NATURALLY, THESE SEASONED PROFESSIONALS approached the space differently, providing three compelling furniture plans for a conventional, rectangular room. Yet all of the concepts involved thoughtful arrangements that foster comfort and flexibility. The designers created complete room schemes and recommended specific furniture and fabrics (visit SouthernAccents.com for their choices).

    For Fiona Weeks, the room came together with warm color and lively fabrics; Biggs Powell made it all about form and flow; and Carol Weaks used a single shade of green to create a serene, highly functional space.

    Memphis designer and antiques dealer Biggs Powell is always drawn to sculptural shapes and interesting textures, preferring to mix and layer disparate elements rather than slavishly adhere to a single period or style.

    In creating a plan, Powell responded to the challenges of the room, particularly the flow of traffic to and from adjacent rooms. He floated a single seating group in the center of the room. 1,2 A tufted-back sofa sits perpendicular to the fireplace and across from a pair of slipper chairs. 3 A small bench—a stylized, contemporary take on a traditional Chinese form—in front of the hearth provides an extra perch. 4 A chinoiserie coffee table serves the group, with smaller tables providing additional places for accessories or drinks. "The central arrangement invites you in," explains Powell. "It's fairly tight, so there is plenty of room to circulate—on a daily basis or during a party."

    5,6 A grand piano by the built-in bookcase counterbalances an early 19th-century backgammon table at the opposite end of the room. "The grand piano anchors the corner," says Powell. "I like the way its lacquered finish and form resonate with the diagonally positioned zebra-skin rug."

    Powell's diverse collection of furniture and objects takes on a dramatic aura. 7,8 The 19th-century Gustavian floor clock stands as a traditional foil for the sleek Karl Springer console behind the sofa.

    Simplicity and restraint also guided the designer's chinoiserie flourishes throughout the room. Slipper chairs are upholstered in a dragon-patterned blue silk damask, while the sofa is covered in a neutral herringbone. The white walls are bare except for a trio of hand-painted Chinese scenic panels opposite the fireplace. "Above all, I did not want the room to have a distinct theme," says Powell.

• A mix of things is more exciting than a room full of things from a single period or country of origin. You can enliven a scheme and keep it from looking too predictable by tossing in an unexpected object.
• Flow is very important to a layout. Figure out how you want people to move around a room. Here, the central arrangement makes the room welcoming but also allows for logical and efficient circulation.
• I love symmetry, but if a plan is too rigid, it feels stiff and uncomfortable. Arrange your room so that there is a sense of balance rather than relentless symmetry.