10 things you need to know about sizing up your space
1. Buy 2 pieces of A4 graph paper, and use one to plot the dimensions of your room. Be sure to capture any alcoves and mark out doors, windows, radiators, fireplaces and any other special features. Use the 2nd sheet to make models of any existing furniture you intend to keep, and the dimensions of the furniture you intend to buy. This will help you to play with placing your furniture in different parts of the room. It’s less tiring than moving the real thing around!
2. Once you have settled on a plan, use newspaper or masking tape to lay out your plan on the floor. Paper is easier if you are working in an empty room, and masking tape is easier to use if your room has existing furniture. This will give you a sense of how the new layout will feel.
3. With dining tables, remember that you can buy extending dining tables where space is tight. Remember though, you need somewhere to store the additional chairs you will need when the table is extended. Cubes are a good option, as they can be used in your living room as well as double up as dining seats. We have lots of different styles of extending dining tables, from console tables to octagonal!
4. You need around 60cms to comfortably pull out a standard dining chair. Remember that oval tables can sometimes sit two at the ends rather than one, which can be handy.
5. When choosing a sofa remember to consider height in relation to the height of your ceilings. High back chairs and sofas are look great if you have high ceilings, but can look cramped in if your ceilings are low. Many of our sofas have a high or low back options for you to choose from.
6. Lovely large arms on sofas are tremendously comfortable, but can take up a lot of space. Choose thinner arms if you want to maximize seating space. Our Gainsborough sofa is a great option.
7. Access to your room, especially if there are stairs involved can be the trickiest part of measuring up! Remember to take into account awkward corners and remember that removing a door can give you an extra couple of cm’s. Many of our sofas can be built with a dismantling option. Some sofas come with removable arms, and legs are often but not always, removable.
8. Corner units ironically can be the easiest sofas to get through tight spaces, especially if they are modular in nature. They are also great for maximizing seating in small rooms.
9. Sofabeds can give you useful options when you have guests, but remember that they are substantially heavier than a comparable sofa – even though they look exactly the same. This may mean that a sofa cannot be lifted to get through tight corners. Remember to make sure there is enough space for the sofabed to be pulled out.
And finally…when choosing a TV unit, remember to count the number of set-top boxes your family need. Make sure there are enough slots for all of them so you can enjoy your new sofa in peace!