4 Tips for Measuring Furniture and Avoiding Space Disasters
Avoiding furniture mishaps is easier than you might think, and this article will show you how. Drawing on expert insights, we'll explore practical tips for measuring your space and furniture effectively. From considering access points to using digital tools and simple mock-ups, these strategies will help you create a perfectly fitted living space.
- Measure Access Points, Not Just Rooms
- Use Digital Tools for Precise Planning
- Mock Up Furniture with Newspaper
- Measure Twice, Buy Once for Perfect Fit
Measure Access Points, Not Just Rooms
My best tip: Don't just measure the room—measure every access point along the way. That includes doorways, hallways, stairs, ceiling height, and especially tight corners. It's not enough for the furniture to fit in the space—it has to get to the space first.
Here's a personal story: I once fell in love with a large armchair for a reading nook. I measured the room and even the intended spot perfectly. However, thankfully, before purchasing, I double-checked the stairwell and realized the turn at the top had less clearance than the chair's diagonal height. Disaster averted. Instead, I found a similarly sized chair that came in two pieces and could be assembled upstairs. Had I skipped measuring the route, I would have been stuck with a beautiful chair that never made it past the first floor.
Use painter's tape to outline the footprint of furniture on the floor, and cardboard to test bulkier shapes. It's a simple, visual way to prevent expensive mistakes.
Use Digital Tools for Precise Planning
When I moved into my new space, I knew I wanted everything to be just right. No guesswork and no surprises. So before buying any furniture, I took out a measuring tape and recorded the height, width, and depth of each item I was considering. But the real game-changer? I used a 2D/3D floor planning tool to virtually place each piece in the room using the exact measurements I had taken.
I went a step further and measured the location of every wall socket, thermostat, and light switch. That way, I could ensure that nothing important would be blocked and every outlet stayed accessible. Once everything was plotted out in the digital model, I knew with complete confidence that it would all fit.
That extra hour of measuring saved me from a potentially expensive disaster, like realizing the couch would block an outlet I needed for my lamp or that the closet door wouldn't fully open. My best tip: don't just measure the furniture; measure your room's quirks too. Taking the time to model it all out helped me avoid stress and extra costs, and I've never had to rearrange anything since.
Mock Up Furniture with Newspaper
When it comes to buying furniture, nothing is quite as disappointing as falling in love with a piece—only to discover it doesn't fit through your door, overwhelms the room, or leaves you awkwardly sidestepping around it. That's why my best tip for measuring furniture is simple: mock it up before you buy. And believe it or not, your Sunday newspaper might just be the most underrated design tool you own.
While 2D and 3D room planning tools are incredibly helpful, and many furniture stores offer complimentary room design services with digital renderings that can provide a helpful overview, nothing beats physically seeing how a piece will fit in your space, even with detailed floor plans.
That's where the newspaper trick comes in.
Grab a stack of newspapers and lay them out on your floor to match the exact dimensions of the furniture you're considering. Want to know how that new sectional will feel in your living room? Create a paper version of it. Thinking about swapping out your dining table? Map it out with the paper—and don't forget to include space for chairs and walking clearance.
I once worked with a client who had their heart set on a gorgeous oversized leather sectional. On paper, it technically "fit" the room—but when we laid out the shape with newspaper, it became immediately clear that it would overwhelm the space and block access to the sliding door. Disaster avoided. We found a slightly smaller configuration that offered the same comfort without crowding the room, and everyone was satisfied.
The beauty of this old-school method is that it gives you a true sense of scale—how you'll move around the piece, how close it is to walls or other furniture, and whether it will visually dominate the space.
So the next time you're considering a new piece of furniture, skip the guesswork (and save the litter box liners for later). Break out the newspaper and make it real. Your room—and your back—will thank you.
Measure Twice, Buy Once for Perfect Fit
My best tip for measuring furniture or any item to ensure it fits your space is to always measure carefully and multiple times before making a purchase. Use a tape measure to get the exact length and width of the area where the item will go. Then, visualize or even mark the space on the floor with painter's tape to get a real sense of how it will fit alongside existing furniture and room features.
For example, in my carpet business, this step is absolutely crucial. I remember one client who wanted a large carpet for their living room. By measuring the room precisely and checking furniture placement beforehand, we avoided ordering a carpet that would have been too big and crowded the space. This careful measuring saved the client from a costly return and a frustrating installation.
Taking the time to measure well might seem simple, but it really prevents big headaches and ensures your purchase fits perfectly the first time.
