Basic Home Decorating Tips
Floor - Circulation and Rugs
Major circulation routes width: 30” to 48”
Minor circulation routes width: 24"
Rug to hide your floor: size leaving 12" to 18” of floor apparent around the room
Rug to anchor an area: 5' X 7’ or 6’ X 9’
Rug: forget the furniture feet ON or OFF debate (except for a dining area, see below)
Dining area: NO rug, it catches stains and crumbs! If you absolutely need to, add 30″ to your dining table dimension​
Minor axis: 24" wide
Major circulation axis:
30" to 48" wide
Furniture placement
Avoid furniture within 4’ of room entrance
Suggested distance between TV and sofa = 2 x TV size ( i.e. 42” TV: 2 x 42" = 84" or 7’)
32" TV, sofa @ 5'
37" TV, sofa @ 6'
42" TV, sofa @ 7'
46" TV, sofa @ 8'
50" TV, sofa @ 10'
Coffee table width: 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the sofa
Coffee table height: 1" less than the height of the sofa seat cushion
Side table height: 2” less than the height of the sofa arm
Distance between Coffee table and seats: 14” to 18”
Distance between between furniture and a wall: 36"
Distance between between Dining Table and other furniture or wall: 48"
Distance between between Bed and other furniture or wall: 30" minimum
Walls and Accessories
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Nothing on a wall narrower than 36”
6″ - 12″ between the edge of the pictures and the ceiling
6″ - 12″ between the edge of the pictures and the edge of the wall​​​​
If there is no furniture below the art work: center of art work 57” to 62" from the floor
If there is furniture below, the bottom of the art work should be 6”- 8” higher than the furniture
Width of picture (or group thereof): 1/2 to 2/3 the width of furniture below
In a grouping: 1½” to 3” between individual pieces
Window Treatments
Curtain length options: Touch/rest on the floor OR End at the window seal
Rod as close to the ceiling as possible
Rod width (excluding finials) = window width + 15” to 20”
Curtain width = 2 to 3 x window width
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Lighting
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Floor lamp: light bulb at 68” from the floor
Sconce: light bulb at 60” from the floor
Table lamp: light bulb between 4' to 5' from the floor
Space between a wall sconce and the edge of a mirror/piece of art: 3”- 6”
Overhead lighting:
Dining room: bottom of the fixture at 66" from the floor or 36" from table top
Other rooms: bottom of the fixture at 7' from the floor
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