My natural tendency is to put furniture against the wall.  It makes sense to have as much open floor space in the middle as possible.  It will make the room feel big, right?  And if we want to turn cartwheels or have a dance party….there will be plenty of room.

If your purpose of a space is for turning cartwheels, that’s not a bad plan.  Ballet studios should push the observation chairs along a wall, for example.  They want plenty of space for dancing and preferably not to kick Mama in the face.  In our living rooms, though, I doubt your main purpose for the space is cartwheels, or a running Grand Jette.   It’s probably conversation and fellowship.  Having the furniture so far apart that you have to strain to hear each other, or get up and walk across the room to pass around a photo (or a tray of brownies,) isn’t very practical.

Here’s a sample collage of a living room I made 4 years ago with the furniture placed how I would naturally do it.

And the same room, with the furniture pulled closer for a conversation area.

Even if your room is small,  a narrow table behind your sofa with lamps on it will pull it away from the wall.  Or at least pull it out far enough that curtains could flow freely behind it.  If you hate it, you can always shove it back.  Cardboard squares or furniture sliders can make furniture moving an easy afternoon diversion. (And think of the calories we’ll burn!)

Once you get an arrangement together, sit in each of the chairs to get a perspective of what your guests would feel.  Are you part of the conversation?  Do you feel like you are outside the group?

These pieces of furniture usually look best against the wall: TV consoles or sofa tables, book cases, dressers, headboard portion of the bed, nightstands.

These pieces usually look best pulled away from the wall: chairs, sofas, end tables, coffee tables, dining tables.

If you room doesn’t feel right, you might not need new furniture, just a new arrangement.  Now that your space is hushed, there’s nothing in your way.  Go ahead and shove your stuff around :).

If you need some arrangement ideas, check out my pinterest boards: living room, bedroom.