Preparation:

What do you need to measure a room?

You can choose from one of the following tools:

– Laser Distance Meter:

Laser distance measurement (LDM is a method of measuring distances without physical contact by using a laser beam that reflects off a target and returns to a detector1234. The device calculates the distance based on the time it takes for the light to travel back and forth24. LDM devices can measure distances from a few millimetres to hundreds of meters with high accuracy, speed, and sensitivity.

– Mechanical Tape Measure:

The other type of tool you can use is the mechanical tape measure. It has a lock and spring mechanism. The lock button behaves to stop the tape from retracting when you extend it. The spring mechanism plays as the automatic roller to retract the tape. You need to place the metal part to the start of the wall and pull the tape out placing the bigger part to the end of the wall.

– Traditional or Sewing Measuring Tape:

This type is made of a soft material which makes it easy to roll it up tightly saving space. It is a great thing however for measuring a room it is not the most effective one. For a longer distance then the tape itself (usually one meter) like walls for instance it is difficult to use as you need to mark it after the meters. However, for everything smaller than a meter like a chair leg, it is useful to have.

– iPhone and Android Measuring:

Many applications offer you now the possibility to measure distance with the application. 105 systems have them built in it is called the Measure, which is on every single iPhone just as Health. In these apps you aim the target on your phone to the beginning of the object and move the phone along and then click again at the end point of the object. In the middle you will see the distance which of you are able to make screenshots.

Good to know basics:

Purpose:

So, our goal here is to create a basic floor map which you can easily send to your interior e-designer, or you can create your layouts with. It can be very useful when you buy a new piece, when you try to repurpose a room, it can help in an event of decoration or renovation as you can keep it as reference for the decorator.

Scale:

How precise it must be it is completely up to you. You can use a scale ruler or for first it is actually much easier way to use grid or dotted pages and set up a scale what fits your needs.

For example: 2 squares are equality of 1 meter, 8 squares are 4 meters, 16 squares are 8 meters

Step 1

Get the outline right

Firstly, we are going to have the shape of the room and the length of the walls right. As I mentioned before the best tools for walls is the laser distance meter. If you have a sense of how the shape of the room is, you can try to draw a light sketch of it and finalise the exact details later.

If you do not have an exact idea about the room because the shape is too difficult, try to pick corner and go from there clockwise or anticlockwise whichever you prefer. If you have the sketch, you can add the details on the rough first try.

When you know the start point and the direction you can measure the walls one by one till you get back to the start point. Write down the length of the walls either in millimetre or in meter (1000 mm = 1 m) straight next to the on your drawing. Keep the same m/mm through the whole process to make it easier.

Step 2

Secondly, we need the details of the fittings which cannot be moved or removed such as windows, doors, or power outlets. To measure this depending on the size mechanical and traditional tapes are the best. Remember if you can measure it alone as it is less then a meter you can use the traditional tape measure if it is longer, it is wise to use the mechanical as it is firm, and you can manage to extend it even alone.

What kind of fittings are there? Windows, doors, switches, electricity outlets, radiators, ventilation hatches, wall skirting, any kind of wall decorations, unusual wall parts.

If something has an unusual shape always measure the part separately as well what is sticking out/ reaching into an unusual shape.

Step 3

Thirdly, we need to measure the heavy furniture. Every object has three dimensions we need to think about. Width, length, and depth. The classic order when you see a measurement on an online shop (for example 10×20×30) is ‘Length x Width x Height’ or ‘LxWxH for short. When vou measure a sofa for example is best to pick a corner and start from there.

Do vou need all three dimensions in every case? Not in every case no. For instance, if you are craving for a new coffee table which is not an extremely high piece of furniture and all you are interested in is which side of an opened sofa would it fit the best you might only need the lengths and the width but not necessarily the hight.

In the other hand if you need fit a floating shelf above a desk next to a wardrobe you need measurements of the hight of the wardrobe and the desk as well.

Step 4

Now we can move to smaller furniture like lamps, rugs, chairs, heaters, stands, art pieces like sculptures and so on.

Do you always need to measure these? Again, depends on. If you need to plan to place a monitor on the desk you might need to consider the objects already placed on the desk so in that case the measuring of the relatively smaller objects is useful. in the case of placing a wardrobe into an already furnished room you do not necessarily need to know the size of the vase on your coffee table.

Step 5

Amazing so now we have all the measurements but what do we do with it? We need to draw our floor plan to start with.

To do that we need only one more thing to do and that is the distance between the objects or the distance of it from the wall. All you need is pick a particular point like a power outlet or the corner of the sofa and measure the distance between that and the object you would like to place on your floor map.

Finishing up!

Now vou have everything you need you can play around with it!

In my advice have one floor plan as a starting point, then make a copy with only the walls. For this floor plan you can draw the furniture on a separate piece of paper and cut them out. On this way it will be easy to play around with the possible layouts or removing and placing new furniture.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, do not hesitate to get in touch in case you need help with your interior design or have any questions at all.

Loads of love

Gabriella

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