One of the most awkward moments of my life came from a disjointed seating arrangement. Which goes to show that, after nearly twenty years, I still have not let it go, and furniture placement is perhaps irrationally intentional in my own home.
Seating area at the beautiful Berkeley Place in Staunton, Virginia
I know you are probably more curious about the embarrassing story, so I won't make you wait, but I will keep it short: One high school boyfriend, two grandparents, a rectangular seating arrangement, a tumble, a glass of water being hurled into a grandmother and me falling face first into the grandfather's lap. Yes. Mortifying.
And ALL because the couch sat perpendicular to the other two chairs and there was not adequate space for anyone's knees or the coffee table.
So let's not let history repeat itself. Below are some helpful tips for you when considering how to arrange your furniture to optimize conversation and comfort.
Pick a focal point and have all your furniture attuned to it. Is there a fireplace, TV, or work of art? If so, arrange your furniture to face the focal point. This is most commonly done in a U-shape with accent tables on either side of the seating and a coffee table in the center.
Traffic Control: Make sure to "walk the room," meaning, pretend you are a guest, unsure of the space. Walk into the room and try to see how awkward it would be to find seating. Make a clear path so guests don't feel they have to shuffle between furniture to get a seat.
Make Conversation Flow. It's important to consider that the people sitting in this room might be strangers. Let's not have them speaking to the sides of each other's faces. Have them seated across from each other with no visual barriers between them.
Float It. Struggling with an awkward space? Perhaps there is no wall on which you need to place your seating. Anchor the space with a large area rug and treat this as your defined perimeter. The furniture will cluster around this rug, and it will become a room unto itself.
These are just a few tips to get you started! If you need more see links on the topic below.
Just remember that this is your home; if you want to have a chair hanging from the ceiling, then so be it. It will surely make for good conversation. But please, for Pete's sake, make sure there is enough room for someone to properly stand up without careening into Grandpa.
+ This Article from Better Homes & Gardens gives you 26 tips to help you start your journey.
+ If you are more of a visual learner this guide gives excellent examples
+ Another excellent resources from Better Homes & Gardens, this one focuses on unique furniture arrangements if you want to revamp an area of your home.
And lastly, if you are obsessed with the chairs from Berkley Place (pictured above) I have created a LOOK BOOK of some accent armchairs that I love. Click the image below to see more!
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