Step one: Get measuring!

Get out your pencils and make a scale sketch of your room (graph paper makes the whole task so much easier). Measure and sketch the four walls (using a scale of 15mm per foot or 10mm per m, if you're not using graph paper). Then do the same with the windows, doors, chimney breasts, alcoves etc.

Next, measure all your furniture and, taking a clean sheet of paper, sketch each item to scale. Once you have this, you can play around a bit, arranging and rearranging the 'furniture' without lifting any heavy objects - result! Or, if you're fortunate enough to have an empty space to work in, make actual-size cut outs of the "footprints" of your furniture (broadsheet newspaper, brown paper from a roll or large, lightweight art paper are all good for this), then have fun moving them around the room until you find a layout that does the job.

Step two: Consider the practicalities

This is where you make sure that the layout you choose is practical. Are you able to open the windows easily without having to climb over furniture or stand on it? Could the door bang back on a piece of wooden furniture and ruin it? Will you be able to vacuum properly without having to heave around bulky items of furniture? (What do you mean, you don't vacuum?) Can you get to what you need without having to move everything? A moment's thought now will save you a lifetime of cursing!