How to plan a room layout

Room layout is one of the most crucial aspects of good interior design, and often the thing I spend longest perfecting when working on schemes for clients. It not only impacts the way a space looks, but also how it feels – and whether it’s practical and enjoyable to use on a day-to-day basis. But finding the right layout can be tricky, especially if you have any awkward shapes or dimensions to deal with.

So, just how do you go about devising a layout that works for you and your lifestyle, and that makes the best use of whatever space you have? Here are my top tips…

Start with a blank canvas

It can be difficult to detach yourself from the way you’ve always laid a room out in the past, or from arrangements shown on estate-agency or house-developer plans. But starting from scratch will help you move away from any preconceived notions of how things should be done and focus on what works best for you. With that in mind, I always begin the process by mapping out an empty room using floor-planner software. There are plenty of free ones available online, and some will even let you turn 2D plans into 3D models that you can ‘walk’ around. You could also do things the old-fashioned way with paper, a ruler and a pencil.

Whatever method you choose, measure the room in question carefully and plot out the walls, windows and doors, creating a blank canvas which you can use to play around with different options. Also make sure you add in things such as radiators and fireplaces, as well as plug sockets and other fixtures that might dictate where you can place lamps, TVs and the like. You might have scope to move these around to suit the final layout, but if not (for example if budget is tight or you live in a rental) then keeping them in mind from the start will help avoid disappointment and frustration later on.

Above: a simple plan of our main bedroom, which I created on SmartDraw (one of numerous free online tools) to try out potential layouts. The radiator, window, door and fireplace are all included, and plug sockets are marked with an ‘x’.

Keep function in mind

The function of a room is the most important factor when planning a layout, so before you start introducing furniture it’s worth taking time to list all the activities you need to accommodate – lounging, eating, entertaining, working, sleeping, even playing if you have kids. When you have a clear idea of this you can start working out how to incorporate everything you need into the space you have, and identify any essentials that are lacking. This is particularly important in large, open-plan areas, which work best when broken up into defined ‘zones’, but even smaller rooms are likely to have multiple functions to fulfil. My living room, for example, is used for watching TV, entertaining and general relaxation. I’ve therefore arranged the sofas so that the TV is easily visible from both of them, and positioned the seating so that it faces inwards and encourages conversation. I also have a cosy chair by the window for reading, enjoying a quiet coffee and watching the world go by.

Above: it may only be small, but the living room of this Swedish apartment has been laid out to accommodate two distinct functions, dining and lounging (see the full tour here).

Consider focal points

It’s also worth thinking about what you want the focal point to be. It could be anything – a fireplace, a set of patio doors, a window with a beautiful view – and in larger rooms there might be more than one. A common assumption is that furniture should face the focal point, which isn’t necessarily the case, but identifying it from the beginning will allow you to work the layout around it and ensure you’re showing off your home’s best assets.

If the space in question has no natural focal point, then don’t worry. There are all sorts of ways to create one: a gallery wall, a sideboard or console table with a beautiful arrangement, a shelving display, a wall in a different colour or texture, even a well-placed mirror.

Above: this tiny attic apartment has no natural focal point, so the owners have created one using a low table, a lamp and a selection of artwork (see more of this home here). 

Position larger items first

One you’ve considered functions and focal point(s), you can start putting furniture into your floor plan and playing around with different arrangements. If you’re using online software you’ll probably be given a range of standard items to choose from, as well as the option to ‘draw’ other pieces; if you’re using a pen and paper, you can create cut-outs and stick them down with tack.

I always recommend positioning larger items such as beds, sofas and dining tables first, as they’re likely to be the most important pieces in any given space – and the most expensive to change if they don’t work. Once you’ve found the right position for them, you can then add smaller items around them, as well as identifying spots for things like lamps, wall shelves and artwork.

Above: the perfectly positioned sofa in a Swedish apartment (see the full tour here). 

Remember the importance of empty space

If you’re left with any big gaps or empty corners, have a think about ways you could put them to good use – perhaps with a reading nook, a plant or some additional storage. That said, don’t feel the need to fill every last square centimetre of a room – the most successful layouts tend to incorporate elements of negative space, letting the items that are included ‘sing’ and preventing the scheme as a whole from becoming overwhelming. You also need to remember to leave space for doors, cupboards and wardrobes to open, and for any reclining furniture or sofabeds etc to be extended – I know it sounds obvious, but it’s something that’s often forgotten!

Above: corners of our dining room have been left intentionally empty in order not to over-clutter the space. 

Think about traffic flow

Another vital consideration is traffic flow. It’s something many people don’t even think about, but having to negotiate obstacles as you move around your home can be a major source of frustration. I use arrows to plot movement on floor plans, making sure there are clear pathways through each room and on to the next. I also ensure there’s enough space between items of furniture to allow people to circulate around the room itself, and I avoid directing people through the middle of seating areas or in front of TVs unless there’s no alternative.

Above: this kitchen-diner has been arranged to ensure easy flow around the space, with clear pathways to the cooking area and the patio doors. 

Consider sight lines

Yet another factor to keep in mind is the view you get of the room through the doorway. That initial glimpse is often enough to form an opinion of the space, so try to arrange the layout in a way that gives a good first impression. You don’t necessarily need to make the main focal point of the room visible through the doorway, but make sure whatever is on show is inviting and draws the eye in (not, for example, the side of a bulky wardrobe). Chances are that a space with clear flow will also have clear sight lines, but do a check to be sure – they can make the difference between a good layout and a great one.

Above: this bedroom has been laid out so that the first things you see are a statement chair and lamp, which draw your eye as you approach along the landing (see more of this stunning Finnish home here).  

Bring things in from the walls

It’s tempting to push every item of furniture against the walls, but this generally makes spaces feel cold and off-putting. Of course in some rooms you’ll have no choice, but if you can then try bringing things in a little bit. It can have a huge impact, making spaces feel cosier and much more inviting – and, contrary to many people’s assumptions, it often makes rooms appear larger rather than smaller. Even in very compact rooms, you’ll probably find there’s scope to move an easy chair or side table in from the wall.

Above: Bringing seating in from the walls – and not by much – instantly makes this living room appear more inviting and more conducive to conversation (see the full tour of this home here). 

Ensure balance

Putting too much furniture on one side of a room will instantly make it look unbalanced, so try to distribute larger items evenly throughout the space. For example, if you have a sofa on one side of the room you’ll need something with a similar visual weight – perhaps a pair of chairs, another sofa or a sideboard – on the other. You can use accessories to create a similar effect, too. In my still-unfinished bedroom I have a bank of built-in wardrobes along the entire left-hand side. I don’t want to add any more furniture, so I’m planning to hang a series of large artworks along the right-hand side, creating a similar sense of height without over-cluttering the space.

Above: in this kitchen-diner, the tall units along one wall have been cleverly balanced out by the large artwork on the other. 

Experiment

Finally, try a new layout out in practice for a few days and see how you get on – after all, you can always move things back again if you don’t like it! Just make sure you don’t make any changes to plug sockets, permanent light fixtures and the like until you’re sure.

I’ll have specific advice on how to deal with large and small rooms in future posts, but in the meantime I hope you find the above tips useful. And if you want more ideas on how to improve your home without spending any money, take a look at this post from last year. 

Image three by Jonas Berg for Stadshem; images four and ten by Alen Cordic for Bjurfors; image five via Alvhem; image eight by Mikael Pettersson for Hevi Kivitalot; image nine via Innerstadsspecialisten. All other photography and floor plans by Abi Dare