Many people traditionally place all their furniture — sofas, tables, dressers, and beds — against walls. However, it might be better for you to avoid this tendency and instead float your furniture. Floating, or placing furniture at least one or two feet from a wall, adds both aesthetic and practical value. It also creates challenges you must overcome. Here's what you need to know about floating furniture.

Why Float Furniture?

It may not be very intuitive, but floating furniture can make a small room look larger, and a large room look smaller. The additional open space around the main furniture pieces opens up space visually as the eye is no longer stopped by the furniture's placement against a stiff wall. Allowing breathing room for furnishings in a small room gives the impression that the room has so much space that you don't need to use it all. 

In a large room, the same floating effect makes spaces feel cozier by bringing them together as a centerpiece where people focus their attention. It creates zones in open floor plans to make the whole area feel well-used and more cohesive. The additional space for traffic paths also helps encourage the full use of the large area, making it more functional. 

What Challenges Does Floating Create?

While it has many benefits, floating designs can be a little tricky. You'll need to use the right pieces of furniture. Attempting to float an oversize sofa set in a small living room may end up making it feel smaller. A slim set, though, can achieve the desired effect. You may also need to rethink the number of furniture elements to make them work with the new layout. 

In addition, the backs of many furniture elements are not designed to be seen. The rear of a sofa, dresser, headboard, or chair may not be attractive even when new — and older furniture might be scuffed or faded. You can use a few clever tricks to work with this problem, such as refinishing or reupholstering some furnishings or rethinking the type of furniture you use as a headboard for a floated bed. 

Where Can You Start?

Could your home look larger, cozier, or more unified through floating furniture layouts? If so, start by exploring this trend with a residential interior designer in your area today. With their expertise and your vision, your house — no matter how large or small — will become the best it can be.

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