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Arrange the Furniture - Before You Build

Part 1: How it can help avoid move-in frustrations

Building or remodeling a home can be a mixture of excitement and hassle. After months of dreaming and planning, the construction and finishing phases can seem to go on forever.

But there are few things more frustrating than to make it to moving day, only to find that your furniture doesn't fit the rooms, you have nowhere to plug in a lamp by the sofa, and your favorite armoire is too wide for the wall by 1 inch.

Some of these disappointments can be circumvented, however, by arranging your furniture and considering your lifestyle needs before plans are finalized.

Not too Big, Not too Small
Think bigger is better? You'll want to avoid rooms that feel either too cramped or as huge as a cavern. By pre-arranging your ideal furniture groupings prior to building, you can see exactly how much space you'll need. Do you want a master bedroom with a sitting area? Pencil out the placement of your bedroom furniture and the seating area before committing to a room that's too small or too large. Do you want a big living room? Consider your true furniture needs before you find that you have a lot of awkward space between your conversation area and the dining area.

Large Furniture Pieces
Do you have a tall grandfather clock, an extra long dining table, a ten foot sofa, a big canopy bed, large area rug, or a huge breakfront? Plan ahead for these pieces by designing room sizes, wall spaces, and ceiling heights that can easily accommodate these items.

Small Furniture Pieces
Smaller items can look lost in a giant room. Think about scale and get advice from a design professional before building spaces that may be too big for the way you live.

Lighting Design
Many homeowners treat lighting design as a luxury or an afterthought. However, lighting can add both drama and function to a home. Illuminate dark hallways with a line of recessed lights, highlight the living room walls with spots aimed at artwork, put in handy under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen and in display shelving, add circuits and dimmers to increase your lighting options. Visit a lighting showroom or find a qualified lighting designer to help formulate a plan to fit your needs.

Bathroom Sizes
As bathroom sizes increase, many homeowners are choosing to add furniture to this space. If this idea appeals to you, then be sure to allow sufficient wall area for a chest, armoire, or chair.

Part 2: Plan ahead

Furniture arrangements are often left until moving day. However, arranging the furniture before building can result in a more successful project.

This pre-planning should result in spaces that are neither too big nor too small, and may save you money as well, since you'll better fit the size of the home to your exact floorplan needs.

Here are more items to consider before building or remodeling...

Built-ins
These add both architectural interest to a home and extra functionality.

Where can you use a window seat, built in bookcase, desk area, banquette seating, corner china cabinets, or display shelves? Can you carve 15" from a wide hallway for a wall of storage cupboards? Is there room next to the fireplace for a wood storage shelf? Do you want a TV niche in a kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom? Plan ahead for built-ins and incorporate them into the drawings.

Electrical outlets -- Planning ahead for sufficient electrical outlets can save major frustration. If your furniture arrangements will be in the center of the room, floor outlets are a necessity. Would it be a safety consideration as well as a convenience to have an outlet under the bathroom sink for a hair dryer, on the kitchen island for appliances, or near the front door for holiday lighting? Think about where you'll plug in a vacuum, an iron, a fan -- then add outlets where they'll be handy.

Closets Galore -- Do you prefer walk-in closets or a straight wall style? Do you need space for winter coats near each exterior door? Do you want a cedar closet? Do you have a lot of holiday decorations, serving pieces, sewing supplies, or craft projects to store? Do you want a linen closet in the hall or in the bathroom? Do you want a separate pantry closet or more kitchen cabinets? Make lists of your storage needs and wants. For more on creating storage areas in new homes, see "7 Secrets for More Storage" from About's Architecture site.

Window height
Window sizes and placement may need to be adjusted if built-ins, beds, furniture, or countertops will be directly underneath them. Windows might be larger and set lower to the floor to take full advantage of a view. Planning possible furniture arrangements may give you insights into proper window positioning.

The Wired Home -- Now's the time to figure out where you want a TV, intercom, home theatre, or sound system. Wiring during construction can be relatively simple, while adding it later can sometimes be difficult.

Special Functions -- Do you have any hobbies, projects, or special interests? Will you require a darkroom, gift closet, potting bench, sewing room, library, home office, workbench, craft area, studio, artists loft, or playroom? Consider space and storage needs and whether these functions can be incorporated into other spaces -- such as a sewing area in the laundry room, a library in the dining room, etc.

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