Before you start arranging your furniture, watch our video on how to create a bedroom layout that is easy to navigate and how to arrange furniture in an aesthetically pleasing way
1. Use only necessary furniture
There are a lot of things you could have in the bedroom, but you should start with just what you need to have. Trying to work with a lot of different items can easily become a mess, and you might not need all of them in the end.
2. Think about function
The best way to only have what you need in the bedroom is thinking about what you’re going to do. If you have a good idea of what you’re going to want and need to do in the bedroom, you can design around that.
3. Draw it out
It’s easier to sketch out different furniture arrangements than to move furniture around the room. It’ll save you a lot of errors of thinking something will fit when it won’t or scratching your floor or walls while moving your dresser for the zillionth time (believe us, it happens).
4. Start with the bed
At some point, you have to move things around the actual room and not around your drawing. Since the bed is the most important part of the bedroom (it’s right there in the name), get it in place first. Generally, you’ll want to put it against the wall opposite the door or the largest wall with no windows, but your choice may vary.
5. Go big to small
Once you’ve found the best place for your bed, arrange everything else starting with the biggest bedroom furniture item followed by smaller ones. Usually, the dresser comes next, followed by bedside tables, a desk, shelves, chairs and anything else you may have. Generally, the tables will go next to the bed, the dresser on the opposite wall and a desk in the corner, but these can all vary.
6. Place your area rug properly
Though it’s not a furniture item the area rug is still a key component of how to arrange bedroom furniture. Keep in mind, your area rug placement will depend on your room’s finalized layout.
Area rugs are typically placed underneath the lower two-thirds of the bed so they create a cushy area to step on as you get out of bed in the morning. If your bed is tucked into a corner, your rug will likely have to be placed somewhere else, like next to the bed or in the center of the open part of your room. Wherever it goes, hopefully, that rug really … sorry, we can’t make a “The Big Lebowski” reference. You know it already.
7. Arrange the furniture you have first
Don’t buy new furniture until you’ve arranged the pieces you already have. This should be an obvious point, but it’s really easy to buy things you think you need before you actually need them.
When you wait until arranging what you already have, you’ll know exactly what you need and where you want to put it. You’ll also be able to make sure anything you get is the right dimensions and style to fit in the room, both literally and stylistically.
Don’t be afraid to experiment
There are a lot of guidelines about how to arrange bedroom furniture, including some listed in this article. They’re just that, guidelines, and there’s no real right or wrong way to do it. Just figure out what works best for you and your space.
Bedrooms are highly personal rooms, and the way you arrange your furniture will depend on how you use the room. While some general rules should be followed, the important thing to keep in mind is to arrange bedroom furniture so that space and function are maximized without sacrificing style and design.
Typically, the bed is the largest piece of bedroom furniture and should be placed first when considering your bedroom layout. For the most relaxing feeling, place the bed so the foot is closer to the doorway than the head of the bed. In large bedrooms, place the bed in a corner for a dramatic and romantic look. In medium to small bedrooms, place it against the wall opposite the door, with the headboard touching the wall. Make sure you can easily walk around the bed.
Place a nightstand on either side of the bed.
This is a common look for good reasons: Not only are the nightstands functional, but they also extend the look of the bed and fill in the space on the surrounding walls.
Think about comfort.
Take into consideration the layout and functionality of your bedroom. Take note of particular noisy, cold, or drafty areas of the bedroom, and arrange your furniture accordingly. One common mistake is placing your bed underneath a window, as the heat and cold from the window may make it difficult to sleep.
Choose a place for your dresser.
A tall dresser looks nice in a corner, and a low dresser functions very well under a window. If you have a small bedroom, consider putting the dresser in the closet or forgoing a dresser entirely in favor of a closet system.
Place a nightstand on either side of the bed.
This is a common look for good reasons: Not only are the nightstands functional, but they also extend the look of the bed and fill in the space on the surrounding walls.
