Before buying furniture or decor, it’s worth asking a simple question: “What actually happens in this room most of the time?” The layout should support your real routine, not an imaginary one.
If the living room is where kids study, you work, and the family watches TV, then you need seating that faces the screen and has nearby surfaces for laptops, books and snacks. A layout built only for formal guests will frustrate you daily.
Start with the biggest necessary pieces—bed, sofa, dining table—and place them in ways that leave clear walking paths. Avoid putting main furniture where you’ll constantly bump into corners.
Think about plugs and lighting. Where do you charge phones? Where will a reading lamp go? It’s easier to place furniture near existing points than to run long, ugly wires later.
Test your plan on paper or in your head: imagine a typical day, from waking up to sleeping. Do you have to move things constantly to make space? If yes, adjust before buying.
A good room layout feels invisible—you just live and move without thinking about it too much. That’s when you know you got it right.