Like a blank page or canvas, an empty room can be either an opportunity or a challenge. With so many ways to fill it, how do you know where to start? Here are some basic rules of furniture arrangement. They’ll help you work with your own design or with your interior designer to determine where to put things, where not to put things and how to prioritize the choices you make.

Think About How the Room Will Function

Consider how the room is used and how many people will use it. That will dictate the type of furnishings you’ll need and the amount of seating required.

Decide on a Focal Point

Identify the room’s focal point — a fireplace, view, television — and orient the furniture accordingly. If you plan to watch television in the room, the ideal distance between the set and the seating is three times the size of the screen (measured diagonally). Therefore, if you’ve got a 40-inch set, your chair should be 120 inches away.

Start With Priority Pieces

Place the largest pieces of furniture first, such as the sofa in the living room or the bed in the bedroom. In most cases this piece should face the room’s focal point. Chairs should be no more than 8 feet apart to facilitate conversation. Unless your room is especially small, avoid pushing all the furniture against the walls.

Consider Symmetry

Symmetrical arrangements work best for formal rooms. Asymmetrical arrangements make a room feel more casual.

Create a Traffic Flow

Think about the flow of traffic through the room — generally the path between doorways. Don’t block that path with any large pieces of furniture if you can avoid it. Allow 30 to 48 inches of width for major traffic routes and a minimum of 24 inches of width for minor ones.

Try to direct traffic around a seating group, not through the middle of it. If traffic cuts through the middle of the room, consider creating two small seating areas instead of one large one.

Aim for Variety

Vary the size of furniture pieces throughout the room, so your eyes move up and down as you scan the space. Balance a large or tall item by placing another piece of similar height across the room from it or use art to replicate the scale. Avoid putting two tall pieces next to each other.

Build in Contrast

Combine straight and curved lines for contrast. If the furniture is modern and linear, throw in a round table for contrast. If the furniture is curvy, mix in an angular piece. Similarly, pair solids with voids: Combine a leggy chair with a solid side table, and a solid chair with a leggy table.

Design for Ease of Use

Place a table within easy reach of every seat, being sure to combine pieces of similar scale, and make sure every reading chair has an accompanying lamp. Coffee tables should be located 14 to 18 inches from a sofa to provide sufficient legroom.

Allow for Circulation

In a dining room, make sure there’s at least 48 inches between each edge of the table and the nearest wall or piece of furniture. If traffic doesn’t pass behind the chairs on one side of the table, 36 inches should suffice.

In bedrooms, allow at least 24 inches between the side of the bed and a wall, and at least 36 inches between the bed and a swinging door.

Do Your Planning

Give your back a break. Before you move any furniture, test your design on paper. Measure the room’s dimensions, noting the location of windows, doors, heat registers and electrical outlets, then draw up a floor plan on graph paper using cutouts to represent the furnishings. Or, better yet, use a digital room planner to draw the space and test various furniture configurations. It’s less work and a lot more fun.

Have you ever been in a room that just feels right? Nine times out of 10, it’s because it has a simple design that functions well. But creating a simple design is harder than it looks — particularly in bedrooms.

Why? Because every bedroom absolutely has to have a bed in it. And beds are big and dictate the placement of every other object in the room. But if you’re lucky enough to be planning a bedroom from scratch or remodeling an existing bedroom, you can control the other elements and create a space that’s both practical and pretty.

Even if you don’t have a great view, access to the outdoors or plenty of space to work with, the principles and the simplicity can inspire your own bedroom design project.

Because the bedroom is one of the simplest rooms in the house, it’s often overlooked. One of the first steps to a great bedroom design is having an efficient and well-designed floor plan that gives you everything you want — no matter how much space you start with.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your bedroom.

Plan for Simple Circulation

Try to keep your circulation on one side of the room. Hotels do a great job of this. There’s a reason 90 percent of hotels have the same floor plan: because it’s simple and it works.

Circulation plans become a little more challenging with en suite rooms — bedrooms with bathrooms attached — or bedrooms that have doors to the outside. To save on space, pay attention to where you locate the bathroom and closet in your bedroom. Rooms that have bathroom or closet access before the sleeping area, require a longer hall.

If you organize the circulation so the bathroom and closet are accessed through the sleeping area, you don’t need a separate hall, and you can add the circulation space into the room to make it feel larger too.

Focus on the View

A bedroom always feels nicer when the first thing you experience is a pleasant view out the window — as opposed to a view looking straight at the bed. If you’re designing a new bedroom or reworking an old one, try to come up with a layout that focuses on the vista — whether it’s something as stunning as a lake or as simple as your backyard.

Keep Privacy in Mind

It’s always nice when you can leave the bedroom door open without forgoing all of your privacy. Try to avoid designing a layout in which you look directly into the bedroom from a more public space, like a great room, kitchen or family room.

