First, let’s talk about console tables…

Behind a couch or sectional, a console table should be 2/3 to 3/4 the length of the sofa. When set against a portion of wall or a tiny wall, the same ratio applies relative to the width of the wall.

When placed behind a couch, the console should be the same height as the sofa's back excluding any connected cushions or slightly lower, but never higher. Otherwise, your sofa and console will have a tier effect or a gap between them, which will appear uncomfortable and unbalanced.

Console tables should be placed in the middle of the back of an adjacent sofa, a portion of wall, or a wall. They can be positioned against the back of a sofa or against the baseboard of a wall; just provide enough breathing room on each side to avoid congestion.

Tables for Coffee or Dinner

When choosing a coffee table or even timber dining tables, keep in mind that everyone in the seating arrangement should be able to reach the coffee table while seated, whether they are on the sofa or in an armchair. The coffee table should be half to two-thirds the length of the sofa (or area of negative space for sectionals). The coffee table should be around the same height as the sofa's seat.

The coffee table's breadth and form are generally determined by the available space and mirror the other components in the sitting arrangement. A tiny coffee table, for example, is required in a narrow space with one small armchair perpendicular to the sofa. A huge, broad coffee table, on the other hand, will be well proportioned in a room with plenty of space and two armchairs positioned perpendicular to the sofa.

The coffee table should be situated in the centre of the sofa, or in the negative space in the case of a sectional. It should also be placed 14 to 18 inches away from the sofa, within easy reach of anyone sitting on the sofa or in any nearby armchairs.

Cabinets & Bookcases

Bookcases and cabinets are a fantastic way to add vertical interest and utility to a room. To preserve sight lines and keep the area feeling open and breezy, use a thin or open-sided bookshelf for tiny spaces.

When placed against a portion of wall or a tiny wall, the width of a single bookshelf or cabinet should be 2/3 to 3/4 the width of the wall. When many things are grouped together, the same ratio might be used (including any negative space in between pieces). Although incorporating a bookshelf the whole length of the wall may give additional storage, it will appear cramped. This does not include walls that are bordered on both sides; instead, this is an ideal location for built-ins or numerous cabinets that mimic the look of built-in cabinetry.

Bookcases and cabinets should be centred on the wall or portion of wall against which they are positioned. As a group, several bookcases should be centred (including negative space).