just a few moves to make this apartment work and feel better! learn some tricks on space planning!

[@brendencamastro3028]

Last apartment I lived in before I bought my house had a layout that must have followed the feng shui concept. It was small 1 bedroom about 700sq feet but when you opened the door there was open pathways to every major area of the apartment. And everything like living room had space out of the way for you to put stuff. It almost forced you to place your furniture in a way like you describe. I honestly miss that apartment even though it was a lot smaller then my house, it felt so open and big. My house currently is open but I never could figure out just why I felt that way. Now I think I got it. I’m going to take these concepts and apply it to my current house.

[@amberklein6893]

Amazing how the apartment FEELS so much better.

[@aleesiadae382]

Nice! I personally wouldn't feel comfortable with others seeing my desk so I would move it away from the wall and flip it around for privacy, that's just a personal preference! Love how you use 3d figures to solve layouts!!

[@seedsoflove7684]

So u are looking at the wall and the ppl behind u are watching what u are doing without ur noticing. No! That is not the control seat, that is the fear and unaware seat.

[@LumiWatchesVideos]

Wouldn't it be better to place a light screen as a separator at that point rather than having your back pressed against a wall? Sounds uncomfortable and claustrophobic to me, to be squished in between a table and a wall like that

[@MoltenSamurai]

Yeah, no way do I want to be facing the wall with everyone behind me 😖

[@teeniequeenie8369]

Exactly! I wouldn’t wNt my back turned either…

[@Ladida386]

Me and my mom were on the hunt for buying an apartment about 20 years ago. We saw so many apartments with really strange ground plans that we stopped looking for an apartment and decided that this apartment that we already have is the best. We found out that the best apartments with the best ground plans actually sell from mouth to mouth, not via advertising.

[@Mage_Chartreux]

This guy is the best Sims house building teacher!

[@annetteleggett9854]

I like your layout a lot better!

[@DearModern]

Thanks!!

[@killiansirishbeer]

I love these videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Not only do you videos make me think about rooms and layout in a totally different way, it also gives great insight about how small changes can mean a big difference.

[@uramalakia]

Cliff, Your rearrangements are always pure perfection, which has me wondering: Do You come up with this as You go (while filming) or do You prepare (script?) beforehand?

[@gloglos100]

My parents built multiple homes due to moving thru work then retirement. Started with mid century modern designs in Aus. They designed them and they got better and better. They had flow, wherever not quite right it was very obvious. I have to sit with wall behind and ability to get out if a knife weilder comes in the door, I want to nip out behind him. Love all you do.

[@thomasjenkins5727]

My thoughts are to turn the bedroom into a shared workspace. Set up room dividers or false walls as needed. Then claim the living room as the bedroom. They now live close to the main home area, but have a separated work space. This will help them mentally divide home from work, which can be important. Now, the dining room has to become a combination living/dining room. Get a coffee table that transforms into a dining table. Handle seating however you like. With a few clever features, that room can be dining room, living room, and a conversation piece.

[@xfairfaeriex]

A shared office for both likely won’t work. It would be hard if they had to do virtual meetings at the same time in the same room.

[@Schindlabua]

Everytime you want to grab water or do anything else you would have to "leave the flat"/navigate the hallway, and walk through an empty living area. I think that would encourage spending too much time in the office, and I'd probably be tempted to eat at the office table so I don't have to sit in an empty kitchen and stuff like that. I like the solution in the video much better. Seems like the rooms are utilized more evenly.

[@NomadOverNormal]

I just found your channel! The apartment im moving into has the same exact layout, except mirror the bedroom & move the front door to the lower right side of the living room:)

[@merrylkeymymysteryschool4806]

So know you know

[@shireads2954]

That's a much better floor plan since you won't have that feeling of leaving the apartment to get to the bedroom.

[@Day-NNight]

Long dinning table instead of 3 working surface : they eat work and regularly tidy one area near the kitchen, ( I would use laptop ) to move work when am done . Behind it a big wall height buildin closet to store their dish-wear and store their work gear . Move the couch in place of two chairs a more solid back . Buildin a low Long media console to host their projector and nicknacks within. Place both chairs adjacent to the window with an angle & a big plant by the window. Opt for a long storage by the walking path to store more object if needed , ( pick the same color of the wall to mute the closet , or the opposite color with glass and spotlight to display objects . I would use tape to measure space and go for diy if didn’t find what fit. personally I would do just that . Abstractly 😊

[@gloglos100]

This is wonderful Clif you identify the feelings so well. I notice these things and am very irritated if not ok. Thank you so much.

