LIVING-ROOM LAYOUT LESSONS

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Keep the area around the windows clear to make them the focal point, and concentrate the coziness in the center of the room.

1USE SEATINGIN THEROUND. This setup creates a comfortable conversation area— just be sure that you have enough space to pull it off, says McGee. “You need about three to four feet in the walkways and about two feet of breathing room in areas that don’t get foot traffic.”

2CHOOSEAN L-SHAPED COUCH. A sectional sofa isn’t just a savior for spaces that can’t comfortably fit a sofa and a love seat. It’s also a great choice for anchoring a furniture arrangement in the center of a room, because it’s so weighty and substantial.

3BRING INA LITTLE MORE BULK. To balance the scale of the furniture, pair the sectional with an oversize coffee table or ottoman (ideally, about half or two-thirds the length of the sofa). A side table topped with a tall lamp adds visual height and draws the eye up to accentuate the windows.

Double up on sofas and accent seats to maximize the middle of the room, and utilize the scant wall space you have, says Lewis.

1SECTIONOFF YOUR SPACE. Usually the walls delineate space in a room, but if you don’t want to block the windows, you have to do it with furniture. Floating two sofas around a coffee table creates a framework, says Lewis. But keep in mind: “You need at least five feet of space between the sofas and windows so the room isn’t cramped.”

Extra ottomans that can move around keep everyone happy, says Lewis. You could also add two chairs at the other end of the coffee table if you have enough room for people to sit comfortably there.

Balance the heavy pieces in the middle of the room with a clean-lined console on one wall. “Often people put tables behind the sofas,” says Lewis. “But if you have a little wall space between windows, a console is a slim pick that offsets the bulkiness in the center.”

The best way to give a room good flow is to choose pieces that coordinate in some way without being matchy-matchy, says McGee. “If you have a wood coffee table, add a wooden tray on the console, or choose a sofa pillow with one color that’s similar to a shade in the rug.”

If you have mostly squarish pieces in a room, it can feel onenote, says Lewis. Sprinkle in some softer or rounded accents— an end table, a lamp, an ottoman, a glazed ceramic objet—to offset the other elements.

“People think if there are overheads in the living room they’re set with lighting, but that’s never enough,” says McGee. “A good rule of thumb is to add at least one floor lamp and one table lamp to brighten up the space and make it functional for reading.”

“Low seating is my go-to,” says McGee. “I put poufs, stools, or ottomans in every living space because they’re so easy to move around for wherever you need seating at any moment.”

WANT MORE DECOR TIPS? Find 10 no-fail design formulas at realsimple. com/design.

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A. If you want to double up, go ahead: Goldfish are content on their own, but they’ll also accept a buddy, says aquaticanimal-medicine professor Greg Lewbart. Just make sure your tank is at least 20 gallons, says veterinarian Lisa Radosta. (Any smaller, and it will get dirty fast, because goldfish can produce a lot of feces.) Choose a fish the same size as the current one to avoid bullying, and the same gender if you want to avoid reproduction. (Females tend to be plumper; males may have light-colored bumps.) Keep the new one in a separate bowl for a month to check for signs of illness (lethargy, refusing food, raised scales). Lining the tank with aquatic plants will offer nooks for “alone time,” says Lewbart, though they will rarely need it. Goldfish are generally docile, so the two should get along swimmingly.

Written by

Sarah Grossbart

Photograph by

Inès Dieleman

THE PET EXPERTS

Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice, Los Angeles.

Animal Medical Center, New York City.

professor of aquatic animal medicine at North Carolina State University, in Raleigh.

Florida Veterinary Behavior Service, West Palm Beach.

My five-year-old kitty has never had catnip. Should I give it to her?

A. Consider it akin to throwing a dog a bone. According to veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus, about 75 percent of cats respond to an oil in catnip called nepetalactone and experience a 10-minute high, which may entail rolling around or licking objects. That response can help you out at times, making it easier to lure a cat into a carrier or distract her before a vet visit. Although catnip is not addictive, some cats become agitated or vomit if they overindulge, says Radosta. To test your tabby’s reaction, dust her toy with a teaspoon of dried catnip or give it four spritzes of the spray variety (Kong Naturals Catnip Spray, $7, amazon.com). If all goes well, you can serve it up regularly—but no more than twice a day.

I’m looking for a small dog that is good with children and that doesn’t shed much. Any suggestions?

A. Some long-haired breeds, like poodles and Havanese, have humanlike hair cycles. The strands stay in the follicle for at least a year before falling out. Therefore they shed far less than do other popular pooches, like Labs and golden retrievers, says veterinarian Mary Gardner. Her top pick: the cockapoo, a 20- to 30-pound poodle–cocker-spaniel mix that enjoys cuddling, can learn tricks (like sit and shake), and stays calm around little ones. One caveat: Because their hair doesn’t fall out, cockapoos need a fur trim by a groomer every six weeks. Too highmaintenance? Consider a hairless terrier. “They get some stares, but they’re spunky and playful,” says Gardner, and they won’t leave one speck of fur on your sofa.

Written by

Stephanie Sisco

Photograph by

Johnny Miller

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