Will Your Furniture Fit in Your New Home? A Measurement Plan for Your House Viewing

A room that appears spacious may not be practical to use with your existing furniture. Wall lengths, door openings and circulation space must all be taken into account. First, measure the actual dimensions of your large items; then transfer these to the floor plan of the prospective property.

Allow for the space required to use the furniture

The depth of a sofa, the doors and drawers of a cupboard, and the space needed to move chairs around a table are all important. Check the manufacturers’ specifications for the connection and servicing requirements of appliances. Do not fill the room completely based solely on the external dimensions of the furniture. Also consider the space needed for people to move around.

Not all wall space is usable

Window sills, radiators, sockets and the space behind doors may restrict placement. If there are alcoves or columns, indicate these on the plan. Instead of guessing from a photograph, carry out a scaled test on paper. If measurements are missing, do not treat this as a definitive result.

Transport route

The building’s entrance door, staircase landings, lift shaft, flat door and corridor must all be checked together. The fact that there is space in the room does not guarantee that the item can be safely moved there. Consult a removal specialist regarding disassembly and transport methods. Find out about the management regulations for work to be carried out in communal areas.

A brief scenario

The desk may fit in front of the window; however, if access to the curtain and the window handle is blocked, daily use becomes difficult. The same desk might be more practical against a different wall. If the wardrobe door cannot be opened whilst next to the bed, the layout may not be suitable even if the total space appears sufficient.

Final measurement check

Ensure it is clear who took the measurements and when. Before commissioning a bespoke piece, have the installation measurements verified by a professional. The floor plan in the advert and a phone enquiry may give an idea, but these should not automatically be taken as definitive order measurements.

The right question begins with ‘Will it fit?’ and ends with ‘Do the doors open and can people move around comfortably?’

Further reading

[Gross square metres or net square metres? You can find further information on this topic in the guide ‘How to read the figures in a property advert’ (https://buybestvilla.com/tr/blog/brut-metrekare-mi-net-metrekare-mi-ilandaki-rakami-dogru-okumak).