Dear Alice | Interior Design

Episode: Top 5 Mistakes in Space Planning

Hosts: Jessica Bennett and Suzanne Hall (with Corey)
Date: February 12, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Dear Alice dives into the art and pitfalls of space planning in interior design. Hosts Jessica Bennett and Suzanne Hall, joined by Corey, break down the five most common mistakes they encounter in client homes. Their aim is both to educate and inspire listeners to enhance the flow, function, and style of their own spaces—regardless of room size or budget. The discussion is lively, loaded with wit, practical tips, professional wisdom, and an underlying encouragement to approach home as an evolving, personal project.

Defining Space Planning & Why It Matters

[02:12 - 03:42]

• Definition:
  Suzanne's take:

  "Space planning is the art of arranging furniture in a space regardless of size, be it small, be it large. Space planning is smart. You look at the flow from one room to the next and it's interesting and beautiful for the eye." (02:16)

• Why it matters:
  Poor space planning even in “dream homes” can make beautiful architecture feel underwhelming or utilitarian (03:00). The right plan brings comfort, usability, and visual balance.

The Top 5 Mistakes in Space Planning

1. Under-Furnishing

[03:43 - 06:52]

• Many homes are sparsely furnished out of uncertainty or budget; this leads to a cold, unwelcoming vibe.

• Lack of side tables, lamps, and surfaces for guests is a major giveaway.

• “If you were to have a room full of guests, where would they all put their drinks down? Make sure that you accommodate them.” — Jessica Bennett (06:15)

• Pro Tips:

  • Every seat (sofa or chair) should have a spot to put a drink and ideally a lamp nearby.
  • Use spot tables and sofa tables to create layers, even behind sofas pushed up against walls.

2. Pushing Furniture Against the Walls

[07:59 - 13:27]

• Pulling furniture away from the walls cozies up the space and creates intentional groupings.

• “People always push their furniture up against the wall. And as much as you can, give your pieces a little bit of space to breathe.” — Jessica Bennett (07:59)

• Maintain 18 inches between sofa and coffee table (10:13) and allow for 3 feet of clearance for walkways.

• Use angles for visual interest: “You've got to get that really beautiful, sculptural, iconic piece on a 45 degree angle or even cocked just a little bit off so you can see that three quarter shot of it.” — Jessica Bennett (11:22)

• Notable Moment:
  Corey references the movie Step Brothers to humorously illustrate empty rooms with furniture against the walls:

  ”When I see furniture pushed up against the walls, it makes me think of Step Brothers when they build their own bunk beds: so much room for activities. But really those rooms aren't cozy and they don't feel like home.” (14:14)

3. Getting Scale Wrong

[17:01 - 19:45]

• The most frequent errors: sofas are too big, tables and rugs are too small, side tables and art are undersized, and light fixtures are either “boob lights” or lack the right visual weight.

• “Almost 100% of the time, the rug is too small.” — Corey (17:13)

• Art is often “small and hung too high”; lamps should be 30 inches tall for optimal lighting and scale.

• Pro Tips:

  • Think big! Level up rug and art sizes.
  • Layer with sofa and side tables, lamps, and gradation in height to draw the eye upward in rooms with tall ceilings.

4. Not Measuring Before Designing

[19:49 - 23:14]

• Success in space planning starts with knowing your room’s dimensions and keeping measurements handy.

• Take and save photos of your rooms with key distances marked (using your phone’s tools) to visualize and make buying decisions on the go.

• Always carry a tape measure (Jessica keeps one in her purse at all times).

• Notable Quote:

  “There's so much regret by not getting the thing that would have just absolutely brought your entry to life... We'll never know because we didn't have a measuring tape.” — Jessica Bennett & Suzanne Castler (23:07, 23:14)

5. Ignoring Vantage Points

[23:18 - 28:44]

• Professionals consider how a space looks from every angle and approach—especially on first sight.

• Example: Thomas O'Brien is cited as a master, creating “a reverence” with the artful, mathematical arrangement of his showrooms (24:45).

• More than one furniture grouping (“scene”) in a large room allows for intimacy within open spaces:

  "The more little groupings you can have, the more intimate and cozy even a large room can feel. And this is a real missed opportunity in a space." — Jessica Bennett (25:56)

• Space planning as romance:

  “There’s an absolute romance of space planning… the lamp that's casting light is going to hit the back of that chair like sculpture in the most perfect way.” — Suzanne Castler (26:42)

• Study the greats: Ray Booth, Thomas O’Brien, and art galleries for how to use lines of sight, color, and furniture relationships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Generosity in Furnishing:
  "When you can be generous, be generous. And it'll fill the space and then it won't feel... Even if some of you have end tables and you're like, gosh, it still just doesn't feel quite right. It's probably because you could go larger." — Suzanne Castler (06:43)

• On Collecting Character:
  “The chairs are the character of the room... their job was to bring the party to the room. So certainly become a great chair collector and get those things on angles and get the conversation going.” — Jessica Bennett (12:28)

• On the Emotional Effect:
  “That's what space planning does. That's what evokes these feelings, these habits, you know, of just storytelling and conversation.” — Suzanne Castler (15:59)

• On Thoughtful Design:
  “Thoughtful space planning is what separates the good from the great.” — Corey (28:44)

Key Takeaways

• Layering, not quantity: Smart, well-considered arrangements with layered furniture and lighting make the biggest impact.
• Measure, measure, measure: Always measure your space and keep dimensions handy when shopping.
• Scale up: Don’t be afraid to use larger rugs, lamps, art, and tables than you think.
• Mix it up: Collect furniture pieces you love, place them at angles, and create multiple seating groupings.
• Think like a pro: Study vantage points and plan for how each area will be seen and used from multiple approaches.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:16] Definition of space planning
• [03:43] Mistake #1: Under-furnishing
• [07:59] Mistake #2: Furniture against walls & arrangement guidelines
• [11:15] Using angles and iconic pieces
• [17:01] Mistake #3: Scale problems
• [19:49] Mistake #4: Failing to measure before planning
• [23:18] Mistake #5: Ignoring vantage points
• [25:56] Creating multiple groupings in large rooms
• [26:42] The “romance” of space planning

Final Thought

Jessica, Suzanne, and Corey urge listeners to see their rooms with fresh eyes and take actionable steps: borrow from other rooms, shop vintage, or simply rearrange. Space planning is learnable—and it’s the magic ingredient that makes any home feel inviting, functional, and deeply personal.

End of summary.