When you’re planning to purchase a new piece of furniture, one crucial step that’s often overlooked is how to measure your space for furniture. The excitement of visualizing how it will look in your space is quickly followed by a more practical question: will it fit? Many homeowners have faced the frustration of buying a beautiful new item, only to find out that it won’t fit through the doorway or navigate narrow hallways or staircases. That’s where the importance of proper measurement comes in.
This guide will walk you through all the steps you need to take to ensure your new furniture will fit in your space, saving you time, money, and headaches.
Why Measuring Matters
Before getting into the nitty-gritty of measuring your space, let’s discuss why this step is so crucial. Furniture pieces, especially larger ones like sofas, dining tables, or entertainment units, are significant investments. Not only do they play a key role in the aesthetic and functionality of your home, but they’re often expensive and difficult to return once purchased.
The most common issues people encounter when buying furniture include:
- The furniture doesn’t fit through the doorway.
- Narrow hallways make it impossible to get the piece to its intended room.
- Stairs and elevators pose height and width challenges that aren’t anticipated.
The last thing you want is for your newly purchased item to end up back on the delivery truck due to overlooked measurements. By following these steps, you’ll ensure a smooth and successful delivery process.
1. How to Measure Your Space for Furniture: Determine the Best Pathway for Delivery
The first step in making sure your furniture will fit is identifying the most direct route from the outside of your home to the room where the furniture will be placed. This pathway might include:
- The front door or garage entrance
- Hallways
- Staircases
- Elevators
- Interior doorways
Make sure this route is free of any obstructions before you begin measuring. It’s essential to remove any obstacles, such as rugs, plants, or small furniture, that could hinder the furniture’s movement through your home.
Once you’ve cleared the pathway, measure the width and height of each doorway, hallway, and stairwell along the route. This will give you an idea of the largest piece of furniture that can safely fit.
Pro Tip: Measure Twice, Move Once
When it comes to measuring for furniture, accuracy is key. Don’t rely on estimates. Take your time to measure twice, using a reliable tape measure to ensure you’ve got the correct dimensions. Even a few inches off could be the difference between your new furniture fitting through the doorway or not.
2. Measure Entryways and Doorways for Furniture
Entryways and doorways are often the first and most significant obstacles when moving furniture into your home. Here’s how to measure them correctly:
- Width: Measure the width of the doorway from the inside edges of the frame. If there are any protrusions, such as door handles or knobs, be sure to take them into account.
- Height: Measure the height of the doorway from the floor to the top of the frame.
- Depth: For particularly thick doorframes, measure the depth from the front edge of the frame to the back.
Make sure the height and width of the doorway are larger than the largest dimension of the furniture. If the furniture is taller or wider than the door, it won’t fit through.
3. How to Measure Hallways for Furniture
Hallways can present unique challenges, especially if they’re narrow or have tight turns. To measure a hallway:
- Width: Measure the narrowest point of the hallway. Be mindful of any obstacles like light fixtures or wall decorations that could further narrow the space.
- Length: Measure the length of the hallway, especially if it has any sharp turns. If the furniture needs to be turned sideways, ensure there’s enough room to do so.
Pro Tip: Measure with Angles in Mind
Sometimes, furniture will need to be tilted or maneuvered at an angle to get through tight spaces. When measuring, consider how the furniture might be positioned during the move and whether the space will allow for these adjustments.
4. How to Measure Your Space for Furniture: Staircases and Elevators
If your new furniture needs to go up or down a staircase or fit into an elevator, this adds another layer of complexity to the delivery process. For staircases, measure the following:
- Width: Measure the width of the staircase from the edge of one banister to the opposite wall. If there’s a handrail or any other obstruction, account for that in your measurements.
- Height: Measure the height of the space above the stairs, particularly if there’s a low ceiling.
- Angle: If the staircase has a sharp turn or a steep angle, take this into consideration. Large furniture might need to be lifted or rotated to fit.
For elevators, measure the height, width, and depth of the elevator doors, as well as the interior dimensions of the elevator itself. Make sure your furniture will fit not only through the door but also inside the elevator.
