Fit Matters: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Measuring for New Furniture
Designing a room from scratch is always an exciting prospect—it's a chance to express your style and reimagine how you want to live in the space. While fabric swatches and colour palettes might catch your eye first, the most successful interiors begin with practical planning.
Before making any purchases, it’s essential to consider how the room functions, how you’ll move through it, and whether each piece of furniture can fit and perform comfortably in the space. The key is accurate measurement and thoughtful layout.
1. Measure the Room First
Start by calculating the length and width of the room, taking note of its overall shape and size. However, it's just as important to pay attention to the details that may affect your furniture placement:
- Radiators
- Plug sockets
- Alcoves or bay windows
- Floor grilles
- Fireplaces or hearths
These architectural features can interrupt a layout or require adjustments in furniture choice or spacing.
2. Test the Layout Before You Commit
Not sure where to place a sofa or dining table? Try making paper or newspaper templates of your furniture and laying them on the floor. This helps visualise how the pieces will fit and flow within the space.
- If there’s too much open floor space, consider sizing up furniture for a more grounded, balanced look.
- If space feels tight or crowded, opt for more compact pieces, multi-functional designs, or consider leaving something out altogether.
3. Leave Enough Space for Movement
Falling in love with a grand dining table or statement sofa is easy—but ensuring it fits comfortably into your space is key to a successful room layout.
As a general guideline, allow for at least 50cm of clearance between larger furniture pieces to ensure comfortable movement. The only exceptions are items like side tables, which are designed to sit directly beside beds, sofas, or armchairs.
Dining Areas
- Leave at least 50cm of space between the back of your dining chairs and the wall. This allows people to pull out their chairs and stand up with ease.
- If your dining room feels tight, consider opting for benches or armless chairs, which can be tucked in more easily when not in use.
Hallways & High-Traffic Areas
- In narrow spaces, such as corridors or entranceways, leave a minimum of 80cm between furniture and walkways. Any less, and the space will feel restricted or uncomfortable to navigate.
Living Rooms & Viewing Distance
- For optimal TV viewing, measure the diagonal size of your television and multiply it by 1.5 to 3.
For example, with a 40-inch screen, your sofa should ideally be placed between 5 to 7 feet away.
- This helps maintain comfortable viewing angles without straining your eyes—or feeling too far removed from the action.
4. Consider Your Ceiling Heights
Ceiling height can make or break the proportions of a room—and impact how your furniture fits and feels. To avoid overwhelming the space or choosing a piece that physically doesn’t fit, always measure your ceiling height first.
- Leave a 20–30cm gap between the top of tall furniture (like wardrobes or bookcases) and the ceiling. This helps the room feel spacious and prevents the piece from visually dominating the space.
- If your home features cornicing, be sure to measure to the bottom of the cornice, not the ceiling itself. This ensures taller pieces can sit flush against the wall without obstruction.
In rooms with sloped or pitched ceilings, measure to the lowest point to ensure that furniture—especially shelving, wardrobes or headboards—will fit comfortably beneath the angle.
5. Make Sure Your Furniture Fits Through the Door
You’ve measured the room, selected the perfect piece—and now it’s time to make sure it can get there. Measuring your doorways, hallways, and access routes is essential to ensure a smooth delivery. After all, if it won’t fit through the door, it won’t make it into the room.
Don’t Forget the Journey In
- Consider hallways, staircases, landings, and any tight corners the item will need to pass through.
If you live in a building with a lift, check its interior size and door clearance as well.
6. Delivery Access
You’ve found the perfect piece—now make sure it gets into your home smoothly. Measuring for delivery is just as important as measuring your room, especially for larger or more structured items like sofas, wardrobes, and bed frames.
Check the Access Route
Before finalising your order, consider every step the item will need to take to reach its final position:
- Front Door Width & Height – Measure the doorway and ensure it opens wide enough to accommodate the item, especially if it has a fixed frame.
- Hallways, Staircases & Landings – Check for tight corners, low ceilings, or banisters that might restrict movement.
- Lift Dimensions (if applicable) – Measure internal lift dimensions and door clearances to confirm larger items will fit if you're not on the ground floor.
- Internal Doorways – Make sure internal door frames are wide and tall enough to allow smooth passage.
Tip for Sofas & Large Items
Always compare the widest and tallest points of the item (arms, legs, backrests) with your narrowest access points. If necessary, choose pieces with modular designs or removable legs/cushions to make delivery easier.
Let the Fun Begin
Once you’ve measured your space and mapped out your layout, the real design work can begin. Whether you’re reimagining a single room or furnishing an entire home, our team is here to help.
Broxle. British craftsmanship. Bespoke for you.
Feeling overwhelmed? Reach out to one of our Broxle interior designers—we’re happy to offer guidance and help bring your vision to life, no matter the size of your project. For custom projects, made-to-order inquiries, or bespoke creations, our team is here to help.
Contact us at hello@broxle.com >