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Takeaways
- Before a move take stock of your furniture and get rid of anything you don't use or enjoy, or has been stored for a long time.
- Create a floor plan of your new home with graph paper or architect's plans to design the layout of your furniture.
- Plan each room's arrangement around a focal point such as a fireplace, wall hanging or window treatment.
Did you know?
- Don't be afraid to use your old furnishings in different rooms in your new home.
If you've ever thought about unstuffing those closets and getting rid of items that just take up space, the time is now. And what better opportunity to reassess your family's lifestyle than right before a move? Discuss with your family how your needs have changed over the years and how your new home might accommodate them.
Look at Your Furnishings Objectively & Consider these suggestions:
- Weed out the furnishings you no longer use or enjoy, or those that have been stored away indefinitely. Instead of moving them to the new home, have a garage sale and use the profits to help finance your move.
- Unless you're buying all-new furnishings, determine how you can adapt your current color scheme to complement your new home. New throw pillows, wall-hangings or window treatments may be all you need to pull the look together.
- Decide where you'll arrange furnishings in your new home by creating your own floor plan. Using graph paper, draw each room to scale, with 1 inch equaling 1 foot of space. Indicate the location of doors, windows, built-ins and electrical outlets. If you're buying a newly constructed home, your builder may be able to provide a floor plan. Likewise, consider using the GMAC Real Estate floor planner to create and print floor plans for each room at your new home.
- Next, measure the size and shape of your major furniture pieces and draw them to scale.
- Cut the shapes from graph paper and arrange the pieces in different ways until you discover a floor plan you like.
- Consider using furnishings in different rooms of the new house. A favorite living room chair may work better in the new bedroom; a dining room cabinet may now look at home in the den.
- If space is at a premium, turn some rooms into multipurpose areas. For instance, in a living/dining room, define the areas by using a hutch or other large piece of furniture as a divider. A sofa bed turns a den into a guest room.
- Position living room furniture so six or more guests are within easy listening distance of each other. In the dining room, allow room around the table so guests may be seated and served with ease.
- Find a focal point in each room - something that draws your eye to it. Focal points are architectural, such as fireplaces, or decorative, such as wall hangings or window treatments. Accentuate your focal point with your furniture arrangement.
 Group for Impact:
Focus attention in a room with a handsome grouping of furniture. This room showcases a formal arrangement of furniture with space for a piano and two seating areas. Zones are defined by area rugs which can be placed on hard surface floors or over existing carpet.
 Direct the traffic flow:
A sofa or other large piece of furniture can become an effective barricade which guides people through a room in a desired pattern. This sofa was positioned to create a
passageway behind it, as well as a cozy seating area in front of the fireplace.
 Dare to be different:
This free-and-easy furniture arrangement lends a friendly atmosphere. With the conversation area arranged on a diagonal, attention is directed into the room. Folding screens
shut off the bedroom alcove for nighttime privacy.
Contact a GMAC Real Estate Agent Today
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, or want to talk with an expert Real Estate Agent, please contact a GMAC Real Estate Agent near you. An agent at one of our local offices will be glad to talk with you, and help you in all of your Real Estate needs.
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