5. Ceiling Heights and Obstacles: How to Measure Your Space for Furniture
Even if your furniture fits through the doorways and hallways, you still need to consider ceiling heights and other obstacles within the space where the furniture will be placed. Low ceilings, ceiling fans, or overhead light fixtures can all create issues. To avoid these problems, measure the height of the room from floor to ceiling, as well as the height of any fixtures that might obstruct the furniture.
Additional Tips: Consider Future Additions
If you are planning on purchasing multiple pieces of furniture in the future, make sure to factor that into your measurements. You might successfully fit one item, but a future purchase could face the same obstacles. Plan ahead and keep records of your measurements so you’ll have them ready for your next big buy.
6. Architectural Details: Don’t Overlook the Small Stuff When Measuring for Furniture
Architectural features like mouldings, trim, and built-in elements can often go unnoticed when measuring a space, but they can have a big impact on whether your furniture fits. Pay attention to any elements that stick out from the walls, such as baseboards, radiators, or columns. Even a small protrusion can make a significant difference, especially when moving large or bulky items.
7. How to Measure Room Layout and Flow for Furniture
Once you’ve measured the entryways, hallways, and other obstacles, it’s time to consider the room where the furniture will be placed. It’s essential that the furniture not only fits but also complements the overall flow and layout of the room. Consider the following:
- Space for Movement: Leave enough space around the furniture to allow for easy movement. You don’t want to overcrowd the room, making it difficult to walk around or use other furniture.
- Proportions: Ensure that the size of the furniture matches the proportions of the room. A massive sofa might overpower a small living room, while a tiny coffee table might look out of place in a large space.
- Accessibility: Make sure all drawers, doors, and compartments can be easily opened without bumping into other furniture or walls.
Pro Tip: Visualizing Your Space
If you’re struggling to visualize how the furniture will fit in the room, try using painter’s tape to mark the dimensions of the piece on the floor. This will give you a better sense of how much space it will take up and whether it will fit comfortably in the room. There are also many online tools and apps that allow you to create a digital floor plan and visualize your furniture placement in 3D.
Practical Example: How to Measure Your Space for Furniture When Moving a Large Sofa
Let’s walk through a practical example: You’ve just purchased a large sofa for your living room. To ensure it fits, follow these steps:
- Measure the Sofa: Start by measuring the height, width, and depth of the sofa. Don’t forget to measure any removable parts, such as legs or cushions, which could make it easier to fit the sofa through tight spaces.
- Measure Your Doorways: Measure the height and width of the front door and any interior doors along the path to the living room. If the sofa’s height is greater than the doorway’s width, you’ll need to tilt it vertically.
- Check Hallways and Corners: If there are any hallways or sharp corners on the way to the living room, measure their widths and angles to make sure the sofa can be maneuvered around them.
- Stairs and Elevators: If the sofa needs to go up or down stairs, measure the width and height of the stairwell, as well as the space above the stairs. For elevators, measure the door and interior space to ensure the sofa will fit inside.
Tips for Smooth Furniture Delivery: How to Measure Your Space for Furniture Effectively
- Clear the Path: Before the delivery team arrives, remove any obstacles from the path, such as rugs, plants, or small pieces of furniture.
- Disassemble if Necessary: If the furniture has removable parts, such as legs or cushions, take them off before moving the item. This can make it easier to fit through tight spaces.
- Provide Instructions: Make sure the delivery team knows about any tight spaces, narrow doorways, or tricky corners before they arrive. This will help them plan the delivery and avoid damage to your home or the furniture.
The Importance of Pre-Planning When Measuring for Furniture Shopping
Beyond just measuring, pre-planning is essential to avoid stress and unnecessary costs during the furniture buying process. Consider consulting the store or delivery team for professional advice before the purchase. They may have specific tips regarding the furniture piece you’ve bought, especially when it comes to challenging or oversized items. Taking these steps ensures not only a hassle-free delivery but also prevents damage to the furniture or your home.
