Before you get in touch about fitted furniture, it helps to know roughly how much space you have. A few measurements let you think about what might fit, compare ideas and explain what you want. They don’t need to be perfect.
The final measurements for making the furniture are taken by us at the design visit. Furniture made in a workshop has to fit closely, and rooms in older houses are rarely square. This guide shows how to measure a room for planning, what to note down, and the one measurement people often forget.
What you’ll need
A steel tape measure is best, ideally one long enough to cover the width of the room. A notepad, a pencil and a phone camera help too. If you can, have someone hold the other end of the tape. Write measurements down as you go, and say which unit you used.
Measure in more than one place
Walls in older houses are rarely flat and floors are often out of level, so one measurement can mislead. For each space:
- Width: measure at the bottom, the middle and the top. Note the smallest.
- Height: measure at both ends and the middle. Ceilings dip.
- Depth: for an alcove, measure from the back wall to the front of the chimney breast at the top and bottom.
Differences between these measurements are normal. Fitted furniture is scribed to the wall and levelled to deal with them. See fitting furniture to uneven walls and floors.
Note what’s on the walls
A sketch of each wall with its features is often more useful than numbers on their own. Mark where these are and how far they are from the corners and floor:
- sockets, switches and light fittings
- radiators and their pipes
- windows, window boards and shutters
- doors and which way they open
- skirting boards, picture rails, cornices and coving
- meters, fuse boards, boilers and access hatches.
Meters and fuse boards must stay accessible, and boilers need the clearances in the manufacturer’s instructions. See cupboards for boilers, meters and fuse boards.
Thinking about fitted furniture? We design, make and fit it across London: we visit, measure and talk through the design, then send a written quote. Arrange a design visit.
Measure the route, not just the room
This is the measurement people most often forget. Furniture made in our workshop is made in sections sized to get from the van to the room. That means it must pass through the front door, along the hallway, up the stairs, round the landings, into any lift and through the room door.
Note the narrowest point on the way: a tight turn on the stairs, a low ceiling on a landing, or a small lift in a mansion block. Photos of the stairs and landings are very helpful.
Take photos
Photos of each wall, the corners, the ceiling line and the floor give a lot of information quickly. Stand back to show the whole wall, then take close-ups of awkward details like a cornice or a pipe. You can share them when you get in touch through our contact form.
Why we measure again
At the design visit we measure the room ourselves, check the walls and floor, and talk through the design. These are the measurements the furniture is made from. Your measurements help us both start the conversation with a clear idea of the space. See what happens at a design visit.
Quick answers
Do I need exact measurements before I get in touch?
No. Rough measurements and photos help, but we measure the room ourselves at the design visit.
Why measure in more than one place?
Walls, floors and ceilings in older houses are often out of true, so one measurement can be misleading.
What if the furniture won’t fit up my stairs?
Furniture is made in sections sized for the route. That’s why we measure the stairs, landings and doors as well as the room.
Should I measure around the skirting boards?
Note where they are and how tall they are. We’ll decide at the design visit whether units go around them or the skirting is refitted.
Related services
More advice
- What Happens at a Design Visit
- Fitting Furniture to Uneven Walls and Floors
- Getting Your Room Ready for Fitting Day
- Cupboards for Boilers, Meters and Fuse Boards
- All advice
This guide is general information about fitted furniture. It isn’t legal, planning or building advice; for those, speak to the council, your landlord or managing agent, or a suitably qualified professional.