If your furniture isn’t arranged correctly, even the most beautiful rooms can fall short.

Mistake: Out-of-Scale Furniture

The dimensions of your furniture should relate to the size of your room.

A huge sectional can easily overwhelma small living space.

white living room remodel black fireplace

Credit: Seth Smoot

At the same time, a skinny loveseat might look tiny in a room with soaring vaulted ceilings.

Scale the furniture size up or down depending on your room constraints to ensure a proportional look.

Mistake: Using Too Much Furniture

Less is more when furniture arranging,especially in small spaces.

bright contemporary living room with sectional

Credit: David A Land

Coffee tables, for example, should be about the same level as the top of the couch cushions.

For end tables, base the ideal height on the sofa arms so items are easy to access.

This will help you create a balanced furniture arrangement comfortable for everyday use.

white living room with blue sofa and side chairs and wood chest-style coffee table

Credit: Dana Gallagher

But what if it’s the onlyavailable spot for your bed?

you’re able to also install an entirewall of curtainsas a fabric backdrop.

Mistake: Forgoing Smaller Furniture

Furniture doesn’t have to be oversize to serve a purpose.

Living room with wooden coffee table and white furniture

Credit: David Land

Mistake: The Bowling-Alley Effect

Long, narrow rooms present a challenge forfurniture arranging.

To play up this awkward space, divide the room into zones.

Ideally, all legs of your furniture should be on thearea rug.

Liz Strong home mixed patterns in bedroom

Credit: David Tsay

Set up your space according to your needs, rather than the builder’s labels.

Take a few tricks from these living rooms to get some ideas for your space.

Mistake: Sticking to Conventions

Adhering to conventional design ideas is usually a good idea.

open living room red velvet couch

Credit: Jay Wilde

Still, occasionally a shake-up of furniture arrangement is in order.

Now nestled up against the cushioned bench, this family can enjoy mornings fromtheir new kitchen banquette.

Sofas and chairs facing each other emphasize conversations, leaving thetelevision in the background.

open dining room round table with four fabric covered chairs

Credit: Annie Schlechter

But achieving balance doesn’t mean you have to go completely symmetrical.

It’s the focal point in the space.

Watch and see more ways to get your bedroom furniture arrangement right.

white sitting room with blue, green, and yellow accents

Credit: Kim Cornelison

Consider how people enter, exit, and navigate the space.

Think about arranging living room furniture to make the most of your space while allowing natural walkways.

If you’re short on space, look to versatile furnishings that can be used in various ways.

family room

Credit: Edmund Barr

If your current light doesn’t sit right, hire a professional to relocate your dining room light fixture.

Mistake: Exposed Furniture Backs

Nothing makes a room fall flat like a bad first impression.

Tuck a chair with a pretty front but unappealing back into a corner.

banquette in kitchen

Credit: Michael Garland

Orgive reupholstering a goandcover the chair backin an eye-catching fabric.

Of course, arranging furniturearound either a fireplace or a TVare the most popular choices.

However, suppose the only logical place for your sofa faces a blank wall.

living room with green hues and mixed patterns

Credit: David A. Land

The remedy is simpleadd a bookcase andcurate an attractive display of books and accessories.

Or, if you prefer, you canstage a gallery wall.

For extra interest, place a console table below your art arrangement.

teal bucket chairs in large white airy living room

Credit: Anthony Masterson

modern neutral open-concept space with sofa

Credit: Robert Brinson

bright new york coastal home white bedroom pink bed dressers

Credit: Laura Moss

traditional sitting area with green accents

Credit: David Tsay

houston home dining room after table chairs light fixure

Credit: Julie Soefer

white bungalow living room with black window trim

Credit: Brie Williams

living room with tall fireplace and folding glass doors

Credit: Jean Allsopp