What you save in area you'll lose in convenience and ease of use. In smaller areas, like sitting rooms or small bedrooms, don't make the mistake of making access to closets or desks too cramped. For very large spaces, allowing a little more open area may be appropriate for the proportions of the room. You can use a 42-to-48-inch aisle width as a rule of thumb, but that can vary depending on the space involved. As a point of reference, the size of a human being should be the standard for determining how much room is necessary around things like kitchen islands and built-in cabinets, and across pass-through areas like doorways and other entrances. A good room layout allows people and pets to traverse the space efficiently.