Free Furniture Templates Let You Arrange Furniture Without Lifting

Moving furniture around a room until you've got things arranged the way you want them can be a strain on your back (and your marriage). Why not let your fingers do the heavy lifting instead?

Several companies sell furniture templates or cutouts to help you plan furniture arrangements, but HomeExpo.com offers a free version online. The site offers a page of residential furniture templates and a page of office furniture templates, along with a blank grid in case you don't have any graph paper sitting around. You just print them out, cut them out, and start arranging.

The furniture templates are scaled at a standard 1/4 inch to the foot, so you'll need a bit of dexterity to cut out some of the smaller items like lamps and side tables. But if you like working with something you can actually touch and move with your hands, this is a cheap and simple option.

If you're computer savvy, however, I'd recommend using one of the free programs that let you create floor plans online. (My favorite is the Jordan's Furniture Room Planner, which is simple and produces attractive results.)

A few companies such as HSN and DYI sell life-size furniture templates that you can move around an empty room, but I'd suggest saving your money and making your own out of newspaper.

Using any of the systems mentioned above, and following basic guidelines on how to arrange furniture, you should end up with a floor plan that's comfortable, convenient and scaled to fit your room and your lifestyle.