[@plakette26]

I love it. I wish you could design and rearrange our house!😊

[@dianelapp]

I love the lamps! :)

[@rickyquanjr.8923]

Excellent breakdown, now I’m wondering what to do with my open rectangle basement with pillars

[@dianbarnhart2745]

I am gaining alot of knowledge and will attempt to follow what your advice.

[@DearModern]

Every home is different and every person uses their home differently, but with experience, you will be able to do the same!:)

[@hystaric_3013]

I'd move the kitchen to the room on the left, that way you go straight into your kitchen when you come home with your food. destroy all the old kitchen walls and make that center area into the living room, put a horizontal wall to create a foyer at the entrance and make the living room more cozy. then the current dining room could become a study room, desks on both sides, bookshelves in the middle to split the room into 2 parts, 1 for each person. the current living room will be the new bedroom, you can add an extra closet on the new study room wall. the bathroom is a bit far from the new bedroom but it's worth it, especially when they seem to have lots of guests coming to their house, the bathroom being near the new living room will be much easier and welcoming for the guests.(optional: add a L shape wall to make hide the bathroom entrance if you want the place to feel more cozy and the bathroom more private) this layout saves all the wasted corridor space, making the apartment a lot bigger.(assuming all changes i mentioned is possible)

[@jn6620]

I would move both desk facing each other on the right side of the living room area. Possibly put the shelves side ways to divide the living room and office. Move the living room furniture closer to the dining area. Keep the dining area as just a dining area. This way the dining area flows easily to the kitchen. Keep the bedroom as is. 5:16

[@patrickkeller2193]

I would utilise the heck out of the detached room. When you work from home you actually want to be a bit detached from your living area so can focus on work without distractions. As you said, passing the entrance would emphasis these feelings of going to work, taking a break, and calling it a day. The room is also almost perfectly square with two straight walls and two window walls, so I would split it diagonally. Working with the back to the room always feels awkward, put the desks in the command position at the top and right walls, facing the door. The two window walls could be used for storage. This also has the added benefit of letting contacts visit the office without interacting with the living space. I would then place the bed at the far side of the large room with a Wardrobe or two to separate it from the Living space.

[@OfficialMeridiem]

I think that's great. I agree that going somewhere away from my familiar comfy spaces makes me more productive when working. But at the same time, sleeping where you entertain and playing where you sleep can be disorienting. Makes guests feel like they’re intruding. If you were ever sick or tired, there's nowhere secluded to be vulnerable. This is coming from my experience in a studio apartment. The whole space became my bedroom, even with my sleeping area blocked off, out of the way

[@seedsoflove7684]

So if u have a party, ppl are in your bedroom?

[@seedsoflove7684]

If bedroom is large enough, put a desk in there, but then u want to sleep not work. Put both desks in dining room and close it off with bookshelves or close one or both walls with doors. Dining and living rooms in the entertainment room. But only if both ppl can work in same room together. Or block off desk in living room with a bookshelf for more privacy. I would not give up my closed off bedroom though. It is a bit of an odd layout i guess. More like an en suite with the bathroom over on that side.

[@cityalien]

I feel the detached room should be the bedroom because of the position of the bathroom. If you put the bedroom in the other part of the house, it will be far away from the bathroom and you will have to walk past the entrance to get to the bathroom. I think it's better to have the bedroom close to the bathroom in case you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

[@ivanaandric5703]

​@@cityalienYou're right but you can put a small bathroom (without the shower/tube, just the toilet and a small sink it that small room, I think it's a waredrobe) in the living room. Then, in the middle of the night, you just take few steps, you don't need to walk for five minutes in the dark. And if someone puts the badroom in the corner (more like using up 2/3, not just a corner) of the livingroom, they need to section it completly with a wall. Othervise it's gonna feel like guests are walking all over your badroom.

[@alexe8039]

I would have put both tables at the window area and the bookshelfs as roomdeviders and create a whole workarea that way. Put e bigger dining table like you did and a console to that empty wall next to the kitchen

[@busybee9952]

As always, love the video!

[@Archamedes]

Large glass bowl of fruit too, for snacks and color! 🥰

[@madelinewise8692]

I would improve on this plan by putting both desks across from each other in the living room and adding storage, like a credenza in the dining area where you put the first desk.

[@gypsybelle4757]

Great insights. Thank you!

