Size does matter

"Absolute size is usually less important than relative size." John Pile, Interior designer and design professor, "Interior Design" (1988)

When purchasing or renting a home the first issue that usually comes up is size. We’re concerned about square footage, size of rooms, closets, etc.

The next questions are: Will my furniture fit in the room? Will two beds fit in this tiny space? Can I fit my sofa and love seat in the great room and still have room for the game table?

One of the jobs of an interior designer is to figure this all out for the client. In John Pile’s book "Interior Design," which is a standard design textbook, he talks about the role of the designer and size and scale. "We think of things as large or small in relative terms, in relation to both the human body and other things. A large living room may be much smaller than a large church, but it appears large in relation to an adjacent small entrance hall," he writes.

Relative to scale, he goes on to say, "It refers to the proper proportion of an object or space to all other objects, to human beings, and to the space to which it belongs. Designers achieve good scale by choosing elements that seem to be of an appropriate size for the space they will inhabit; that relate well to human dimensions; and above all, that look their actual size."

As you can see, size and scale are a major component of good design, not only as they refer to room size, but to the furnishings that go into them.

Any of us can look at a piece of furniture and think it will fit our needs based solely on the size it seems to be. There are some standards, however, that will help with the decisions and eliminate any disappointment in your purchases.

Here are a few numbers to take with you when you’re shopping for a house — or for the furnishings. There are three areas that provide much confusion for buyers.

In the bedrooms, know your mattress sizes; keep in mind that a headboard and footboard will add to this size, in some cases as much as a foot in length. Standard sizes are: twin, 39 by 75 inches; double/full, 54 by 75 inches; queen, 60 by 80 inches; and king, 80 by 80 inches.

For twin beds, allow at least 36 inches between the beds, and always allow for space between the bed and the wall to accommodate movement around the bed.

Also, just a note about bed sizes: The double bed is almost passé; the standard bed is now the queen.

When trying to figure out how much table you need for a certain number of people, remember these numbers. For two you need a 24- or 30-inch square or round table; for four, a 30- to 42-inch square or a 36 to 42-inch round; and for six, a 40- to 48-inch round or a 48 to 54-inch rectangular. If you want more table and more people, allow 24-30 inches of table edge for each person.

And, last, but certainly not least, is the height of bar stools. Many, many mistakes are made around the bar, with stools that are too low or too high. Save these guidelines.

A good rule of thumb is there should be between 9-13 inches between the seat height and the height of the counter. Stools that are 24 and 26 inches high are designed to be used with counters that are 36-39 inches in height. Stools that are 30 inches high are designed for bar counters that are 40-45 inches in height.

If you keep these dimensions in mind when shopping, it will make your life a lot easier and make you feel like a real pro!

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and past president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.

Salad spinning bag saves space, greens — and it’s fun to use

It’s fun, functional and effective. The Spin ‘n Stor Reusable Salad Spinning Bag from Argee Corp. allows you to wash, spin, store and enjoy your greens and herbs.

"It’s just spin, drain and store," said Robert Goldman, president of Argee Corp. and inventor of the Spin ‘n Stor.

It takes the hassle out of having either a large salad spinner or patting the leaves dry with paper towels. Simply place freshly washed greens or herbs in the bag, hold the top closed and vigorously spin the bag in a circular motion. The water collects in the bottom reservoir. Pour the water out and you are ready to go.

Not only can you go easily to a picnic or work, it saves space in the fridge as well.

Foldable and reusable, the Spin ‘n Stor bags retail for $4 for a package of four.

For more information, call 800-449-3030 or visit www.argee corp.com.