Planning your space

Choose the right scale of furniture for your floor plan. Pieces that are too large will shrink the room and make it seem too crowded. Remember, you are wanting to sleep as many people as possible. They all have to be able to move around comfortably; eating, watching movies, or just hanging out. Mirroring walls and selecting glass-top cocktail and dining tables can add the illusion of space, but the trade-off is that they will require more frequent cleaning. Pick a media center (wall unit or Armoire) that can be seen by all, even if you have to pull up a dining chair. Make sure you have board games, playing cards and puzzles in the cabinet. There will be rainy days. TV cabinets with pocket doors or doors that open 360 degrees protect your television from dust. Plasma TV consoles have lots of storage, but are not too big. You will probably have a sleeper sofa in the living room, so keep that in mind when thinking about where you will put the cocktail tables when you pull out the sleeper.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t go nuts with accessories! Your guests should not have to move a bunch of stuff out of the way to put their toiletries on the sink or their wallet or purses on the dresser. Too often the “design” gets in the way of the more practical reason you are furnishing your place. In the living room, the table lamps on the table as are all you need, on the cocktail, one bowl, (please no floral arrangements) and maybe your guest registry book ( incidentally, that’s a very cool touch — to be able to read about other folks vacations).

In the dining room, maybe some lovely candles or ceramic pieces, but that’s it. Your guests will be using this as a catch all, until they eat. No need to clutter it up. In the bedrooms, pretty much the same: leave the nightstands with only the lamps, the dresser with a TV and a lamp, or just the lamp. Now, where you can knock them out is with the art. Lots of color, use large pieces, and unusual mediums. Putting mirrors behind the nightstand lamps really gives the room depth. All of this will add to the style of your condo, without taking up any room.

Living Room Essentials:

Furniture in rental units see a great deal of wear and tear, including spills and stains. The best way to feel confident about this furniture is to choose easy to clean covers such as a durable micro fiber or poly chenille. You don’t need to buy “busy print” sofas any more to be safe. The technology that is going into producing these new fabrics is remarkable. Don’t be fooled into buying “ugly” to feel good about the wearability of your sofa. Also, keep in mind the comfort of your sofa is also very important.

Sleeping Considerations: “This bed is wonderful!”

If you hear that from your guests, my guess is that they will book your condo again and again. Why do you think a huge hotel chain has invested in much better beds? People will spend a bit more to have a great nights sleep. Your guests are in your condo to rest, to relax. Come on… help them out. Chances are your bed will be a lot more comfortable than their own. You don’t think they will remember that? These days you do not have to spend a fortune to buy a great bed.

Of course, the more folks you can sleep, the better. If you have room, choose sofa sleepers over sofas for living areas to accommodate extra guests. Sleepers used to be horribly uncomfortable, but the new foam and suspension technology that manufacturers are using now has changed that completely.

Bedroom Configurations:

A typical 3 bedroom condo plan looks a lot like this:
If it will fit, a king size bed is perfect in the master bedroom along with a TV armoire and /or a dresser. Two nightstands are usually used. A pull-up or accent chair is a nice touch. If the room is small, some of our designers have placed a small chest in the closet for extra storage.

For units with a second bedroom, typically a queen bed with an armoire or dresser, one nightstand and maybe a small accent table for the other side of the bed works nicely. Add the accent chair if you can.

In a third bedroom, you might consider two twin beds with pull out trundles, two twin/full bunk beds, or two daybeds with trundles. Complete that room with one nightstand and a storage chest. You might use a bench or ottoman in this room.

For tight spaces throughout your condo, remember: floor lamps, mixing smaller accent furniture, and pedestals are life-savers.

What to do next:

For more inspirational ideas, take a look at one of the condos our Home Place designers recently furnished and decorated. And check out the style and affordability of our Condo Options or complete Furniture Selections. Best of all, come see us! You will truly be inspired!

Need help designing your condo? Not a problem! We can help!

From casual chic to tropical fun, from classy traditional to fresh contemporary, our designers and sales associates are ready to assist you with your designing needs. And, best of all, their services are free to our customers.