Space Planning: The Missing Piece in Your Home Design

You bought the furniture pieces.
You picked the paint.
You even tried that viral Pinterest layout.

But something still feels off.
Every time you walk into that room — your living room, your office, your bedroom — it feels more like a source of frustration than peace.
You sigh. You move the chair. You push the sofa. Again.
And yet… it’s still not working.

And underneath all of that?
A quiet frustration that sounds something like this:

“This room is just difficult.”
“There’s only one way to place the furniture because of the shape… the windows… the layout.”
“Maybe this space just isn’t meant to work how I want it to.”

But the truth is, there’s always more than one way to make a room feel functional and beautiful — it just takes the right approach and a fresh perspective. That’s where space planning comes in.

So many of the women I design for come to me feeling defeated by their own spaces.
They’ve spent money on beautiful furniture... but the room still feels disconnected.
They’ve rearranged everything more times than they can count... but nothing flows.
They’re trying to use one room for three different purposes... and it’s just not working.

And underneath all of that?
A deeper feeling most people don’t say out loud:

“Why can’t I figure this out?”

Space Planning is just one skill that designers use every single time we begin a project.

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So... What Exactly Is Space Planning?

It’s the thoughtful art of arranging your furniture and elements in a way that supports your lifestyle, flows with your routines, and creates emotional ease in your home.
It’s not about symmetry or filling up corners.
It’s about purposeful placement — so your space actually works for you.

Now, let’s talk about what many homeowners try (and maybe you’ve done it too — no shame here!):

• You cut out paper shapes to “map out” your furniture on the floor.

• You trace your pieces on the rug with painter’s tape.

• You hop onto free online layout tools and drag furniture icons around.

It feels productive — and it’s a great first step — but without a true understanding of scale and proportion, those methods often fall short.

That’s the problem:
You might be placing things based on measurements…
but not based on how they’ll feel, flow, and function in real life.

Designers are trained to look beyond the obvious and consider how pieces interact in a space — not just how they fit.
Without that eye for proportion, even a “technically correct” layout can still feel… wrong.

This Is Why I Created the Virtual Design Group Workshop

I know the emotional toll of living in a space that just doesn’t fit.
And I also know that once you learn the principles of space planning, things start to shift.
You gain confidence. You stop second-guessing. You feel empowered to make your home work for you — not the other way around.

That’s why I created the Virtual Design Group Workshop — a 3-session design experience that walks you through transforming one room in your home with intention and clarity.

And to jumpstart your transformation, every workshop participant will receive my free eGuide: Mastering Space Planning Like an Interior Designer

Free space planning eguide when you register for design workshop

This powerful guide gives you the insider insight you need to start seeing your room differently — not just where things go, but why they go there.

If You’re Ready to Stop the Guessing Game…

…and finally feel at peace in your space…
…and design a room that actually supports your life…
…and stop wasting time (and money) on things that just don’t work...

Then this workshop was created for you.

We begin Wednesday, April 16th at 1:00 PM ET — and trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

[Click here to claim your seat + free eGuide]
Let’s plan your space — and your peace — together.

How To Make a Large Impact with a Small Room

Do you have a small room in your home that currently is getting no use like a bonus room, a tiny attic, a spare bedroom, or maybe a room off your basement? Those tiny spaces can sometimes be a challenge to find purpose for. Then when you do find a purpose for them you have no idea where to start decorating. How do you maximize the space AND still make it look beautiful?!!

My hope is that you are able to find use for your space despite the square footage. You can still have a functional AND stylish room even if it's the smallest area in your home. 

1. Find a Purpose. Before you do anything, you must first figure out what you want to use the space for. Is this a room for your kids to play and do homework? Is this an extra bedroom for when guests come to visit? Is this a casual space for the family to watch TV together? Is this an office space for you to pursue your new business venture or for when you have to take work home? Is it all of the above? That's okay too.

Get great use out of your small space.

2. Who is it For? After your determine what the space will be used for, you need to decide who will be using the space. This will determine how the space is designed. Remember that the space should reflect it's occupants. For example, if it will be used as a play room and an area for you to work it would make sense to incorporate multifunctional pieces that are kid friendly and can be used by your kids and yourself.

3. Determine Your Must Haves. Based on what the space will be used for and who will be using it, write down a few must haves that are needed to get the most function out of the space. For example, if you have an extra bedroom that you use as a home office but need to also use it as a guest room some of your must haves might be a bed, a desk or laptop table, and some form of storage. 

4. Layout the Space. Once you've determined your purpose, your occupants, and your must haves it's time to put it all on paper. This is where working with a designer can save you a lot of time, energy and headache. Poor planning leads to mistakes, returns and frustration so make sure you take the time to layout the space properly. Take a basic measurement (width, length, ceiling height) of your space or room then draw it on paper (use graph paper to make it easier). Be sure to note all doors, openings, windows, outlets, and vents. Start with your largest piece of furniture needed (e.i. a bed, a desk, a sofa, etc.) and draw it in. After you have drawn your largest furnishings, continue adding your remaining must haves. Need help? Add my online Furniture Layout service from my À La Carte menu.

rough sketch of a multifunctional space

5. Think Multifunctional. If you are decorating a small space and want to maximize every square footage you have, you must think of every furnishing as dual use. Back to the home office and guest room example, instead of getting a large full or queen size bed that will only be used occasionally think about getting a sofa bed or a day bed. This will allow you to have a sitting area if you have work guests (without it feeling like a bedroom) while providing a comfortable resting area for when you do host guests.

Don't allow the size of your space make you feel as though you can not achieve a functional & stylish design. With these 5 suggestions you will be on your way to making your smallest space in your home feel like the most functional. Comment below on what you would like to use your smallest room for. Can't wait read them! I am here to help, so if you need assistance with determining what type of furnishing will work best in your space start with my online Furniture Layout service today!

Here's to amazing small spaces!