How to measure a room properly

Most layout mistakes trace back to bad measurements. Twenty minutes with a tape measure prevents months of "why doesn’t it fit".

What to measure

Every wall length, door and window openings (including their height and distance from corners), ceiling height, radiator and outlet positions. Sketch the room roughly first, then fill in numbers. Measure twice where it matters — alcoves and wall breaks are where errors hide.

Two tricks that help

Measure at floor level and again at waist height: walls are rarely perfectly vertical. And measure big furniture from the store before buying — listed depth rarely includes handles and legs.

Frequently asked questions