[@anon0268]

Do you offer your services online? I would love to get your insight on how to use feng shui to decorate my small NYC apartment. My bedroom and living room have a tricky layout, and I don't know how to work around it 😭

[@DearModern]

Yes I do! You can book on www.dearmodern.com/book-online

[@LimenKimLeMonSta]

Now I definitely know!

[@updownstate]

In the open corner of the bedroom I would put a large circular pouf that stands on feet on the floor, sorry I don't know the name of it, but it would give some curve to the room as well as a place to sit while other person is modeling clothes, or to toss bathrobe on at night.

[@ivanaandric5703]

I know what you mean, it's like a curtain only made out of wood and paper and it stands on it's own. It's a divider that women use to use to perserve their modesty while taking and puting on clothes. It's like a screen, I don't know what's it called either.

[@karenrowe300]

great explanations, you rock

[@in19minutes]

What about the fact that one shouldn't sit with the back to the door (the two desks where they work)? I heard you explain its importance in other videos...now I have knot in my brain :D please explain why you choose this setting.

[@AliOop4]

Genius!!

[@DearModern]

Thank you!!

[@ExLibris-Alys]

Much better 👍🏻😊💛

[@markbaldwin5455]

Very good. Probably better layout, if you could move some walls!

[@LeCrenn]

So much better.

[@winterrose8174]

I would have made the bedroom into an office for both people, so it would feel like they are going off to work outside the home, turn the living room into a bedroom, adding a door in the walkway, and make the dining area into a dining/living room combo.

[@thatbusinesstrainer1414]

So awesome! I just found your channel and have been binge watching. One question: is there somewhere to purchase those little models of furniture so we can arrange stuff and try out different layouts ourselves?

[@samt-b2499]

If you know what to look for, they are 3d printed, so the online files exist somewhere and you just need to find them and a freind with a printer. Total material cost for the models he's shown probably isn't more than £1.50!

[@Mickiwalk]

In Home Ec class, they taught us to measure our furniture and cut out cardboard squares to the blueprint's scale. They also taught us how to make our own blueprint of our rooms. These little plastic ones are very cute, though.

[@thebookwyrmslair6757]

Check with your local library! Our downtown library in a small Midwest city has an excellent Makers Space, including a 3D printer. They made my daughter a cat the size of her hand for less than $10. :) I need to get them to make this stuff for me! It would be so handy for our constant moves!

[@bellousow2607]

Great job

[@py-3366]

My take would be to get rid of the wall in the kitchen that's in between the hallway and add an island instead. Have the living and dining next to it and have the office be in the furthest part of the room. I hate that long hallway.

[@helenamizera3807]

I don't think he mentioned it, but it might be a rental. That was the first thing I thought of too.

[@bugsea54]

Love the videos! I really need help with mirrors. My house is shaped like a gun, ugh!

[@sciamhach]

Why did neither of the desks end up in a command position? They both still feel quite exposed, since their backs are to the room (especially the one by the kitchen, the whole living area is behind them) and neither has a good view of what is going on around them.

[@miloudbouchefra200]

In that case, just turn it around with your back to the wall, they both have enough space to do that.

[@frank_calvert]

because the back of desks doesnt look nice

[@Anonymous-zi5wr]

One of the desks is facing a wall. I would find that claustrophobic. What would you do if you needed tall storage in any home (not necessarily this one)?

[@jjr6929]

Only thing I'd prefer, would be to put both work stations in that same area behind the sofa. Or do they need to be kept apart?

[@kshemachakma2379]

Can u make three bedroom home layout pls?

[@carlosruiz184]

I like your explanations but I prefer when you show the actual apartment, before and after

[@SabbyCat52]

Not gonna lie, I was starting at the bed the whole video waiting for it to be rotated against the south wall to avoid the energy straight to the foot of the bed.

[@prcr]

Same!

[@travelwell6049]

What is the projector for? Wouldn’t you wall mount it somewhere behind the chairs or sofa.

[@cindylw5]

Please put a lamp by the desk by the dining table. She's having eye strain!😁

[@aliebou6492]

Man, I feel it now

[@archiedutch8154]

What about putting both desks in the lounge on opposite walls with a dividing screen from the rest of the lounge

[@LimenKimLeMonSta]

I love it!

[@shushivick]

I get the command position concept but don't you get distracted watching over the living room (or kitchen) for placing a work desk like that? Is facing the wall while working so bad?

[@AdrianGonzalez-ii7jb]

Nice

[@tumininuojo8816]

please how can i get those cute little white furnitures you use

[@jennifernorman9655]

You are so wise :-)

[@lazygardens]

Why do they have these long hallways?

