Are you getting ready to redesign one of the rooms or perhaps all of the rooms in your home?
Well, you're embarking on quite the creative journey! There's a lot of work involved, but the interior design process can also be a lot of fun. After all, you get to create a space that won't only look good but will also make you feel comfortable and safe.
The first step in a home design project involves planning. You can't just purchase any furniture that you think looks good; instead, every piece needs to fit the space so that it can be attractive and functional. And if you need flooring, you'll have to know how much you'll need to buy. To get answers, you can easily prepare a floor plan.
It Starts with a Sketch
A little bit of drawing can come in handy when measuring a room. And, don't worry, you don't need to be an artist to sketch out a rough idea of what your room looks like and what its dimensions are. Simply draw the walls of the room, and indicate where there are windows and doors. Number each wall so that it has a label that you can refer to later on.
Next Up: Measuring the Walls
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Using a tape measure, determine the length of each wall, as well as the height from the floor to the ceiling. As you make your way around the room, be sure to write down the measurements on your sketch. This way, you'll know how tall and wide your furniture can be when placed against each wall, and you'll also know how much space you have on your walls for some inspiring artwork.
Pro Tip: When measuring from floor to ceiling, you can make a separate elevation drawing, which is a basic sketch of each wall and any fixtures within it. This can make it easier to keep track of all of your measurements without getting them confused. -
Deduct the space of any doorways and windows in the room. You can do this by measuring the distance from the corner of the wall to the opening, whether it's the side of a window or a door. Write that measurement on your sketch, and then measure the other side in the same way. Then, measure the distance from the top of the opening to the ceiling, as well as the distance from the floor to the opening. Finally, take measurements of the opening itself so that you know how big your window or door is.
Note: If there are other obstructions, such as a fireplace, in the room, you'll need to measure around them as well, just as you would any other opening. - Want to be sure that you measured everything right? Go back and take measurements a second time, double-checking what you wrote down on your sketch. When it comes to walls with openings, add up the three measurements you took (both corners to the opening, plus the opening itself) and see if the number matches the total measurement for that wall.
Getting New Flooring Installed
If you're going to be replacing your old floors with something new, such as hardwood, tile, or carpet, you can use the full wall measurements (if there are fixtures, such as baseboard heaters, in the way, you won't include them in the measurements).
By measuring from one corner to the next, you can determine how much flooring you'll need based on the length and width of the room. Once you have the length and width, multiply the numbers to determine the square footage. So, for example, if your room is 10 feet long by 10 feet wide, it's 100 square feet. That's how much flooring you'll need to cover the floors, but it's a good idea to add another 10-20%, just in case.
It's All About Inches and Feet
- When taking room measurements, using inches is recommended.
- Measure to the nearest eighth for everything except window treatments, which can be measured to the nearest sixteenth.
- When you're done, convert the numbers into feet and inches (remember, there are 12 inches in a foot).
Leave It All Up to Design and Flooring Experts!
Working with an expert is definitely going to give you some much-needed peace of mind when redesigning any room, whether you're sprucing it up with new paint and furniture or you're replacing the floors.
An interior designer, for example, can help you figure out what furniture would look and function best in your space so you don't have to put all of the work in by yourself. In the same way, flooring experts can help you figure out which type of flooring will really open up a space and complement the rest of your decor.
At Denver Carpet & Flooring, our specialists can bring samples right to your home to make the shopping experience easier. Once you decide which product is exactly what you're looking for, we'll take precise measurements of the room so that we know exactly how much flooring we'll need. And, before you know it, the new floors will be installed and you'll be able to proceed with the rest of your design!
Are You Ready to Plan the Perfect Room Design?
You don't need to be a seasoned room planner to measure your home and begin brainstorming ideas. It all starts with a sketch and a tape measure! Just keep in mind that the most fabulous design schemes are executed from the ground up, so when you're ready to install new flooring, leave it up to the pros for the best results.
Contact us to learn about the many flooring products available. Then, leave all of the hard work up to us, from measuring your space and preparing your subfloors, to installing new flooring that will add value to your home and look perfect for years to come.
Sources:
https://homedecoratorscabinetry.homedepot.com/howtomeasure.aspx
https://www.karastan.com/pdf/roommeasurements.pdf
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/measurements-calculations-interior-designing-68639.html
https://www.smartdraw.com/floor-plan/measure-draw-floor-plan-scale.htm
https://swisskronousa.com/installation/how-to-measure-for-laminate-flooring-in-three-easy-steps/