Connect With the Outdoors

While this might not be feasible in all climates, connecting a room with the outdoors is a great way to make the space feel larger and admit more natural light. If your bedroom is on the ground floor (or is on the second story and has an adjacent terrace), adding a set of French doors can instantly increase visual space.

Consider the Furniture Layout

Your bedroom’s architecture should take your furniture into account. Bedroom floor plans usually have a bed wall — but what about dressers, nightstands, TVs, chairs and a desk? Work with your architect or designer to make sure there is enough space beside the bed for nightstands and ample circulation so you can access three sides of the mattress.

Increase Light and Ventilation

Locating your bedroom at the corner of your home can give you windows on two or more adjacent walls. This gives you the added benefit of cross ventilation and a softer natural light.

Take Your Time

Great design takes a while and usually requires refining before you come up with the perfect plan for your lifestyle. Don’t rush through the design — it’s worth taking a little extra time up front to make sure you have a more efficient and functional plan in the end.

The truth is, great design doesn’t necessarily mean a space that’s overly complex and expensive to build. A space that functions better, costs less to build, is more efficient to run and is easier to maintain can be an outstanding example of great design.

Designing a child’s room can offer plenty of possibilities for fun color choices and creative ideas, but there’s more to the process than meets the eye. If you want to create a space that will help your offspring grow well physically, mentally and emotionally, it’s worth considering a few key planning essentials.

Consider Ergonomic Needs

Adjustable chairs, are a great investment, as they will grow with children from their toddler years through elementary school. Having a chair like this will help a child sit well at a height that’s right for the table.

For the optimum sitting position at a desk, knees should not be bent less than 90 degrees; the head should be looking forward not down; the upper arm should be close to the body, with elbows bent no less than 90 degrees; wrists should be straight, bent no more than 15 degrees; and feet should be flat on a surface. The chair also should have back support.

Create Zones for Sleep, Play and Work

How do you establish good sleep habits for your child? Instill the idea that the bed is for relaxing and sleeping by zoning the bedroom according to function.

Provide a proper space for the desk, so your child will not be tempted to do schoolwork on the bed. Establish a separate corner for play too, to avoid clutter in the restful sleep area.

Provide the Right Lighting

You can help your child retain good eyesight by providing proper lighting. This means a good amount of natural light, a warm white light for general illumination of the room after the sun goes down, and a task light for schoolwork.

Some children may also need a night light for anxiety or nighttime fears, while others may be comfortable enough knowing that the light switch is within arm’s reach of the bed.

Provide Color Therapy

You can use color to enhance your child’s sleep, concentration and psychological comfort. Children with a lot of energy, for example, may benefit from a soothing color in the environment. “If a room is super fun, bright and stimulating, some children may have a harder time winding down for rest.

Some psychologists believe these hues promote certain feelings, so use them accordingly:

◦Red: passion, aggression

◦Orange: pleasure, optimism

◦Yellow: creativity, fun

◦Green: balance, harmony

◦Blue: peace, calmness

◦Violet: meditation, imagination

Let Them Add Their Own Touches

Pinboards allow children to decorate using their favorite things, while a world map prompts them to think of travels and adventures.It’s important to give your child some ownership in the design of their room. This allows the child to express his or her personality and creativity, and encourages taking responsibility for the room’s upkeep.

When you’ve had an especially trying day, there’s nothing quite so restorative as slipping into a freshly made bed. Sinking into crisp sheets, cozy blankets and fluffed-up pillows soothes the spirit and encourages a restful night’s sleep. Here are a few suggestions to make your bed as delightfully comfortable as possible.

Need A Little Boost? Change The Sheets

Whether your day didn’t go well or you’re feeling a bit under the weather, changing the sheets is like giving yourself a present. Smooth, fresh, clean sheets; lowered lights; and a good book can help your evening end on a brighter note.

Start With The Best Mattress You Can Afford

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you’ve probably heard the advice to get the best one you can, and with good reason. A mattress with proper support can help you sleep better and wake with fewer kinks in your back.

Add A Mattress Topper to Increase Comfort

Even if you aren’t buying a new bed, adding an ultracomfortable mattress topper can transform the way your bed feels. Try out memory foam, merino wool or a classic feather bed.

Choose Breathable Natural Fibers

Pure Egyptian or Supima cotton, brushed cotton flannel and linen are the best choices; choose the one that feels best on your skin. Be willing to experiment too — you may be surprised to find you prefer the feel of nubby linen over extra-smooth sateen.

Consider A Silk Pillowcase

While silk is too slippery to make for comfortable sheets, pillowcases are another matter entirely! The luxuriously smooth fabric is especially gentle on the skin and hair.

Roll Out A Soft And Fluffy Bedside Rug

When you need to get up to grab a glass of water, make that first step plush and warm by laying a sheepskin or a fluffy shag rug beside the bed. If you want to use a larger rug in the bedroom, choose a large flat-weave one and layer a small, fluffy rug on top.

