Draw the room in scale on graph paper, doors and windows too. Draw the furniture in scale on another paper and cut them out. Play with it and keep in mind traffic lines (min.3'wide).

Or use an online planner of course. I like the paper one for my own house, because it makes you more aware of the space at hand.

One guideline: Most people feel safer and thus more at ease when he/she can see a room's entry doors and windows, with a wall behind him/her. But when you have a much prettier/practical layout with none of the above in it, go for it.

Thanks for your comment. What online planner is available? CW

Google ;) ;)

I'm a designer and utilize Pottery Barn's Room Planner all the time. It is an "Icovia" planner which is usually not free. Find it under the "Design Help" link. It will take you awhile to teach yourself how to use it, but once you do, you'll love it. Bassett has one too.