When you start designing a space in your home, you often think about color schemes, furniture designs and decor. Those are some of the most fun aspects of interior design but most people overlook the importance of the size of the space and the scale of pieces that you put in the room.

Although it is not as glamorous, you want to make sure you pick pieces that have form and function for your lifestyle but also fit within the room so you don’t feel overcrowded or unintentionally minimal. This can get tricky and why many people hire designers to help them pick the right furniture for their homes as there are measurements involved and general guidelines to follow.

Here are some key measurements to help lay out furniture, lighting and decor properly.

Living Rooms

• Large pieces of furniture such as couches and love seats should be spaced 30“-36” apart or 18”-24” minimum.

• The space between a coffee table/ottoman and seating such as your sofa should be 16”-18” apart.
• If you have seating across from each other, it’s recommended they are spaced 3.5’-10’ apart.
• Two arm chairs should be spaced 24”-42” apart to accommodate a side table between them.
• A coffee table should be one-half to two-thirds the size of your sofa. For a sectional, this applies to the longest part of the seating area before you get to the corner piece.
• Generally, side tables should be wider than what it sits next to. Additionally, give 2-3” of space between it and the piece of furniture.

Dining Rooms

• There should be 30”-36” between the back of a dining chair and the wall.

• The edge of a dining table and the edge of a rug should be 24″-36.”
• Each seat should be given 24″ of space between one another.

Bedrooms

• There should be at least 36” of walkway around a bed.

• The average width of a nightstand is 20” however, if you have a king bed, you’ll want it to be wider (24″-40”) and for a twin it can be narrower if desired.
• The height of a nightstand should be around 24″

Lighting And Decor

• The rule of thumb is to hang artwork 60″ from the center of the piece down to the floor.
• For chandeliers, the general rule is 1 foot for every 3 inches. This means that for every foot in height your room is, the chandelier should be hung down 3 inches. For example, in a standard 8-foot ceiling height bedroom, the light should hang no lower than 24 inches down from the ceiling. 
• The lighting in the dining area should hang approximately 30-36 inches above the table.
• The recommended distance to spread pendant lights apart is 30 inches, and for single or multiple pendants or smaller chandeliers, there should be at least 6 inches of overhang space on the edges of the table.

All of these measurements are a general guideline when designing a space. It’s helpful to reference this information when choosing different furniture for your home and to ensure that the pieces fit the space appropriately. Bookmark this page so you can come back to it in the future and feel free to reach out with any questions.