Prop Up Extra Pillows For Reading In Bed

Big Euro-size square pillows look smart sitting in front of regular, standard-size bed pillows and make sitting up to read in bed more comfortable. Don’t forget to change the shams on your Euro pillows when you change the sheets — regular laundering will keep your bed fresh and dust free.

Devote A Seat To Extra Pillows

A chair in the bedroom is a convenient place for tossing extra pillows before climbing into bed. If you don’t have room for a chair, try to find another nearby spot to keep pillows and extra covers off the floor — perhaps the dresser top or in a basket behind the door.

Go Euro And Skip The Top Sheet

In much of Europe, it’s common to use the duvet cover in place of a top sheet. If you find that your sheets often get tangled around your legs, you may want to consider adopting this method.

Dust And Declutter Your Nightstand

It’s easy to forget about the state of the nightstand, but a quick cleaning can get it spick-and-span in no time. Wipe up those coffee rings, dust the lamp base and clear away the clutter. Your nightstand should be a helpful little spot that holds only what you want close at hand while you’re in bed — your current reading material, a glass of water and perhaps a candle, for instance.

Don’t Forget The Throw

A soft and cuddly throw adds a touch of softness to the foot of the bed, and can come in handy when you’re sitting up in bed to read on a chilly night.

Modern bathroom design is often all about going minimalist with clean finishes for a spa-like feel. But sometimes the look ends up feeling clinical. To make sure your space feels just as inviting as the rest of your home, try some favorite bathroom design tips to create a sense of warmth and personality while achieving spot-on style.

Pattern

Bathrooms often are devoid of interesting patterns, which is a shame, because energetic patterns can add life to any room. Consider adding a patterned window shade or playful towels, or simply hang a colourful print or wallpaper sample in a frame as artwork. These low-commitment ideas allow you to keep a classic colour scheme for the fixed elements while dabbling in colour trends as the mood strikes.

A horizontally striped shower curtain is a foolproof way to add some pattern and excitement in a bathroom of any size, style or budget. Try a gray-and-white stripe to match any palette.

Anchor With Colour

Having lighter colours at the eyeline will help a bathroom feel clean and airy, but try balancing them with a deep colour lower to the ground. This adds a sense of richness that helps keep the space from feeling too stark, without making it overwhelmingly dark. Plus, it beautifully sets off classic white fixtures.

If your bathroom has a large amount of wall space eaten up by tile, windows or mirror, try a dark colour on the remaining plain walls. This helps the more interesting features to advance and the plain walls to recede, for a more dynamic look and lots of rich character.

Detailed Mirror

A plain slab mirror can be beautifully functional in a modern bathroom, but if you’re looking to add some personality, a statement mirror frame is a great place to start.

Hanging Mirror

Go a step more dramatic with your mirror and hang one with a chunky strap from an equally substantial hook. You can also layer this look by hanging a bold frame at eye level over a flat rectangular mirror slab as a quick upgrade to an existing mirror. Have nowhere to attach the frame because tile or glass is in the way? Ask your contractor if a mirror or frame could be hung from your ceiling instead.

Étagère

A free-standing open shelving unit adds essential storage and some personality for a more lived-in look than built-in shelves which some people find have a drier vibe, but ultimately it all comes down to preference.

Natural Materials

Bathrooms usually feature a lot of crisp materials that, while waterproof, are sometimes a little visually cold. Natural materials reintroduce some warmth and a sense of human touch, so look for places to add wood, organically shaped stone or woven baskets.

Animal-inspired prints also bring in a sense of life, as do shades of natural green and blackened bronze.

Tip: Towels with a fringe add a sense of personality and fit well with the traditional-meets-modern elements of a wood vanity.

Vessel Sink

An eye-catching vessel sink makes a space feel more enticing. Switching away from the typical porcelain makes an evocative statement. Consider natural materials and imperfect shapes, like a carved wood, stone or blown-glass sink.

If you do prefer the look of crisp white porcelain, consider a vessel sink with a mounted faucet behind it, especially in a finish like bronze or brass.

Also consider a trendy yet classic farmhouse-style sink, with a raised back to frame a faucet or two. This eclectic look has a homey yet sophisticated appeal.

Tile

Want to get really creative? For a unique bathroom look with plenty of personality, mix different-color tiles together to create a mosaic design on an accent wall. This takes some planning and usually costs extra to have installed, but you can achieve a dramatic with very few tiles.

Try this especially with plain porcelain subway tiles, throwing in a few leftover or retired sample tiles scooped up at a showroom at a bargain price to add personality and a look unique to you.

Hardware

Just as in the kitchen, cabinet hardware often goes overlooked as a detail worth upgrading. Fun or quirky knobs and pulls add an interesting personal detail that you can always change inexpensively down the road.

Dramatic Ceiling

If you can’t find the right spot to add drama, try looking up. A single roll of wallpaper is often enough to make over a bathroom ceiling, and since bathrooms are often taller than they are wide, adding a little interest overhead will only help make the room feel intimate and more well-proportioned.