- bedside side table should be immediately next to the bed and X height in relation to the bed
- Coffee table/ ottoman should be X inches from the couch
- How to size the rug for different areas. Should the rug be under the legs of the couch in the living room arrangement or not.
- How to understand traffic flow and sample furniture groupings for living room, other conversation groupings, dining and bedroom.
- What are the must have furniture pieces.. (if asked a similar appliance question kitchens, you would say cookting surface, oven, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator)
- Ergonomics of how people move, sit and socialize and how furniture setup can facilitate that.

We will be moving into our rebuilt home in 2013 and I want to think about this upfront so that we don't end up making bad furniture buys or setting up the furniture wrong.

Furniture pieces no longer have to be for a specific purpose.

http://honeyandfitz.blogspot.ca/2012/06/home-decor-tips-infographics-c heat.html

http://www.drivenbydecor.com/2012_08_01_archive.html

http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/ideas/how-to-match-color#slid e-23

There are actually entire texts on ergonomics and "correct" heights and such for things but they are far too specific for most purposes (and out of date somewhat because people are taller and fatter than they were even a few decades ago.)

Measured dimensions of everything in an interior from how high is a stack of folded bras to how much clearance is needed to execute a dramatic exit in a huff.

Slightly old-fashioned and MCM-oriented (it was first published more than 50 years ago), but clear and easy to use and the working dimensions have stood the test of time. Wicked funny line drawings, as well.

If not still in print, I'm sure it's still avail used, or in a library.

Another more thoughful approach is A Pattern for Living by Christopher Alexander, which describes in clear detail what kinds of spacing makes all the elements of rooms and buildings work (and on a larger scale landscapes and communities, as well). It's little more challenging to get into, but of all the books I loan to friends it's the one I have the hardest time getting back, since people don't want to let it go! It used to be quite pricey ($50+ back in the day) but is much cheaper now. I recommend you try a library copy, first, to see if it works for you. No pretty pics, though, only rough sketches.

With these two, one offering concrete real-world data and the other offering a theoretic framework for human-centric space planning, you should have it all.

L.

You might also consider Interior Design Illustrated by Francis Ching. The book itself is an education - all hand printed and illustrated by Ching, who is a master of disciplined line drawing and clear visual communication.

Here's a Barnes & Noble page of his books, if you want to take a look.

It really is worth the trouble of getting.

L.