Easy measurement formulas for a comfortable design

Have you ever felt uncomfortable in a room but weren’t sure why? Maybe the sofa and chairs were too far apart, or the art hung too high, or a pendant lamp was too small for the room, or maybe the curtains didn’t reach the floor. Chances are, your personal space has been subtly challenged. When spatial guidelines are ignored, a room can feel cluttered or unbalanced, or just not right. But it’s not always obvious, just something you feel.

The following measurement formulas will help you determine if your room is spatially balanced. With a few adjustments, you can find harmony in your room with very little change!

Furniture arrangement

• Allow 2 ‘for hallways and try not to force hallways through a conversation space.
• Allow 14 “to 18” between the sofa and the coffee table.
• Reserve 2 ‘behind the dining chairs and desks, and allow enough space to open the drawers.
• The conversation zone must be contained within an 8 ‘diameter.
• The distance between the TV and the seat should be three times the size of the screen. For example, to comfortably watch TV on a 32 “screen, leave 8 ‘between the TV and the seating area.

Hanging Art

• Most people hang art too high. Whereas the normal advice is to hang the art so that the “normal” eye level (5 ‘7 “to 5’ 10”) reaches one third of the top of the artwork. However, you also need to consider the type of room and what the art will look like. For example, hang living room art lower to attract seated guests, higher foyer art for standing guests, and children’s bedroom art a little lower.
• Bottom line: use common sense, and when in doubt, hang it a little lower than you think it should.

Pendant lights

• The sum of the length and depth of a room (in feet) equals the ideal width of your lamp in inches. For example, a pendant chandelier in a 14 ‘x 12’ dining room should be 26 “wide. A pendant in a 10 ‘x 10’ fireplace should be 20” wide.
• When hanging a light over a kitchen or dining table, the bottom of the light should be 28 “to 32” above a kitchen or dining table. Hang lower for contemporary designs or intimate settings, higher for larger tables.

Hanging Curtain Panels

• Your goal is to hang them so that the bottom of the panel lands just above the windowsill, or goes all the way to the floor (not in the middle!).
• The higher you hang the panels, the taller the room will feel.
• Hang them about 3 “beyond each side of the window. This makes the window appear larger and allows more natural light to enter the room when the panels are open.
• Double rods are great if you hang sheers behind the panels. Just make sure the curtains are the same length as the panels.

Area rugs

• When laying out a rug in a dining room, measure your table and then add 24 “to 30” around (or about 4 ‘to 5’ in total length and width). This makes it easier for guests to move their chairs. Consider the wheels at the bottom of the chairs to help them move more smoothly.
• When using a room-size rug on hardwood floors, leave at least 8 “of exposed wood around all edges of the rug.
• If you are using an area rug in a seating area, make sure it is anchored by the front legs of the furniture and does not float in the middle of the room.

So get out your tape measure and make your room more comfortable! Your friends will notice that something is wonderfully different, but they will never realize what it is. It will be our little secret!