5 common furniture layout mistakes and how to avoid them

Furniture layout decides whether a room is comfortable to use or tiring, even if the pieces are beautiful. Here are the most common mistakes.

1. Pushing everything against the walls
It seems to save space, but it leaves the middle of the room empty and places people far apart. Pull the sofas slightly inward and define a clear seating zone, even in a medium-sized room.

2. Ignoring circulation paths
Leave a comfortable path at least 80 cm wide between pieces and at doorways, and more in busy areas. Before buying, mark the furniture on the floor with masking tape to see how you would actually move.

3. Pieces that are too big for the room
A huge sofa or a large bed swallows the space. Measure the room, the doors and the lift as well, and compare dimensions rather than photos.

4. Forgetting the focal point
Every room has a main feature: a window, a bookcase, a TV. Arrange the seating towards it so the eye is not pulled in several directions.

5. Overlooking lighting and sockets
The position of sockets and light sources decides where pieces can actually stand. Plan for them together with the layout, not after it.

Start with a simple dimensioned plan and adjust it before you buy; changing a sheet of paper is much cheaper than changing a sofa.