[@yongw99]

Hi, I bought your book this week from Amazon UK. My bedroom had a large build in cupboard with full length glass doors. Lying on the double bed, a person sleeping on one side would be facing this mirror. You mentioned not facing the mirror when sleeping, any ideas on how to fix this as there isn't space to move the bed around? Thanks

[@blackmuzicluver35]

maybe you can put in command strip hooks above the cupboard doors, so that you can place a curtain rod (or ribbon/rope instead of a rod if there isn't enough clearance space.) Hang some curtains to cover the mirrored doors and tie it off to the side when you need to use the mirror; maybe you can also affix a curtain tieback knob/holdback off to the side, to make things easier when you want the curtains out of the way

[@yongw99]

@Psamathe Rainicorn thanks but I prefer not to use curtains. I was hoping for an easier solution.

[@NB-568]

Now I know!

[@nuclearphish8051]

So now the projector is projecting out the window? Somehow that doesn't seem quite optimal...

[@ingang8817]

I just wonder... who designed this layout at the beginning... Why they put that bedroom there???

[@ahmed75673]

Feels like the lady has less office space and multitasking work and home

[@nelliebly6616]

Perhaps her body is smaller?

[@Serena-or7sl]

Nothing prevents them to switch desks ;) Depending on the jobs they might need two different rooms (lots of meetings maybe), so other options are not viable

[@schrodingerskatze4308]

I also would have intuitively turned the bedroom into an office for both of them and put the bedroom where the living room is. I don't exactly know how that would have worked with the actual size of the home, but then you would have a separate working area and don't always think about working when you're sitting in the living room. It also doesn't seem to be an amazing idea to have your working space in the living room. Just imagine you're wife wants to spend time with friends and family while you still have to finish some things. It would be super difficult to concentrate for me there.

[@KathrynFritze]

How about a plant in the empty corner of the living room?

[@bluebellcrushedvelvet]

Hello dear modern!! How do I send you a whole horrible situation of kitchen/living room/bathroom situation??!! Ong the house I'm living in is a mess with the most bizarre kitchen configuration and toilet right off THROUGH from the kitchen!! Please help!! I need to contact you and send you drawing to get your advice!!

[@gabrieljardine]

I'd try my best to break some walls here... looks like a lot of circulation useless spaces were made

[@Heothbremel]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@omarakram99]

That's not at all what I would've done myself. I would've turned the bedroom into an office/guest bedroom, the living room into the primary bedroom and the office into the living/dining area next to the kitchen

[@nicks4727]

How would you design a gym area?

[@Diniecita]

How would you do a split entry home??

[@S0M3-B0DY]

"a hallway with... *exasperated pause* storage"

[@usehername1]

i thought it was bad to have the dining table visible from the front door?

[@imsunnybaby]

this looks like my friends apartment with her husband hahhh

[@RcadeAddict]

What about gaming set ups tho

[@RcadeAddict]

The room is always dark and you're always facing a wall

[@nicolecrawford3479]

How will they use the projector when they are sitting sideways and there is no empty wall to project onto?

[@nuthinbutluv4u142]

Would have put the dining room in the same space as the living room, apart from one another, and both desks where the dining table is now. Had a house with a long front room and this worked, also easy to transition from dining to living area for entertaining purposes.

[@pedroedsos]

Because you can keep the doors opened between living and dining, it feels connected enough. Instead, I would remove the desk from the dining room, as he said himself on another video that sitting with your back to the door is weak. The desk I would place it behind the sofa where the other one is suggested to be, with both workers facing each other, instead of against the wall. Removing one storage unit will make it confortable to access the desk around both sides of the sofa. The vacant space left in the dining room can be use for the/more storage. The only problem is if the workers want to be separated.

[@seedsoflove7684]

​@@pedroedsos yes, if they want to be separated, there aren't many options.

[@phoebecp]

It looks like you need to jump over the sofa to reach the desk in the living room

[@petestrelculiao2618]

Hello my room size is 12feetx14feet floor Facing in the nort Separate from the house, i mean its a detached room 1 door only for entrance placed in the right part facing the north 1 window in the left side facing the north I have 2 small cabinet 2 computers 1 bed How should I arrange ? Should i put flowers?

[@aminamulla86]

Like

[@martinrousev]

If possible I'd move the entire kitchen where the dining area is. The table then goes in the living room. The current kitchen is left for an office space and both desks reside there.