Measuring accurately to plan your room

All your planning - and therefore the success of your new kitchen and bathroom - is based on your measurements. These measurements will help you and your design consultant for precise planning. Here’s how to get them right.

Draw a rough sketch of the room you need to measure showing any obstacles. Include doors and windows in your drawing as well. Leave enough room in the drawing to write down measurements.

Take your measurements in millimetres (mm) because it’s what manufacturers use. Because walls aren’t always completely square, especially in older houses, it’s a good idea to take multiple measurements for each surface.

As most walls tend to be square or rectangular measuring them is not too hard, you just need to remove any doors or windows from the overall measurement.

1. Measure the height of the wall from the floor to the ceiling.

2. To find the width of wall, start at one end of the wall to the other.

3. Measure the length and width of any doors, fixtures, or windows. Then also measure the distance from wall to wall.

4. Measure from the corner to the door(s) frames.

5. Make a note of everything that sticks out into the room, such as switches and pipes.

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For a simple square/rectangular room with no major obstructions it’s really easy to measure the floor.

1. Make a drawing of the floor plan in the room you are measuring.

2. Measure the length and width of the room’s main area.

3. Mark on where all the windows and doors are as well as which way they open.

4. Include all areas involved in your project. For example electrical sockets and any existing plumbing as well as fixed objects such as boilers, radiators, or boxed-in pipes.

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