At La-Z-Boy South Texas, we consider buying furniture to be more than just a purchase. It is an investment that requires attention to detail, and sometimes the most basic details can be forgotten!
One of the most important details to know before purchasing that new black leather reclining sectional or the loveseat with chaise is the size and dimensions of your living area. Not only does this affect the size of the furniture you can buy, but it also affects other factors such as where you put other accessories, like a coffee table, ottoman, and TV.
Of course, measuring the space you plan to put the furniture in is crucial in deciding what size furniture you can have. However, there are other important measurements to take into consideration before deciding what size furniture to buy. For example, can the furniture fit through your front door? What about the entry point to your living room, bedroom, or dining room?
Making sure you get the correct measurements of all entry points to the room is an important step in making sure you buy the right furniture for your room. Today, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide for how to measure your room and all access points to ensure you are buying the right furniture for you.
The first step in deciding what furniture is right for you is to make sure you have the measurements of the room accurately taken. While this process may sound a little daunting, we intend to simplify the process by walking through the steps right now!
The most important tool you need to measure your room is a tape measure. Ensure that the tape measure you have measures up to 25 feet and is sturdy so there is no slack or bend in the tape. Dressmakers tape measures are not recommended as they can easily and inadvertently be stretched, which will provide inaccurate measurements.
A laser measuring tool is recommended for a quick and accurate measurement, but it is not required.
If you have a notebook and a pencil handy, jotting down a sketch of the measurements so you don’t forget is recommended as well. This will ensure that you remember the measurements when you come into the store to buy the furniture.
If you have another person in your household, a nearby family member, or a friend, having them assist you when taking measurements is recommended as well. If you have a lot of furniture or accessories such as a coffee table or end table in the way, or just need somebody to hold one end of the tape measure, at least two people are recommended when measuring the space of your living area.
Whether you intend to put the furniture up against the wall or close to it, measuring the wall closest to where your furniture will be is critical.
To start, begin at either end of the wall and put the toggle of the measuring tape into the very corner edge of the wall. Measure along the entire wall until you reach the other corner.
Be sure to also measure the diagonal width of the wall as well. If you do not have a helper, it may be easier to measure along the floor instead in the same manner as you would the wall.
After getting accurate measurements of both width and height, it is best practice to record your measurements. If you prefer to sketch the dimensions, writing them down on your sketch journal or paper is encouraged. You can also record the measurements on your phone, as long as you have them in a safe note file.
After you have taken your measurements of the first wall, repeat this process to ensure you have the measurements of every wall in the room.
Since every room is set up differently, it is important to log measurements of every detail of the room you intend to put the furniture in. Oftentimes, windows and doors have more of an effect on the furniture placement than one may think.
If you are creating a sketch, make sure to clearly indicate where the doors and windows are in your room. It will also be important to sketch the swing span of the door, including how wide the door gets when swung open, and where the handle is when wide open. These sketches will significantly help a design consultant when you come into a furniture store.
It is important to note that when measuring the size of a door entryway, measuring from the bottom corner to the top corner is best practice if you need to tilt the furniture (ex. Bottom left corner to top right corner).
When measuring windows and doors, you will need to get 2 separate measurements. The first measurement you need will be with the trim of the door or window. Next, you will need to get the measurements without the trim. Having two separate measurements with and without the trim is important because trim on either doors or windows can impact furniture placement and your ability to get the furniture into the room.
Make sure that you measure the distance between the floor and the top of the door trim and the floor and the bottom of the window trim. It is also important to get the measurement of the distance between the ceiling and the top of the door and window trim. This is a crucial step to ensure that neither the windows nor doors in your room impede the placement of the furniture.
Now that you have measured and documented the size and dimensions of your room, it can be easy to forget about documenting some of the existing features that are already in your room. Here are some features you will want to note about your room:
While it is not necessary to measure every single one of these features, it will be important to measure larger fixtures, such as a fireplace or a TV, to ensure that they will not impede the size of the furniture.
Measuring furniture before you purchase it is another key piece to finding the right furniture. We will quickly walk you through the steps of how to properly measure furniture now:
Step #1: Measure the width of your sofa, recliner, sectional, or other piece from arm to arm. It is important to make sure you are logging measurements at the widest points of the furniture.
Step #2: Measure from the highest point of the furniture to the lowest point of the furniture. Be sure to disregard pillows or cushions that can be removed from the furniture if those are the highest points.
Step #3: Measure the depth of the sofa by placing your tape measure toggle on the outside edge of one of the seats all the way to the back of the seat.
Step #4: To get the diagonal depth of the furniture, place the toggle of the tape measure at the highest point of the back frame to the front of the arm.
It is important to note that there are universal measurements on standard furniture. Here are some examples of standard measurements:
In addition, La-Z-Boy South Texas also has all the measurements on every single piece of furniture on our product page.
After measuring the dimensions of the room you intend to put the furniture in, it is important to make sure that the furniture can even make it into the room!
Measuring the clearance from your hallway is important to have before deciding which furniture is right for you. This will ensure that hauling the furniture inside will not chip or hit any of the walls and can be easily maneuvered.
Ensure that you measure the height and width of the room’s entrance to the furthest wall. If the entryway clearance exceeds the furniture’s width, you or the delivery team can haul it horizontally, which is a far easier and smoother process. If the entryway clearance is tighter than the furniture’s width, it will need to be moved vertically or diagonally. This makes the distance between the floor and the entryway tip an important measurement to document.
Whether you plan to move the furniture yourself or you intend to have it delivered, recording the measurements of the delivery path is pivotal. Whether you plan to bring the furniture inside from the front, back, side, or garage door, these measurements will dictate whether the furniture is right for you or not.
When measuring the points of entry of your delivery path, be sure to apply the same measurement style we have discussed throughout this article. This includes stairways and elevators if applicable.
In addition, be sure to note all of the potential obstacles along the way as well. Items such as cars, benches, chairs, or boxes that can be moved should be moved prior to the process. Taking these steps before the delivery day will ensure that when the day comes that you get that beautiful blue sleeper sofa, it will be as easy and safe as possible.
*Additional Tip* When choosing which furniture piece is right for you, the best practice will be to ensure the furniture you choose is at least 4 inches less than the passage measurements. This will ensure safety and ease when the delivery process comes.
After reading this article, you now have a much better understanding of how to properly measure your room and entry points to ensure that you are buying the right furniture for your home.
As discussed earlier, it is best practice to log and document your official measurements so you do not have to take them again. If you prefer a visual to look back on, sketching the measurements, or even taking pictures is encouraged to give you a better idea.
If you are still not feeling comfortable with the measurement process or are worried you may miss something, please feel free to meet with one of La-Z-Boy’s interior designers in the South Texas area. Our expert designers will not only guide you through every step of the measurement process, but they will also create a 3D room design to bring your vision into reality!
You can also come into your nearest La-Z-Boy South Texas store to show your dimensions to one of our in-store design consultants if you are comfortable with your own measurements. Our design consultants will be more than happy to help you find the right furniture for your home based on the measurements you provide.
We look forward to helping you create the room of your dreams!