A little planning before you buy

16 years ago

Everyone here focuses pretty much on price and quality when buying new furniture. Those seem to be the two dynamics at play in the decision making process.

One thing you should do that doesn't take a lot of time is to give yourself a visual of how the room will look with your new pieces BEFORE you order. Simply get some graph paper like you had in high school, and make yourself a scale drawing of your room including all windows, doors and fireplaces, etc. No need to get fancy, just make two squares on the graph paper equal one foot and you're in business.

Next, cut out small scale pieces of the size sofa, tables, rugs and the like. Make several for various sizes of pieces you are considering, and then drop them onto your scale drawing....move them around to see the best spatial proportion. This is especially true if ordering a sectional sofa. Plan your your TV viewing area this way as well - its amazing how you'll be able to see line-of-sight viewing areas in your scale room this way.

I have very, very few customers who do this (and I'm always glad to do it for them if they bring in their room specifics). You might be shocked to see how the curve of a sectional affects a room, or how small a footprint a corner cupboard takes up. Highly useful for determining how big a rug you can use in a dining room, as well.

Do a little planning, and see what works before you buy - you might find that 'dream' piece just doesn't work in your specific room, or that you have no room for end tables if you buy that extra long sofa. Good luck!

-Duane

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Comments (7)

kmealy
16 years ago
Isn't that the truth. I do regular work at a home that's 14,000 Sq.Ft. One of the rooms has a layout of furniture that is just a little filled and you have to walk sideways around some of the pieces just to get where you can sit down.

The link below, although designed for a wood shop layout is an alternative to cutting out little pieces of paper. You can stretch/shrink, rotate or reposition. Unless you are putting machinery in your living room, use "structural" and "misc" icons.

Here is a link that might be useful: Virtual graph paper
ci2eye
16 years ago
I get the dimensions of anything I am considering and tape-off the shape on the floor using painter's tape and then live with it a while walking around the tape as if it is already there. I've figured out rather quickly that lots of things weren't appropriately scaled for the space.

I agree that getting the right-sized furniture is far more important than finding something that is the right price. You'll forget about the price but a piece that is too big or too small will remind you of your mistake every day.
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dcollie
Original Author
16 years ago
Kmealy, EXCELLENT web site and very easy to use the interface. Thanks for the link!

-Duane
wodka
16 years ago
You can also go to www.bassettfurniture.com and use their room planner. It has been a tremendous help and is also fun!
mogator88
16 years ago
Many people live in a home (or townhome or condo) that has the same or similar layout as a nearby neighbor. Meet your neighbors and visit their homes to see what they have and how it fits.
kmealy
16 years ago
My favorite is the sectional that overpowers a room. I suppose once you get your butt in the recliner, a beer in your paw, and the wide screen TV on, you're good for the evening, though.
olcia
16 years ago
Hi! I read somewhere that before you start decorating you house it is good to lay down in one room, close your eyes and think about the room of your dreams...or the one in which you will feel comfortable in. Simple, isn't it?

A little planning before you buy

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A little planning before you buy

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