There is much more to furniture design than matching color, pattern, and form. The size and placement of large pieces is likely to affect the feel of the room more than any accessory. Think of their layout as the foundation on which all of the flashy finishing elements will be laid. Without a good foundation, your whole room can turn into a disaster, so pay close attention to what you are doing with furniture.

Start with a Plan
It may be tempting to run off the the furniture store, but hasty decisions can often lead to buyer’s remorse. Consider the function of the space and make mental notes about seating, table space, and traffic. Before you start moving furniture in, it helps to plot things out on paper. A detailed sketch will help you visualize the room and allow you to play around with the footprint of each space without doing any heavy lifting. There are even many types of design software available for those of us who are not gifted with artistic talent.

The most important part of your planning should be making sure that the space is usable. You may have the most beautiful furnishings in the world, but they are useless if they are all crammed into a small area. It’s always a good idea to look at magazines and home design programs to find arrangements that keep things livable .

Balance it Out
Keep in mind that each piece placed in a room creates a visual weight. A good decorator should position things so that the room is balanced. For instance, large couches in living rooms are often placed opposite armoires or fireplaces. This assures that every section of the rooms feels filled. (Don’t confuse balance for focal points. Both are essential for good design.)

Finding a balance also involves selecting furnishings that are the correct size and similar in style. You should be able to calculate the ideal dimensions for each piece of furniture from your finished plan. When picking out your new appointments, make sure that each of them holds a similar visual weight.

Make it Work
So you’ve sketched your sketches, furnished your furnishings, and arranged your appointments, but it doesn’t work. Last minute changes are commonplace for even the most experienced designer, so don’t fret. Keep your receipts and get ready to change your mind.

Many of the most distressing furniture setbacks have simple solutions. Too crowded? Get rid of something. Too sparse? Go shopping. Tricky layouts? Rearrange until you find the perfect fit. Sooner or later, you’ll be ready to move on to the easy stuff.