Designing a beautiful space begins with one often underestimated step: furniture placement. It’s the invisible rhythm behind how we move, relax and gather—and when done well, it elevates a room from functional to extraordinary. In this installment, we focus on the heart of the home: the living and dining rooms.
Living Room: Grounded Yet Inviting
Before styling, ground the space—literally. An area rug is the anchor that defines your furniture arrangement and sets the tone for the entire room. When properly sized and placed, a rug unifies the space, offering both warmth and structure. Ideally, all legs of your main furniture pieces—sofa, chairs and tables—should rest on the rug to create a cohesive and intimate grouping. In larger rooms, placing just the front legs on the rug can still achieve visual balance while letting the rug’s design shine through.
Be mindful of clearance; allow between eight and 24 inches from the rug edge to the wall—18 inches is considered ideal. In smaller rooms, even eight inches can maintain a sense of spaciousness while still grounding the space. For open-plan layouts, use a distinct rug to visually separate the living area from adjoining zones like the dining room.
TV placement, especially over a fireplace, should consider comfort and ergonomics—ideally, the center of the screen should sit about 49 inches from the floor when seated. Once this anchor is in place, build outward with key furnishings.
Start with your wooden elements like bookcases, consoles and cabinetry. Position them against the longer walls for symmetry and flow. Then layer in upholstered pieces like sofas and armchairs. A harmonious relationship between wood and fabric elements—in both scale and placement—is essential. Float furniture where appropriate to create intimacy and better traffic flow. Don’t forget to vary heights subtly; this adds energy and visual interest without disrupting equilibrium.
Dining Room: Function Meets Form
In the dining room, the table is the focal point—and everything else should support its placement. Choose a table that’s appropriately scaled to the room. It should be centered and allow at least 36 inches of clearance from walls or adjacent furniture to give diners room to move freely.
An area rug beneath the dining table isn’t just decorative—it’s functional. It delineates the dining zone in an open-concept space and adds acoustic softness. Make sure the rug extends far enough so that chairs remain on the rug even when pulled out—typically 24 to 30 inches beyond the table on all sides. This avoids any awkward tipping and keeps the look polished. If your table is extendable, account for its full length when selecting your rug.
Buffets, sideboards or consoles serve both storage and design roles. Position these against a nearby wall and consider balancing them with a bar cart or decorative cabinet to enhance functionality and create symmetry. When hanging a chandelier, aim for 30 to 34 inches above the tabletop—low enough to define the space, but high enough to avoid blocking the view.
Final Thought
Rooms don’t just hold furniture—they hold lives. Dogs curl up, children play, guests linger. So, while placement should feel intentional, it should never feel rigid. A well-designed room embraces its role as a backdrop for living—layered, functional and full of quiet elegance.
Faith Berger is a St. Louis-based artist, working in acrylic, mixed medium collage. Visit her website at faithberger.com, find her on Instagram @faithberger.art, or reach her via email at faith@faithberger.com.
