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Before You Shop: Measure!

When considering new furniture, it’s important to understand how to measure furniture as well as the space it is going in. Not only to get the right size for your room, but to ensure that delivery and installation go smoothly! Read our easy-to-follow tips and must-know measurements below so you have all the tricks!  There’s nothing worse than realizing you have bought something that won’t fit through the door!!


How to Measure Furniture

If you are looking to replace furniture in your home, it's essential to know the measurements of your old furniture so you can be confident your new pieces will fit in the same space. When considering how to measure furniture, it is important to acknowledge the type of furniture you are measuring. Be sure to measure the length, width, and height of all furniture pieces. Measure the dimensions of the room as well as the specific area where you would like to put the furniture. Use painter's tape to map out the dimensions on the floor to see how it will fit in your space. Make sure you have plenty of room to walk around!

Measuring a Sofa

Measure the width, height, depth, and diagonal depth of the sofa you are replacing. Use these measurements as a reference for your new furniture so you can be confident it will fit your space. Some sofas and sectionals can be moved in pieces, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s dimensions and instructions in case this is true for you.

For similar pieces like accent chairs or desks, you will also want to measure width, height, depth, and diagonal depth

Overall Length: The combined measurement of both the right-hand (or left-hand) loveseat and the corner chair. The overall length of a sectional sofa is usually between 94” and 156” (or between about 8’ and 13’) long.

Overall Width: The total measurement of all the components along the back of the sofa. In the illustration, the components are the left-hand chaise, the armless loveseat in the middle, and the corner chair on the right side. The overall width of a sectional sofa is usually longer than the overall length and tends to fall between 94” and 168” wide.

Other Measurements: The measurements on the interior sides of the sectional as shown in the illustration are important if you are considering pairing your sectional with a coffee table or ottoman.

Measuring a Sectional Sofa

Measure Your Space

Measure your living room or space for a sectional sofa, using a tape measure to measure the length, width, and height of the room. These measurements will be a baseline for what size sectional will comfortably fit in your space.

Tape the Area

Choose the spot you’d like to place the sectional. It should be wide open and away from high-traffic areas; you don’t want the sectional to obstruct the natural flow through your home. Remember to leave a few inches for outlet access if necessary.

Mark the area you picked out on the floor with masking tape or painter's tape. By taping off the space you can realistically visualize how much space the sectional will occupy in the room. You can remove and re-tape areas as many spots as you like until you’re satisfied with the size and position and feel.

Measure the Area

Use the measurements of the marked area. You may not find a sectional with those exact dimensions, or you may find the sectional you selected will not fit very well but this will provide a general guideline to help you narrow down your options.

Tip!

Think ahead! You may want to rearrange your room in the future, measure for multiple placements to ensure that your sectional can fit comfortably arrangements.

Measuring a Bookcase

Taller pieces of furniture, like a bookcases, cabinets, or armoires need to be measured by the width, height, depth and diagonal height (from the bottom left corner to the top right corner).

 

Measuring for New Furniture

If you are looking to add new furniture to your space instead of replacing an old piece, use a tape measure to measure the room where you will place your new furniture.

 

How to Measure for Furniture Delivery

Consider Entry Options

Determine which entrance to your home has the easiest access for delivery. Consider entrances with larger clearances, such as patios, garage doors, and even large windows. If you live in an apartment or condo building, check to see if you have access to a service entrance.

 

Tip!

Be sure to account for any immovable objects in your path, including fire sprinklers, angled or low ceilings, handrails, and more.

 

How to Measure Your Home

 

Doorways & Hallways

Measure the height and width of doorways and hallways. Account for handrails, doorknobs, trim, and hinges that can't be removed and include them in your measurements. Measure the entry clearance of all doors (the space between the door and the nearest wall or immovable object) if applicable. Keep in mind, interior doors can be removed and reattached if necessary and usually quite simply.

 

Stairways

Measuring the width of the stairway. Include any handrails in the measurements if you will not be removing them. Measure the width and depth of any landings. If the top or bottom of the stairway leads to a wall instead of an open room, measure the distance from the stairs to the wall. Finally, measure the ceiling height in three locations:

  1. From bottom step to ceiling.
  2. From landings to ceiling (if applicable).
  3. From top step to ceiling.
     

    Elevators

    If you need to use an elevator during delivery of your furniture, measure it as well. Measure the height and depth of the elevator door as well as the interior height, width, and depth. Also measure diagonally from the bottom center of the door opening to the back ceiling. Account for handrails and lights within the elevator, as they will not be removed and can lessen the amount of space by several valuable inches.

     

    Tip!

    When deciding on the layout of your new furniture, be mindful of where the outlets, light switches, vents, and thermostats are in the room. Do not to cover these features if you need to access them frequently.

     

    Compare Your Measurements

    The width and height of your furniture piece should be less than the widths and heights of the doorways and hallways in your home. Allow at approximately 4" of space between your furniture and the doorways and hallways. This will ensure you have enough of space to move your furniture safely and comfortably without damage.

     

    Tip!

    Make note of the items in the path of your furniture delivery: light fixtures, railings, wall art, area rugs, and more. Be sure to remove any of these common obstacles before your delivery arrives.

     

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