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Choosing the right furniture for your home is an exciting process, but it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t prepare ahead of time.
One of the most important steps that homeowners often overlook is measuring the space where the new furniture will go.
Mary Lee Smyth, the interior designer at La-Z-Boy Kingston, says “Without accurate measurements, you could find yourself stuck with a sofa that won’t fit through the front door or a sectional that overpowers your living room.”
In this step-by-step guide, we'll walk you through how to accurately measure your room and your home’s access points to ensure a smooth furniture-buying process.
In This Article…
Before measuring your room, it’s important to understand how furniture dimensions are listed. At La-Z-Boy, furniture dimensions include:
Some pieces, like sectionals or recliners, also have a diagonal depth—a critical measurement for tight spaces or angled entryways.
To measure the diagonal depth, place a ruler from the top-back corner of the frame to the front of the armrest. After that, measure from the bottom rear corner up to where it intersects with the ruler.
Mary Lee says, “If you’re buying online, double-check whether the listed dimensions are for the furniture itself or the packaging. You can contact the store if you’re unsure.”
Before diving into measurements, make sure you have the following:
Mary Lee adds, “The person holding the tape’s toggle end—often called the ‘smart end’—is the one who does all the running!”
To start your measurement process:
Mary Lee says the best way to begin is by starting at the entrance and going along the direction of your wall. “This is a proper technique that should cover every inch of your floor,” she states.
If you're also interested, you can opt to transfer your drawing and measurements to an online 3D room planner. La-Z-Boy has a 3D Room Planner for designers and customers to use for visualizing your space fully.
As you begin at the first wall of your choice, take note of the following:
Positioning the Tape Measure:
Start at one corner of the wall and secure the "smart end" of the tape measure firmly against the joint. Hold the tape tight and straight across the wall to avoid slack. If you’re measuring alone, use painter’s tape or a heavy object to keep the tape in place.
Measure from Corner to Corner:
Stretch the tape across the overall length of the wall and width until you reach the opposite corner. For obstructions like furniture, measure along the baseboards at floor level for accuracy. Repeat the measurement to double-check consistency.
Using a Laser Measuring Tool:
For larger rooms, a laser tool can make long measurements easier. Place the laser flat against one wall, point it at the opposite side (avoiding mirrors or windows), and press the button to display the measurement instantly.
Height Measurements:
After measuring the length, measure the wall’s height from floor to ceiling. Standard ceilings are usually 8 feet high, but modern or older homes may vary. Note any sloped ceilings or beams that could affect furniture placement.
Mary Lee recommends: “Always measure in feet and inches to match standard furniture measurements.”
Make sure to indicate where the doors, doorways, windows or any other wall openings are located. These are places you want to be aware of so your furniture doesn’t block those important spots.
You want to record these measurements in two ways, (1) with the trim and (2) without the trim. The reason is if there is a sill or trim on the bottom of the window, it might impede furniture placement. It is crucial with door measurements to know the width of the opening without trim to determine if the furniture can pass through.
As you face the door or window, you will need to record the following measurements:
Also, measure the distance from each door or window to the nearest wall to ensure proper furniture placement.
Your sketch should look a little similar to this one…
Some elements in your room can impact furniture placement. You will want to take note of specific details and indicate their location on your sketch. These may include:
These details can be critical to the overall design or furniture placement. It is also beneficial to take measurements of larger fixtures if they are close to the furniture.
If you have flooring, carpet or tiling projects, input your measurements into a square footage calculator. This can also help you determine material costs.
Now that your simple room sketch is complete, it is a valuable tool you can use when shopping for the right furniture for your space. You can also update this sketch whenever you purchase new furniture in the future, so keep it handy for the next time you might need it.
However, when working with an interior designer, like Mary Lee, any visual component is key. And, what better way to show someone your space outside of your home than through a photo?
Mary Lee explains that taking proper photos of each furniture piece with the entire frame in focus is essential to know if a similar La-Z-Boy product could fit in your space. “If the furniture is only half in, it becomes really difficult for us to guess correctly what can fit in the room.”
Take photos in a horizontal view to help capture everything in the entire frame. Mary Lee says that standing in the corner of a room can help with this, especially if it's a larger frame. “The only time you would zoom in on a piece is if we want to see the material on the furniture cover to match it or change it,” she says.
A video is also a great way to show off the furniture piece. Although there is no need for talk in the video itself, you should also let the interior designer know of any obstructions in the room that could potentially impede on the furniture placement (doorways, windows, outlets, etc.)
Lastly, consider taking photos of the entire room to augment your sketch. Capture photos of the room from various angles, as shown in the below image. Additionally, take pictures of any furniture pieces you would like to remain in the room.
One thing that many tend to forget is measuring the delivery path for your new furniture. A key part of measuring for new furniture is ensuring it can get into your home and through to the intended room.
Start by measuring the width and height of each doorway, hallway, and stairwell, noting any tight corners or obstacles. Measure the distance from the entryway to the far wall of the room to ensure enough maneuvering clearance.
If the entryway width exceeds the furniture’s width, it can be moved horizontally. If not, you may need to tilt it vertically, which means the entryway height must also exceed the furniture's width.
On delivery day, plan the best path into your home. Decide which entrance is the most direct, whether it’s the front, side, or back, and check for any barriers like narrow porches or sharp turns. Taking these steps ensures a smooth delivery and prevents unwanted surprises.
If the entryway clearance (C) exceeds the piece’s width, you can move it horizontally. Alternatively, if the entryway clearance (C) is less than the piece’s width, you must move it vertically, meaning that the entryway height must exceed the furniture’s width.
WARNING: You’ll find yourself in a real pickle if the piece’s width exceeds both the entryway clearance and height.
With your room measurements and sketch in hand, you’re ready to choose the perfect piece of furniture that fits your space beautifully.
Need some help? Book a consultation with one of our expert interior designers in our La-Z-Boy locations in Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston! Our team will guide you through the entire process and create a 3D room design that brings your vision to life.
While you’re browsing, check out our top furniture collections for inspiration:
If you want to learn more about La-Z-Boy in general, take a look at this comprehensive furniture buyers guide.
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