Home Layout Ideas

Colors, patterns and furniture are usually the first things that come to mind when you think of designing your home. But all too often, homeowners fail to consider the room-to-room layout that defines their home. Before buying any major fixtures, it's important to have a good idea of what will go into your home and where. Otherwise, you'll end up rearranging over and over, or even replacing stuff altogether.

Making a floor plan doesn't have to take too much time. Start by defining each room's purpose (bedroom, kitchen, living room) and writing down the things you need for each one. How much seating is needed in the kitchen? Do you need a living room coffee table? How big should the cabinets be? Once you know what each room needs, you can start taking measurements and adding size limits to your floor plan.

Next, consider the flow of traffic from room to room. Some rooms naturally get used more than others; for example, you probably spend more waking time in the living room and kitchen than in the bedroom. For high-traffic areas, make sure there's enough room for people to pass without bumping into doors or furniture. There should be a clear line in and out of the room. Note that you may have to size down your furniture to do this.

You should also consider room lighting when planning each room's layout. Generally, the rule is that the less natural light there is, the more open the room should be. So if your bedroom only has a small window, keep the furniture to a minimum and leave lots of bare floor space. This makes the space look roomier and keeps it from feeling too cramped. Likewise, if a room is well-lit, you can balance it out by putting in more furnishings.

Finally, decide where to put area rugs and carpeting. Will you need a rug for the doorway, between two rooms, or under your furniture? Furniture rugs are great for defining areas in large rooms, while more neutral rugs work well as room separators. Choose one that suits both your needs and your decor theme, and you've got the perfect accent piece for your layout.