and out of the area to disrupt what is being watched.
Furniture Does Not Have to Go Against The Wall
It is a common misperception that furniture pieces, especially sofas and sectionals should be out of the way, against the wall. No, No, and No! At Nathan Anthony, we encourage you NOT to! Our pieces are designed with a 360 degree view, to be displayed with their backs, sides and gorgeous angles showing! While we know this cannot be done in all living spaces, we’d like to think it’s a possibility in most – think outside the box!
If your room is on the large side, strictly putting your sofas and chairs against the wall means having to shout in order to hold conversations with your company. Consider bringing the sofas and chairs into the room so that conversations can be more intimate and less noisy. Here are some of our favorite examples for inspiration by our clients…
Measure Your Room
Okay, maybe this would be the best starting point when designing your living room. Before ordering furniture pieces, be sure to measure your room ahead of time. Guesstimating does not work! You must have a clear understanding of the size of your room and what size furniture pieces will fit, without looking disproportionate.
When furniture pieces are too small for the room, it often makes the room look more like a dollhouse. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if the pieces are too large, it looks as though you’re a giant living in the dollhouse.
One tip we love seeing our interior designers use, is mapping the room out with painters tape. This means taking that blue tape and marking the floor where you want the piece to go. This helps you visualize and see the actual size of the pieces you’re going to incorporate. A clear idea of the layout will help and save you a ton of money especially on those big pieces like armoires or sectionals.
Do Not Overcrowd
In a world where minimalist design has taken over, do yourself a favor and DO NOT OVERCROWD. Keep it simple. Let the space itself be present and noticeable. This will accentuate any special pieces you have or art you want to showcase. A good rule of thumb, use only pieces that you actually need. This declutters the space creating a sense of peace and tranquility. Overcrowding with stuff you don’t need or use, and even oversize pieces is distracting and anything BUT peaceful.
We hope these tips have helped you. To keep up with the latest happenings here at Nathan Anthony, please follow the hashtags #nathananthony, #nathananthonyfurniture and #uphlstryart or connect with us directly on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Also, you can always check out our latest videos on Youtube.