Recently two clients told me the furniture they bought didn’t fit. Mainly because they didn’t measure a room properly. So the piece of furniture they bought didn’t fit. One was a sofa and the other two bedside tables. These are expensive furniture buying mistakes. To measure a room for furniture goes beyond just knowing the length and width of the space. It involves a strategic approach to ensure your chosen pieces not only fit but also contribute to a functional and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Key Principles for Furniture Measurement:
- Fit Through Entryways: This is often overlooked and can lead to major headaches! You need to ensure your furniture can actually get into the room. Through the your apartment door. Through the apartment building. The lift or stairs and hallways.
- Room Scale and Proportion: Furniture should be proportionate to the room’s size. Oversized pieces can overwhelm a small room, while tiny pieces can get lost in a large one (see below example).
- Traffic Flow: There needs to be enough space to move comfortably around furniture without bumping into things or feeling cramped.
- Functionality and Zones: Consider how you intend to use the room and create distinct “zones” for different activities (e.g., lounging, reading nook, dining space).
- Focal Points: Identify any existing focal points (fireplace, large window) or decide to create one, and arrange furniture to complement it.
What You’ll Need to Measure Your Room
- Reliable Tape Measure
- Pencil/Pen
- Notebook
- Optional: Painter’s Tape: To outline furniture dimensions on the floor.
- Optional: Helper: Especially for large items.
- Optional: Camera/Smartphone: To take photos for reference.
Step-by-Step Guide for Measuring a Room for Furniture:
1. Measure the Room’s Core Dimensions (Reiterated)
- Length and Width: Measure the overall length and width of the room from wall to wall. Take measurements at a few different points to account for any irregularities. It’s not unsual for ceilings, walls, floors not to be event or straight.
- Ceiling Height: Measure from floor to ceiling in a few spots. This is crucial for tall items like bookshelves, or even floor lamps.
2. Create a Detailed Floor Plan Sketch
Draw a rough sketch of your room. Don’t worry about artistic talent, focus on accuracy. Include:
- All Walls: Clearly mark their measured lengths.
- Doorways:
- Width: Measure the actual opening width (inside the frame).
- Height: Measure from the floor to the top of the frame.
- Location: Note the distance from the nearest wall corner to the edge of the doorway.
- Door Swing: Indicate which way the door opens. This is critical for furniture placement as you don’t want furniture blocking the door’s full swing.
- Windows:
- Width: Measure the window opening.
- Height: Measure the window opening.
- Sill Height: Measure from the floor to the bottom of the windowsill.
- Header Height: Measure from the ceiling to the top of the window frame.
- Location: Note the distance from the nearest wall corner to the edge of the window.
- Architectural Features:
- Fireplaces, vents, heaters, air conditioner units: Measure their dimensions (width, depth, height) and how far they protrude.
- Built-in Shelves/Cabinets: Measure their dimensions.
- Outlets and Light Switches: Mark their approximate locations, as you’ll want to ensure furniture doesn’t block them.
- Obstacles: Columns, tricky corners, or anything that might impact furniture placement or movement.
3. Measure All Entryways and Passageways (Crucial for Delivery!)
This is often the most overlooked part! Your beautiful new sofa won’t do you any good if it can’t get past your front door, down a hallway, or up a staircase.
- Main Entry Door:
- Width: Measure the width of the door opening.
- Height: Measure the height of the door opening.
- Diagonal Depth: For items like sofas, measure from the bottom corner of the door frame to the opposite top corner. This diagonal measurement is often key for fitting long or tall items.
- Hallways: Measure the width and height of any hallways the furniture will pass through. Note any narrow sections or tight turns.
- Staircases:
- Width: Measure the width of the staircase, including any handrails or banisters.
- Headroom: Measure the ceiling height above the stairs, especially at turns.
- Landing Dimensions: If there’s a landing, measure its length and width.
- Elevators: If you live in an apartment, measure the elevator door width, height, and interior dimensions (depth and height).
4. Understand Furniture Dimensions
When shopping for furniture, pay close attention to the following measurements:
- Width (W): Side to side.
- Depth (D): Front to back (how far it comes out from the wall).
- Height (H): Bottom to top.
- Diagonal Depth/Height (for large items): This is critical for sofas and tall cabinets.
- Sofa Diagonal Depth: Measure from the top of the back frame to the front of the armrest, then from the bottom back corner to the point that bisects that straight edge. This helps determine if it can be tipped through a doorway.
- Tall Item Diagonal Height: For items like wardrobes or bookcases, measure diagonally from the bottom front corner to the top back corner.
5. Plan Your Layout (The Fun Part!)
Once you have your room and furniture dimensions, it’s time to play.
- Drawing:
- The best method is to draw your room to scale, if possible.
- Painter’s Tape Method:
- If you’re more hands-on, use painter’s tape on your floor to outline the exact dimensions of the furniture pieces you’re considering. This gives you a real-world sense of how much space they’ll occupy.
- Online Room Planners: Many furniture retailers and interior design websites offer free online room planners that allow you to plug in your dimensions and drag-and-drop furniture to visualize layouts in 2D or even 3D.
6. Consider Essential Clearances and Flow:
- Traffic Lanes: Aim for a minimum of approx. 90 cm for main walkways. In smaller spaces, 60-75 cm might suffice for less-used pathways.
- Coffee Table to Sofa: Leave 35-45 cm between your sofa and coffee table for comfortable access.
- Between Seating: For comfortable conversation, seating should be close enough that people don’t have to shout.
- Doorways: Ensure furniture doesn’t block door swings.
- Windows: Avoid blocking natural light or placing tall furniture directly in front of windows unless it’s intentional (e.g., a window seat).
- TV Viewing Distance: Generally, your seating should be 1.5 to 3 times the diagonal measurement of your TV screen.
- Rug Placement: If using an area rug, ensure it’s large enough to anchor your furniture grouping. Ideally, at least the front legs of all major seating pieces should rest on the rug.
Final Tips for Success:
- Measure Twice, Buy Once: This adage is especially true for furniture.
- Consider Future Additions: If you plan to add more furniture later, factor that into your initial layout.
- Think About the “Feel” of the Room: Beyond just fitting, does the furniture arrangement create the atmosphere you desire (cosy, open, formal, relaxed)?
- Don’t Be Afraid to “Float” Furniture: Pulling furniture slightly away from walls, even in smaller rooms, can make the space feel more open and allow for better traffic flow.
- Take Photos: Referencing photos of your room while shopping can be incredibly helpful.
By meticulously measuring your room for furniture buying success starts by understanding the dimensions of the space and your furniture. You’ll be well-equipped to create a functional, comfortable, and beautiful living space.
