Whether you've got a home remodeling project in the works or not, take our quick room design efficiency quiz. Simple home improvements to room design can make a room seem like new, and dramatically improve efficiency and comfort.

This room design quiz is based on common room layout problems. Score 1 point for every question you can answer YES to.

1. Can a person pass through the room without walking in front of places people have conversation or watch TV? In every room, the floor gets trampled in one consistent path – usually the path of least resistance, or the quickest way to get from one area to another. Does that path interrupt conversations or TV viewers?
   
   (Explanation: most people feel uncomfortable interrupting conversations and TV viewers just to get to the kitchen or bathroom).
   
   
2. Are people able to face each other when seated? Put an imaginary X where four to six people would sit in your living and dining areas. Are those people seated in a tight circle or a square shape? Are they close enough (within six to eight feet) to speak quietly and still hear each other?
   
   (Explanation: unless you're designing a home theater where everyone is more interested in George Clooney on the big screen than talking to each other, seating arrangements need to invite conversation. There's no easier way to cut a party short than when your guests get sore necks from sitting in a straight line or sore throats by having to shout across the room).
   
   
3. Would it be difficult to sneak up on people? When sitting on a sofa or bed, can you see the main door or entrance to the room? Is a well-used door in front of (or to the side of ) where people sit or sleep, rather than behind them?
   
   (Explanation: this Feng-Shui decorating principle is also common sense. No one wants to be surprised or have people sneak up on them; we all want a control seat so we know what's happening around us).
   
   
4. Is there a place to put a drink down? Does every chair or bed have a surface close by to put down a drink? Are coffee tables within 24" of the sofa or loveseat rather than in the middle of the room?
   
   (Explanation: having to get up to put things down is too much work, and no, the floor is not an option!).
   
   
5. Are windows clear of furniture? Does any furniture block a window or reduce incoming light from a window?
   
   (Explanation: natural light is healthy and rejuvenating, reduces depression, makes reading easier and keeps us connected to nature. Since we can't live outside, we need all the light we can get inside!.)
   
   
6. Is every line of sight a good one? Is your bathroom door out of view? Is clutter concealed?
   
   (Explanation: Have you ever visited a home where you could watch guests go in and out of the bathroom? Not a good line of sight! Look at your own rooms from different viewpoints.. assess what you see when you come in the door, enter a room, turn a corner, look down a hall. Make sure every view is a good one. Use an attractive screen or large plant to block an unpleasant view, reposition the furniture to focus on a more attractive view or place artwork at the end of a hallway.
   
   
7. Can every door open completely? Is every door able to be opened at least a full 90 degrees (or more) without clutter or furniture blocks them?
   
   (Explanation: living with doors that can't swing open is unnerving, and according to Feng Shui decorating, bad for our health.)
   
   
8. Is your furniture in proportion to the size and shape of your room? If you measure the dimensions of your room, is the area (width x depth) of your furniture in proportion to it? For example, if your dining room is 10 x 16 feet, is your dining room table (with tucked-in chairs) and buffet about 8 x 12.5 feet?
   
   (Explanation: narrow rooms work better with a narrow furniture or a narrow furniture arrangement; square rooms work better with a square arrangement. It's always easier to work with architecture rather than against it.)
   
   
9. Do things get put where they belong? Do things get put away in a designated place rather than mixed with unrelated things?
   
   (Explanation: the best room designs designate a place for everything – handy hooks in just the right place, ledges and tables to put things down, the phone within easy reach, etc).
   
   
10. Is your furniture grouped together to support a particular activity? Is furniture clustered together to make a particular activity easier rather than evenly spread throughout the room?
    
    (Explanation: furniture that's spread evenly around a room just to fill space is less attractive, inviting or functional than when it's grouped together around a single activity. In areas where people visit together, cluster seating close together. In areas where someone will want to be alone, position a chair next to a window, bookcase, lamp or small table.)
    
    

How did you score?
10 out of 10 – Congratulations. You're probably a happy soul and your home qualifies as a visitor magnet. You may have more problems getting people to leave your home than to visit it.

8 out of 10 – Not bad! There are a few room design changes you could make, but your home sounds comfortable and functional.

6 out of 10 – With some room design adjustments, you'll see a big improvement in your quality of life.

Under 6 - If you've got a nervous tick or can't get company to stay long, we may have discovered why. It's time to re-think your room layouts. The good news is that there's a fairly easy fix!