How to Measure For Furniture

When it comes to planning new furniture for your living room, bedroom, dining, etc. a few things tend to be overlooked before you begin to start shopping. We want to help make your furniture purchase as smooth as possible. Here are some tips on how to make sure your new furniture can be delivered inside your home and fit in the space you’re wanting.

Measure Entries and Passages

It is very important to get accurate measurements for entries and passages because your furniture will have to pass through these to get to where you have planned to place it ultimately.

Go over your home and measure all the entries, passages, stairways, and doorways through which your furniture will have to travel to get to its destination.

When you are measuring, make sure you have all the accurate widths, heights, and diagonal widths.

You should also make a note of any corners that will need to be turned in a hallway or on a staircase. Tip: Be sure to measure diagonally on the staircase.

Don’t forget to make a note of any light fixtures, railings, or any architectural impediments along the way. These can potentially create problems in moving your furniture in if you are not aware of them.

Measure Your Rooms

While it is important to measure the entries and passages, you also need to measure all your rooms in detail so that you are aware of not just the size of the rooms but all the windows, doors, and fireplaces.

  1. Measure the door that you will be using to bring the furniture into the room. Measure the height and width and also diagonally from top left to bottom right. When getting the measurements, also note for inside the door frames because those are the most important measurements.
  2. Measure the length from the entrance of the room to the far wall. You need this measurement to know if you will be able to bring the furniture into the room and be able to maneuver it easily. Measure the length and width of the room.
  3. Measure the height of the walls. Most homes have a standard-sized height for ceilings which is around 8 feet, but your ceiling may be higher or lower. This is a helpful measurement when you want to bring in taller pieces such as bookshelves or armoires.

Another helpful tip would be to measure all windows, radiators, fireplaces or any other architectural features. For windows, measure the height from the floor, along with the width and total window height. You will need this measurement if you are placing any furniture against the wall with windows.

How to Measure Furniture in the Space You’ve Planned for:

1. Measure your entryways. Use a measuring tape to measure the heights (A) and lengths or widths (B) of any hallways and door accesses, as well as the entry clearance (C).

2. Measure your furniture (or ask a store associate to measure for you).

Sofas: Measure the width (A) and diagonal depth (C). The diagonal depth of the sofa can be determined by first placing a straight edge from the highest point of the back frame (do not include pillows) to the front of the arm. Then, using your measuring tape, measure from the bottom rear corner of the sofa up to the point that bisects the straight edge.

Bookcases, Armoires, etc.: Measure the diagonal height at the widest point (A) and depth C).

Tip! When deciding on a layout for your new furniture, keep in mind where the outlets, light switches, vents, and thermostats are in the room. Be sure not to cover these features if you will be accessing them frequently.

This is a guide on how to measure and does not guarantee your furniture purchase will fit.

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