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Now that I have my floor plan, how can I tell if my room layout is too crowded?
The most important element to check is to see that you have allowed for adequate traffic flow. On your floor plan, locate the traffic patterns from the various entries and exits to your room, and importantly, around the furniture. The traffic must have a way to easily flow around the furniture. The traffic should not be blocked by conversation areas, sofas, chairs and beds. Traffic needs to move behind and around these elements, not through them. If there is less than three feet of traffic paths available, consider re-arranging your furniture to eliminate the trouble spot. To eliminate another common traffic problem, you should check to see that you have left adequate room around the functional elements of the room, for example, Check to see that there is room to open a door, cabinets, drawers, or pull out shelves. This may seem trivial, but many times these items are overlooked and cause major issues in the design process. The minimum space for drawers and cabinets in kitchens is 36 inches. Openings for armoires, chests, and buffet cabinets should also be checked to assure proper clearance.
Once the traffic patterns have been verified, the seating areas should be checked to
establish proper conversation distances. A conversation area should maintain distances between three feet minimum and ten feet maximum. Generally, the closer the seating, the warmer and more intimate the room will feel, while separating the seating provides a more formal feel.
Finally, it is important that your design is not too crowded, and that it leaves enough space in between elements such that they have room to be appreciated. Ever listen to a song that has too many instruments playing at once, or view a piece of art that has great imagery but seems too crowded? Our senses not only need exciting elements, but also need space around these elements in order to truly enjoy them. Remember in your plan to provide extra space around large elements such as the sofa, large dresser, bed, or armoire. Again, these large furniture items will take up more room visually in three dimensions, above and beyond the allocated space on your two dimensional floor plan.
Once the traffic and spacing is assured, "balance" in the space plan is the next consideration. First, does the room have a focal point, a star attraction that draws the eyes to it? Next, are the furniture items and accents arranged logically around the focal point? Items that are heavy and large, when grouped to one side of the room, away from the focal point will throw off the "balance" of the room. Note that heavy does not denote the weight of an item, but how it appears in the room. For example, a weighty wrought iron table can appear light balanced on spindly, or open legs. The weight of the various items should be arranged in accordance to the properties of balance and equally distributed around the focal point.
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