How to measure a room for furniture
A useful furniture plan begins with a few careful measurements. Collect these before moving furniture, then use the same units throughout your sketch.
1. Sketch the fixed parts first
Draw a rough outline on paper and label each wall A, B, C and so on. Mark doors, windows, alcoves, radiators, columns and anything you cannot move. The sketch does not need to be to scale yet: its job is to keep each measurement attached to the correct wall.
For a rectangular room, record its length and width. For an L-shaped room, measure each wall segment and the depth of the recess. A single overall width and depth cannot describe the notch. If two walls appear parallel, check rather than assuming they are identical.
2. Measure usable space
Measure between the finished surfaces that the furniture must fit between. Note skirting boards, projecting trim and radiators separately if they reduce that space. Record the units next to every number. Keep the original measured values instead of rounding everything to a convenient whole number.
Check awkward or tight measurements a second time. Furniture product dimensions may exclude handles, open doors or extended parts; use the full dimensions of the version you actually own or plan to buy.
3. Use this measurement checklist
Print this page and fill the last column, or keep the same list in your notes.
| Record | Why it matters | Your measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Every wall segment | Defines the outline, including recesses | ________ |
| Door opening and distance from corner | Locates the entrance and the door swing | ________ |
| Window width, position and sill height | Helps check access, furniture height and obstructions | ________ |
| Radiators, columns and fixed cabinets | Reduces the usable footprint | ________ |
| Furniture width and depth | Sets the piece's footprint | ________ |
| Furniture height and open-door depth | Checks details a top-down footprint cannot show | ________ |
| Delivery route and tight turns | A piece can fit in a room yet fail to fit through the entrance | ________ |
4. Enter the footprint in RoomFit
Open the room planner, choose a room, and open Room editor. Choose the shape and enter width and depth. Select metres or feet under More. For an irregular outline, choose Custom outline and Redraw, then place the corners in order. Do not cross the outline over itself.
Add each large piece of furniture and enter its actual width and depth in Furniture editor. Arrange large items first, then add smaller pieces. The planner accepts overlapping pieces; an overlap is something to check, not proof that the layout works.
5. Check details the plan cannot decide
RoomFit does not currently provide dedicated door, window, height or clearance objects. Keep your measurement sketch beside the plan and check these manually. Test the door swing, access to windows, drawers opening, the route through the room and the delivery path. Account for the needs of the people who will use the space.
Export saves a PNG image of the current view. It does not save an editable backup. The editable plan stays in this browser on this device, even if you log in.
For a worked example using room and furniture measurements, see the small bedroom layout comparison.
Plan with your measurements →