Have you ever looked at your coffee table and thought it just didn’t look right, but couldn’t figure out why?  Or maybe you were installing a light fixture above your table and weren’t quite sure how high it should hang.  I’ve asked myself those questions so many times but then came across one of my all-time favorite design books, Design Rules: The Insider’s Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator by Elaine Griffin. In additional to providing design advice in a very approachable manner, so also gives great Rule of Thumb measurements for everything from the correct height of your bedside lamp to where to hang curtains in relation to the window!  For example, did you know that coffee tables look best when they are 1″-2″ less than the height of the sofa’s seat cushion?  Or that you should leave 1 1/2″ -2″ of spacing between pictures in an art grouping? You need 26”-36” clear as a pathway to walk comfortably through a room or 36″-48″ for an airy feeling

If you’re covering the entire room with one area rug, leave 12″-18″ clear all around to the wall.  In smaller rooms, 7″-12″ will work Choose side tables that are about 2” less than the height of the sofa arm Coffee tables should be 1”-2” less than the height of the sofa’s seat cushion In a small grouping, 15″ by 24″ or smaller can be a great size for a coffee table For art groupings with more than one row, spacing between the images should be 1 ½” to 2” If using art above a sofa, fill at least 50%-60% of the 5-foot high space above the sofa Wainscoting should be about 36” – 48” above the finished floor Chair rails should be 34”-36” above the floor Dining tables should be 30” high Allow 18” of table width per person For rectangular tables, you’ll need a table that is at least 48″ long to seat 6 people, 72″ for 8 and 96″ to seat 12 people Dining seating should be 16”-18” high from the floor to the top of the seat

To pick the right size light fixture for above a table, you can either 1) divide the width of your dining table by two to get an approximate chandelier diameter OR 2) add the room’s length and width in feet; the sum equals an approximate chandelier diameter in inches Chandeliers should hang 30”-36” above the table surface In general, center sconces’ back plates between 60”-64” above the floor If you have space for a bench, box, chest or trunk at the end of a bed, it should be slightly lower than the height of the bed and no more than 15”-21” deepRoyal Purple Oil T Shirt For most beds, 24”-27” is the ideal height for a nightstandOutdoor Patio Furniture Placement For a King-size bed, nightstands should be at least 36” wideRed Shower Curtain Australia

Area rugs underneath beds should extend 6”-12” beyond the outer edges of the nightstands and the end of the bed Swing arm lamps above bedside tables should be mounted no farther than 3” out from the edge of the headboard with the bottom of the shade about 20” above the top of the mattress Table lamps should also have the bottom of the shade about 20” above the top of the mattress Use a 47″ tall headboard if you don’t want much headboard to show above your pillows or 52″ and up if you want to show more headboard above the pillows Curtain width should always be at least twice the width of the window for fullness.  For modern rooms, just twice the window’s width or even just 1 ¾ times for a really sleek look (if you’re using multiple panels, purchase an even number of panels that equals at least twice your window’s width for fullness) Extend the curtain rod by at least 6”-8” past the outer edge of the trim on each side of the window

BONUS: This is not in the book, but for reference, always hang curtains as close to the ceiling line as possible to help elongate the window and add anywhere from 2″-8″ to the length if you want the curtain to have the puddle look So does this mean that if you aren’t following these measurements your design is wrong?  If it feels good to you and you like how it looks, that’s all that matters.  But if you’re unsure as to where to begin, these measurements provide a good starting point. If you’re interested in reading the book’s description or purchasing it, you can do so via Amazon by clicking on the book’s cover below. I hope you’ll find the Rule of Thumb guidelines as useful as I have!Ready-Made Curtains As well as fulfilling an aesthetic purpose by complementing your d�cor and completing the look of your room, curtains perform the practical function of keeping the light out and halting upholstery fade, as well as keeping the warmth in. Available in a choice of lengths and widths, ready mades are both a time and cost-effective alternative to our bespoke Made to Measure service All of the curtains in our ready-made range feature pencil pleating, which requires simple gathering to achieve the required width The composition of ready-made fabric differs from the equivalent fabric as sold by the metre For best appearance

, we recommend that you press all ready made curtains prior to hanging Dry clean only Laura Ashley offer a wide selection of poles, finials and accessories to complete your window treatment Always use a metal tape measure for a more accurate result Measure the pole, rather than the window, to ascertain the width needed As a general rule, the pole should extend 15cm on either side to allow for the curtains to be pulled back. For length, measure from the bottom of the curtain ring so that the pole will be visible above the curtains Width measurements include both curtains when offered as a pair 64" to fit window/ pole length 152cm to 213cm (60" to 84") 88" to fit window/ pole length 198cm to 274cm (78" to 108") Back to shopping Back to topFinished length of curtains + 16 inches divided by 36 = number of yards required. Add 1 extra yard (or one vertical repeat of the fabric) per pair if using a large print fabric. For example, if you wanted a pair of curtains that were 90" in length, then 90+16=106 divided by 36 = 2.94 which you would round up to 3 yards of fabric per curtain, 6 yards total for the pair.