How to Plan a Room That Functions Exactly The Way You Want

Let's be honest - it can feel overwhelming to plan a room that functions (and feels) exactly how you want. Between Pinterest boards, Instagram inspo and well-meaning advice from friends, it's tough to know even where to start.

Should you rearrange furniture first? Follow a trendy decor style? Get organized?

Those are all great questions, and definitely ones that need to be well thought out, here's the truth:

Before you think about the style of your home or make a single decision, you need to know first how the room needs to function.

Because the prettiest room in the world won't make you happy if it doesn't work well for your everyday life.

That's why I created this free step-by-step guide and worksheet to help you design a room that functions exactly the way you need it to - based on how your family lives, plays, works, and relaxes.

➡️ Grab the free worksheet here and let's map out the steps together to a well-planned room that works for you.

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What If Your Room Actually Fit Your Life?

A beautifully decorated room won't work if it doesn't fit your day-to-day life.

That's why the question you should be asking first is…

How do you plan a room that functions exactly the way you need it to?

Just because your home has a formal dining room doesn’t mean you can't set it up as your office.

Or if you love to bake but feel like your kitchen is too small, maybe it just needs a smarter setup to start functioning the way you need it to again.

When your home fits your lifestyle - not just your floor plan - it becomes a space that actually supports you.

I’m going to walk you through three easy steps to help you make the right changes to your space that prioritize how it functions. Go ahead and grab those free worksheets (I'll wait 😊) so you can jot down your ideas and even discuss with your family to make sure everyone has a say in how the room functions.

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How to plan a room that functions well

Start with function, not decor. These steps apply no matter whether you're decorating a family room, bedroom, or any other room.

Step 1: Create zones

In order to even know what you need in a room you’ve got to first think about what you’ll do in that space.

Each area of a room might be used for a different activity. Each of those areas within a room becomes a zone.

Let’s take a look at my family room as an example.

When we first moved in, this room was a blank slate and the possibilities were endless. (See what this room looked like originally on my home tour page.)

Since we didn’t already have furniture, we needed to make sure that whatever we bought was going to be money well spent.

Make a list of activities you do in that space

We first thought about what activities we would do in this space.(We were a growing family so we needed to think about what both adults and kids would do.)

Our family room activities included:

List what you need to do each activity comfortably

For example, for watching TV we listed:

Group items and activities into zones

For our family room, we identified three zones:

• sitting area (reading, listening to music, watching TV)
• a table or floor space (playing games)
• large floor space (playing and doing exercise videos)

Step 2: Choose furniture that supports each zone

With my list of items for each activity, I know exactly what needs to go in that room - and since I'm clear on how each area will be used, I can make sure that any furniture I add supports those activities comfortably.

Place large furniture first

I start by placing large pieces of furniture in each zone. - In my family room, the sofa needs to face the TV and have a table next to my sofa for drinks.

Think about clearance space and flow

For the large floor space I’ll want to keep enough area for play and exercise open which may dictate the size or shape of coffee table. I’ll lay a rug down but won’t want it too plush (cause I’ll be exercising on it!) and I’ll want cabinets close by to store toys, games, and puzzles.

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Step 3: Layer in smart accessories

Your list of items you need to do each activity should be so specific that you included accessories as well.

The best styled homes don’t just have things displayed for the sake of filling a space. The accessories are often functional items and can fit your decor style to add to the style and feel of your home.

Going back to the reading/ watching TV zone in family room example…

For my large furniture pieces, I placed my sofa with a side table so it's facing the TV. To add to the functionality I included a reading light next to the sofa, coasters for drinks, and a decorative box or tray for remote controls. And for style and color, I added toss pillows and a throw in fun prints. All these work together - style + function - serve a dual purpose (e.g. decorative box for storage), and complete the look without adding clutter.

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How planning A Room With function in mind pulls everything together

Once you start with function, everything falls into place. You'll have the right furniture in the right spots, zones that support the way your family lives and accessories that aren't just pretty - they're purposeful.

Once you know how to plan a room, the next step is to define how you want it to look and feel.

➡️ Learn how to define your personal decorating style here so you can confidently choose colors, materials, and pieces that bring your space to life.

➡️ I made a video tour of our family room to show you how starting with function was the key to this room feeling amazing and working for my family.

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P.S. What if I told you there's a whole new (and way easier) way to decorate your home—without the overwhelm, indecision, or endless Pinterest scrolling.