Measuring rooms for a decorating project might seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple. Accurate measurements are crucial for creating a furniture plan that works. Here’s how to do it:
Why Measure?
When planning to decorate a room, measuring the space helps you choose items that fit well. While it’s not necessary for small changes like bed linens or drapery, it’s essential for new furniture, artwork, and window furnishings. A floor plan and wall view sketches (elevations) are invaluable tools for making the rest of the project easier.
How to Measure
Tools Needed: Tape measure, paper, pencil, and possibly a helper. Graph/lined paper would also be helpful.
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Sketch the Layout: Roughly sketch the room’s existing layout, including windows, doors, closets, built-in lighting fixtures, radiators, and electrical outlets. Perfection isn’t necessary, but add room labels (i.e. HALLWAY TO PRIMARY BEDROOM, KITCHEN NOOK, LIVING ROOM CLOSET, ETC.)
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Measure Walls: Measure each wall from corner to corner and record the measurements in feet and inches (e.g., 5’-6”) or just inches (e.g., 122″). It’s often easiest to place the tape measure on the floor. Measure the ceiling height and note it on the sketch.
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Measure Features: Record the location and size of each door, window, closet, built-in lighting fixture, and radiator. Measure doors from the floor to the top, and windows from the floor to the bottom and from the bottom to the top.
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Create Wall Elevations: Lightly sketch each wall, including doors, windows, closets, and radiators. Measure and record each feature’s dimensions. These aren’t always necessary, but are helpful when art is being sourced/placed.
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Redraw if Necessary: If the drawing is too messy, redraw it for clarity. These drawings will be invaluable when shopping for furnishings.
Additional Tips
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Measure Existing Furniture: If you plan to keep any furniture, measure it and note it somewhere on your sketches. This ensures new pieces will work with existing ones and helps in creating a new layout.
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Save Your Sketches: Scan and save your sketches on your computer for safekeeping and easy viewing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Not Measuring Twice: Always double-check your measurements to ensure accuracy.
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Ignoring Ceiling Height: Ceiling height can impact furniture choices, especially for tall items like bookshelves.
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Forgetting About Door Swings: Make sure to account for the space needed for doors to open fully.
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Overlooking Electrical Outlets: Knowing where outlets are can help in planning the placement of electronics and lighting.
Measuring your room first makes decorating projects much easier. With accurate sketches, you can see how large a wall is, how much space is between a window and the end of a wall, and more. You’ll know if that dresser or art print will fit perfectly. If measuring seems too hard, consider hiring a professional. It’s worth it, especially for large rooms or when starting from scratch.
Was this post helpful? Have an additional questions? Will you be measuring your rooms for future projects? Let me know comment below!
Till next time,
This would have been helpful when we redid our living room! I’ll pin this post for when we work on the bedrooms!!
Jamie@ They Call Me A Hippie recently posted…When You Can’t Find the Words to Write
Thanks Jamie! Let me know if you have any specific questions, and I’ll help you through it!
Whitney
These are great tips. Thanks for sharing them. I really like the idea of scanning it to the computer for future use. I like to take notes on my stuff, so sometimes I need a clean slate, and to not have to redraw everything would be a great idea. PINning! 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai recently posted…Which Gilmore Girls Character Are You?
Thanks Lorelai!!! Scanning your sketches on your computer, let’s you have them for later. So, if you add notes that you don’t need later, you can always print out an extra copy of the sketches that you scanned before adding the notes.
Whitney
No wonder nothing ever works when I try it…I’ve been going about it all wrong! Thank you for this!!!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication recently posted…A Trip to HomeGoods
Thanks Kristen! 🙂 I don’t think that there’s a right or wrong way to actually take the measurement, but I do find that this is an easier, more efficient way to get a workable sketch/floor plan. Let me know if you need any help with any of it!
Whitney
I remember in design school being taught this, my dh will not go for it. We shove furniture around and around.
I might send him to your site 🙂
Dawn ~ Spatulas On Parade recently posted…TOP 3 from week 19
Lol, Dawn! I use to do that, too, but trust me, by having a sketch with the measurements on it, you’ll won’t have to move furniture aimlessly around a room again.
Whitney
It reminds me of moving. I always like to measure the whole new place and plan it before the move – it is the fun part.
Anna @ Northern Homestead recently posted…How to freeze raspberries
That’s a great idea!
Whitney
That’s the one thing I hate measuring I get a man to do it or it won’t get done lol. Great tips maybe if I measured more my house would be decorated but alas its not
🙂 Kita, it’s really easy if you have someone to help you! You can even do it in stages. You can do the quick sketch one day. And then start the measuring when you get someone to help you!
Whitney
I honestly never thought to actually draw a sketch of the room and then measure everything. When we moved into the place we are in right now, I did some extreme guessing. It worked in the long run, but you are right, if the room was much larger, I could have ended up needing to return things because something didn’t fit. I shared this on Pinterest with Twitter for you! I’m sure I will need this reminder in the future! 🙂
Thanks for sharing Brittnei! I really appreciate it! I’m glad I could inspire your next project, and you’re right, guessing (and trial & error) could work for small rooms, but larger rooms need a bit more planning. I could tell you from experience, though, that measuring could even same time for your smaller rooms.
Another thing you could do is measure ALL your rooms a little at a time when you don’t have decorating plans. This way you can store your sketches for the time when you are ready to decorate.
Whitney
Hi Whitney, I’m stopping over from the blog hop, I’m a feature sponsor this month too 🙂 What a detailed post – it gave me slight knot in my stomach thinking about having to go through all of this when we move at the end of the year. I’m glad I’ve found your website! xoxox
Vanisha’s Life in…Australia recently posted…{My Style} In Different Light
Thanks for stopping by Vanisha! I’m on my way over to yours now!
Whitney
Incredible post!!! You have given your readers great facts on the space measuring. As many people neglect this aspect of measuring and when it comes to store some new things they get into trouble. But your tips gonna really helpful for everyone. I am also inspired by you so much and I will use all your tips in my office decoration project.
Carol Hardin recently posted…Our New Self Storage Site Opens in Canterbury
Thanks, Carol!!
Great tips! We are doing some redecorating now, so I can definitely use this.
Michelle recently posted…Orange Zucchini Bread Recipe
Thanks Michelle! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Whitney
Found you through A lovely blog hop. Great tips! 🙂
Thanks Maryam!
You have a wonderful blog!! I’m your newest Bloglovin follower from the “Lovely“ blog hop – this is my blog if you wanted to follow back: http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/
Thanks
Angie
PS – I would also like to invite you to a networking blog hop that lasts 1 month long: “The Chain Linky CLIMB” currently live on my blog– Thank you! http://www.godsgrowinggarden.com/2013/07/august-chain-linky-climb.html
Angie recently posted…Peach Paradise Squares
Hey Angie!!
I’m on my way to follow your blog now, and check out your blog hop! Thanks for stopping by!
Whitney