OKA'S MEASURING UP FOR FURNITURE GUIDE
MEASURING UP TIPS
So here you are: with the blank canvas of an empty room before you. The place to
start is with a few measurements. Proportions are everything in a space, it’s vital
that you can move through it easily and that there is sufficient space for
your furniture to function as it should.
USE NEWSPAPER TEMPLATES
Make 2D templates of your chosen furniture by taping together some sheets of newspaper. Lay them on the floor and move them around - consider how they work together. If you are left with a lot of empty floor then you might need to scale things up, if there’s barely any floor left then you might want to reconsider sizes or leave something out.
ENSURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FREE SPACE
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As a general rule allow at least 50cm space from one piece of furniture to the next (the exception being side tables which usually sit right next to the bed, sofa or chair).
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When placing chairs around a dining table make sure that you have at least 50cm space between the back of the chair and any walls, this will give you enough space to move the chair back and get up.
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When placing furniture in a hall or passageway ensure that you have at least 80cm free space left to allow easy movement through it. Any less will feel cramped and uncomfortable.
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DON'T
FORGET
CEILING
HEIGHTS
Keep an eye on ceiling height. You should ideally have at least 20-30cm of free space above any tall piece of furniture – this will ensure a feeling of space in a room. If you have cornices measure to the bottom of the cornice to establish your ceiling height (otherwise taller pieces such as bookcases might not sit flush against the wall). Be wary of sloping ceilings - always measure to the lowest point.
THE OPTIMAL
DISTANCE
BETWEEN
YOUR SOFA
AND TV
To figure out the optimal distance between your sofa and your television, measure the diagonal of your television screen. Your sofa should be between 1.5 and 3 times this distance away. For example if you have a 40” screen, your sofa should be between 5’ and 7’ away.
MEASURE
WINDOW
HEIGHTS
Think about sitting a desk under a window with an inspiring view. Be sure to measure the drop from the bottom of the window to the floor to check that the proposed desk will fit.
MEASURE YOUR DOORWAY
Finally, be sure to check the dimensions of your doorways so you can be sure that your proposed furniture will fit through.