October 10, 2024, 11:17 am | Read time: 6 minutes
When decorating a room, you need to know exactly how much space is available in order to order furniture or carpets or to design an interior. myHOMEBOOK author Daniela Matsuzaki explains how to go about it.
Measuring rooms consists of more details than just measuring the floor area. It also includes doors, windows, radiators, and other elements that can influence the room design. You don’t always have the floor plan on hand. That’s why you often have to do it yourself. What should you pay attention to when you need to determine room dimensions?
Overview
Which measuring should you use for measuring?
There are various measuring tools that can help you take measurements.
Ruler, folding rule, spirit level, and pencil
The classic way to determine room dimensions is using a ruler and tape measure. These tools can be used to measure the width, length, and height of a room. However, you should do this carefully and use a spirit level if necessary to avoid deviations. In large rooms, it is a good idea to make markings with a pencil so that you can work smoothly.
Laser distance meter
A laser distance meter saves time and work and is also very accurate. It can calculate distances between several points using a laser. If you have never used such a device before, you should test it first. It is also advisable to read through the instructions so as not to overlook any important details.
The laser distance meter is particularly useful for measuring room heights, diagonal distances between opposite corners or distances from wall to wall. It can also be used to calculate volumes. Various settings even make it possible to accurately measure sloping walls and hard-to-reach areas.
Smartphone
Suppose you need to determine room dimensions for an interior designer or interior decorator. In that case, it makes sense to also take photos so that the professional gets a better impression of the home. It can also be helpful for yourself if you record the measurements with your camera. This involves photographing each individual room from the entrance to the opposite side and vice versa. It is best to proceed clockwise to ensure that you have documented all the walls at the end.
Notepad
If you don’t have the floor plan on hand, you can also draw it again yourself. You should take into account the positions of the windows and doors, among other things. It helps if you number the individual rooms and draw the measurements directly on them. This way, you can keep an overview and ensure that you don’t forget anything. This can make planning much easier.
Where do you start when measuring the room?
A project like this can quickly get out of hand if it is not well organized. Therefore, it is advisable to draw up a clear plan that is step-by-step and easy to follow. Thorough preparation is crucial for a smooth process.
Don’t underestimate measuring the rooms, as it often takes more time than you think. Before you start measuring, the rooms should be cleared as well as possible and possibly swept briefly with a broom. All the necessary tools and utensils should already be on hand.
You should also check whether the rooms are adequately lit. If not, take the measurements during the day. If necessary, you can take extra light bulbs with you.
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Determine measurements step by step
- First of all, it is advisable to draw a rough outline of the room, showing the position of all doors, windows, heaters, fireplaces, or supporting pillars. You should make sure that the drawing is not too small. A small notepad is therefore not suitable – but a letter-sized sheet of paper is sufficient.
- It is important to start with the overall dimensions of the room and work your way inwards step by step. This involves determining the overall dimensions of the room, i.e. the width, length and height. You can either use a tape measure or a laser distance meter. When measuring from wall to wall, it is advisable to use the floor or skirting boards as a guide to achieve accurate results.
- Then determine the positions and dimensions of all doors. The door openings and the width and height of the doors are important here. This is necessary to ensure that larger pieces of furniture can easily fit through the door.
- Now you can measure the windows. It is important to take into account the actual opening of the windows. Then, determine the distance from the floor to the bottom edge of the window or from the window sill to the floor. The distance from the top edge of the window to the ceiling is just as important.
- Now, you can measure and enter all architectural elements, such as columns or beams.
- It doesn’t hurt to include sockets and light switches – especially if fixtures are planned.
- If pipes run outside the wall, you must mark or draw these on the plan.
- In old buildings, you need to measure particularly carefully, as walls are often not straight and are crooked. Sometimes, the distance on one side is longer than on the other. If you want to find out exactly whether this is the case, you can also check the corners with a protractor. Normally, the corners should have an angle of 90 degrees. If this is not the case and the angle is smaller or larger, you should indicate this on the drawing.
- At the end, you can photograph each individual room from the entrance to the opposite side and vice versa. If you want, you can also make a video of the individual rooms. This will give you a better overall impression, for example, for the interior decorator.