How to Design a Room Layout

There is an interior designer in all of us. We all have a dream room that we would like to unwind in, one that speaks for itself, and one that speaks for us too. However, to design room layouts may seem like a daunting task to some. The idea is just to unleash your creativity and allow all the mental blocks to melt away, in order to come up with a layout that you are most comfortable with. Whether you are looking for plain old comfort, or out to make a style statement, allow your room to bring out your personality by designing its layout in a similar manner.

Measurements
Measure your room, and chalk out the basic layout of the room on a graph paper, assuming every square on the paper is equal to one foot. Account for all the openings, i.e, doors and windows in the room, and write down the measurements beside each wall and opening on the diagram. Ensure that the diagram you have made is neat. Make several copies of the blank layout. You may also try and design a room online with the different websites available for this purpose nowadays.

Plan the Layout
While deciding the room layout, first account for all the furniture you want to place in it. Beds and nightstands are basic to a master bedroom. You may want to place a television with a cabinet at a viewing distance from the bed. Perhaps a love seat could be accommodated in the room. It all depends on your personal requirements. If it is a teenager's room, perhaps a single bed with one nightstand would be basic. Then a desk for the computer may be required. If the teenager plays a musical instrument such as the keyboard, space may be required to place it. If the teenager is an avid reader, a unit to store all his/her books will need to find space in the room. The bottom line is that you have to first make space for the basics. Enlist these requirements before you start placing the furniture in the layout.

Start Placing the Furniture
Measure all the furniture items you wish you place in the room, and then in the blank layout, start placing the furniture in different positions, as per the 1 square = 1 foot ratio. This is why you require several copies of the blank layout, so you can make different placement options that will help you decide on one that is most suitable for you. However, when you design a room's layout, keep these basics in mind:

• Leave a minimum of 30 inches around any furniture item for clear passage.
• Do not place any furniture item too close to any door opening, as this will hinder the passage and opening of the door.
• Ensure there is adequate lighting in every part of the room. There shouldn't be any dim and dark corners anywhere.
• Avoid cluttering up spaces. You may want to have everything in your room, but clutter contributes to severe confusion, even of the mind, so keep it minimal.

You can get as creative as you like, and try out new and unique positions for different furniture requirements, keeping the above mentioned rules of interior designing in mind.

Add in the Accessories
Once you have decided on the final layout, and placed in all the basic necessities, start decorating the room by adding in all the accessories to enhance the appearance of the room, if the space allows. While there is always place on cabinets and on walls for picture frames and the likes, perhaps you'd like to place a bean bag in an empty corner, or liven up a corner by placing in it, a beautiful lamp or a tall, floor-mounted candle stand. Some of you may want to place a water feature, such as a fountain in an empty space that will not hinder passage. The kind of accessories you place in the room are the ultimate reflection of your personality and choice. Bring it out in a way that you like best.

As a rule of good interior design, room layouts should be kept uncluttered yet include as many of your personal requirements as possible. You don't have to hire a professional interior designer. Bring out the designer in you. It is a space that is personal, and one that only you are going to live in. How the layout is, and how it has been decorated then, is your choice. Follow the thumb rule of interior decorating and don't give designing trends preference over personal comfort, and create your own slice of paradise.