Does your living room feel scattered? Here’s how to give your rooms a more intimate feel.

Many people want their rooms to look and feel bigger but achieving this isn’t always easy. A common thought is to push furniture up against the walls, the idea being that this will create more space because the room will look more open. In fact, this only confuses the brain by making the space look scattered and less intimate.

If you have enough space in the room try moving some of the pieces into the room and away from the walls, like a couch for example. You can show off the back of the couch with a sofa table with decorative pieces on it. Placing an area rug on the floor with a few inches of the edge tucked under the sofa and chair will anchor the room and allow for the furniture to feel connected to each other. Be sure to leave a little space around the rug so the floor under it can still be seen.

Bringing the furniture in, and anchoring it with a rug will create a more intimate setting without making the room look smaller.