Arrange-a-Room at Better Homes & Gardens (bhg.com) Review

My husband is typically in charge of moving furniture around, and he does so without complaint.  However, I wanted to make sure that I really had a solid plan for how the new pieces would fit into the space so that I could spare his aching back from unnecessary heavy lifting.  I don't have access to the design tools that professionals use for space planning, but I do have access to the Internet.   My solution:  Arrange-a-Room at Better Homes and Gardens Online

This is such a handy tool, but for some reason BHG makes it nearly impossible to find on their website.  If you click on the tab "Decorating," then locate "More Tools," you'll eventually come to the Arrange-a-Room link.  For a direct link, go to:

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jsp?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/arrangearoomtest.xml

Now that you've arrived at your destination you're ready to plan your new living space.  My only caveat with this site is that sometimes the web page is a little quirky; it stops responding and fails to load or freezes altogether.  When that happens, I usually end up closing my browser completely and trying again. 

The online tool allows you to select the room, enter the dimensions, and begin dragging and dropping in the architectural details; such as windows, doors, fireplace, walls, and stairs.  The space plan will only be helpful if your dimensions are input accurately, so make your best guesstimate about your measurements.  Or better, get out the tape measure and measure the space and the main pieces you will be putting in the room.

In my case, I first entered the dimensions of the room and then put in the closet doors, walls, and windows.  You can scale all of the items to size so that you can get a pretty accurate representation of your space.  I added in all of the pieces that I thought would go in the room, and from there, it was a matter of playing around with the elements.  I moved the bed from one wall to the other, and then back again (imagine if my dear husband had to do that in real life!).  If I put together an arrangement that seemed unbalanced or too close to another piece, I just deleted it and started again.

The Arrange-a-Room tool lets you save up to 25 different designs.  Always save frequently in case the web site gets buggy and you end up having to close your browser prematurely.

Ultimately, I ended up with six unique versions of the same room using the same furniture pieces.  The family reviewed each of the designs, debated the pros and cons of each, and we all agreed on the final plan.  (I saved the other design options in case we ever want to re-arrange furniture in the future).

Now that the bedroom is completed, I have to say that the Arrange-a-Room tool was an invaluable way to experiment with different design options.  I didn't end up buying furniture that was too big or too small, and I knew exactly where each piece would be located as soon as it was delivered.  And my husband is grateful for that!