It acts like an anchor for the room and it leaves plenty of space for people to put down drinks or to display favored accessories. It’s also easier to access from all the seats around it. That said, make sure to leave enough room between seating and the coffee table for people to pass through (about 18"). And if you can’t find a suitable large coffee table, two smaller tables or other coffee table alternative can be a good substitute.

Things that are hung on the wall, whether it’s art, mirrors, or sculptural objects, need to be placed in relation to the furniture. Don’t hang a tiny photo over the back of your sofa. Use either a large piece that is approximately two thirds the length of the sofa, or use a grouping of pieces. If you’re absolutely determined to use a particular piece of art and it’s too small, put it in a larger frame with a large matte around it. (For every problem there is a solution!).

Once the furniture is in place you'll need to position the accessories. Check out these tips for hanging artwork, putting up window treatments, placing the television and more.

If you have a colorful room and still want a colorful rug, try to find something that will connect and pull all the colors together. The idea is to make sure they don't fight each other, otherwise you'll end up with a visually cluttered space.