Sometimes people flip through a lifestyle magazine and stumble upon a picture of a beautifully decorated living room. Sometimes they think, “how can I get my living room to look like that?” and then have the desire to make some long-overdue changes to the spaces in their home.

It has been said that the activity of organizing can be therapeutic. The same idea applies to rearranging furniture. If you do not want to buy furniture, another alternative is to rearrange it in your space.

Changing the positioning of tables, pictures, couches, etc., can make a room feel brand new. Rearranging furniture to fit the ideals of today’s interior decorating trends and to better serve the purposes they can be used for can be linked to an elevation in mood. This is typically referred to as feng shui – the rearranging of space to better optimize the flow of positive energy.

Here are some things to keep in mind when figuring out how furniture can change your space.

How will this Space be Used?

What is the function of the room that you’re looking at? Is it going to be a seating area, an office, an entertainment room, etc.? When you figure out the function, you can link it to what you want the atmosphere of the room to be like. Will it be casual, traditional, eclectic, etc.? For example, if you are a family with young children, you likely want the space to be casual and comfortable. If you usually host meetings and get-togethers, you want a more formal setting that can accommodate numerous people.

How Much Space Can be Utilized?

You want to know how much space you can work with. The best way to figure it out is to start measuring. Measure the space between the fireplace and the end of the wall. Measure the space from the bottom sill of the window to the floor. Knowing these measurements will be helpful when choosing what type of furniture goes where.

Another way to properly utilize a space is to create more space without taking up any. Ways to do this are using furniture designed for both functional use and storage. You can have a nice bench that also pulls up to reveal a storage space inside. You can have an ottoman, which can be used to rest feet on, provide seating, and have storage space. Having multi-use furniture is both functional and can decrease the amount of clutter in a room, providing more ease of mind.

What Do You Want Your Focal Point to be?

One of the easiest ways to transform a room is to change its focal point. What do you want to capture your attention when you first walk into a room? Do you want a fireplace with an ornate mirror or an elaborate painting above the mantle? Do you want it to be a couch that plants, tables and lamps surround? Is there a large window that you want to pull your focus to? By creating a focal point, you create an eye-catching element to the room.

Furniture exists to serve a purpose. The best way to pick, choose and/or rearrange the furniture in a space is to see how its purpose can be fully optimized in the space that it is in. You want to create a room that is functional and aesthetically pleasing. It is also a great way to give your home a fresher appearance.