Here are some tips for arranging your Family Room and/or Living Room Furniture. It won't work for all of you, but give it a try if your room doesn't have that "Designer Look" yet.

1. Figure out what your focal point is... the main thing that your eye is drawn to when you enter the room, and what people will want to look at when they're sitting. This is probably a fireplace, TV, or picture window.

2. Position your largest furniture piece (probably a sofa) opposite your focal point, approximately 10 feet away. It will probably be in the middle of the room, which is fine. Just make sure that there is a clear and easy traffic pattern behind it.

3. If you have an area rug, then position it under the front edge of the sofa. There should be some space between it and the focal point on the other side.

4. Position your coffee table in front of the sofa.

5. Position your other furniture on either side of the coffee sofa, so the furniture forms a "U". The coffee table should still be in reach. Try to balance both sides of the U... if you have a loveseat and club chair, then put the loveseat on one side, and the club chair with a side table on the other side. If you have two chairs, then put one on either side.
   (Note: If you have two large pieces that are similar in size, then put them on either side of the U, and your small chair in the end of the U.)

6. Position your end tables near the furniture that they fit best with, but keep them balanced, too... not all on one side of the U.

7. If you have other furniture, either move it out of the room, or position it in the spaces that look empty... a chair and table in a corner... a sofa table along the back of the sofa... a book case on the wall opposite the fireplace, etc. Just make sure that the room stays balanced.

8. Arrange your accessories to compliment the furniture placement. Don't just stick them on the walls. If you have a fireplace or other low focal point, then arrange a large grouping or single picture over (or resting on) the mantle. And place a few accessories near it. Other than that, leave the wall space immediately on either side of your focal point empty so that nothing distracts from your focal point.

9. Adapt these as well as you can if your furniture is different, your room does not allow for a part of it, or something else is different. Just make sure your furniture isn't plastered up against all the walls, and make sure that you have a comfortable, cozy conversation area. If you need more advice on keeping your room balanced, then read my article series on "Achieving Balance in Your Decorating."