Space Type Decides 60% of Your Decor — Before Style or Color

The most common decor mistake: people pick a style and a color first, then try to squeeze them into a space type. The result is usually "looks nice but feels off." The right order is the opposite: space type → function → flow → furniture → style → color.

Why space type comes first

Each space type has a primary function, an average sit-time, and a typical user count. Those three decide:

• Sofa back height (a dining nook ≠ a media room).
• Lighting layers (an office ≠ a bedroom).
• Floor material (a kitchen ≠ a living room).

Real examples

Living room

• Function: hosting, conversation.
• Sit-time: two hours or more.
• Rule: tall-back sofas, strong general light + mood layer, low coffee table sized for trays.

Family / TV room

• Function: daily downtime, screen-watching.
• Sit-time: anything up to 6 hours.
• Rule: deep, lounge-able sofa; TV size right for the distance (screen diagonal in inches ÷ 2 = ideal viewing distance in feet).

Outdoor patio

• Function: bigger gatherings, often paired with cooking.
• Rule: weather-resistant materials, fixed shade (pergola or tree), enough power outlets.

Kitchen

• Golden rule: the "work triangle" — fridge, sink, stove — none more than 2 meters apart from another.

Bedroom

• Rule: 70 cm of clearance around at least 3 sides of the bed, and bedside lighting (not just ceiling).

FAQ

My budget is tight — where do I start?

Start with the big anchors (sofa, bed). Replacing them later is expensive. Lighting and accessories can be upgraded gradually.

My space is small — what style works?

Minimalist with a unified light palette, plus one large mirror facing a window — doubles the perceived depth.

Open plan or walls?

Depends on use. With small kids, a partial wall keeps acoustic privacy. For a single's apartment, open feels bigger.

Test your design before you build it

Open Decor and enter:

• The space type (living, family room, patio, kitchen, bedroom, facade).
• A photo of the current space or a description of the dimensions.

You'll get:

• A realistic 3D scene in your style.
• A list of materials and dimensions ready to execute.
• Installation notes for your contractor.
• A polished PDF you can send to suppliers.

Smart design starts with the space type — not with a mood board.