Will My Furniture Fit? How to Measure

Are you buying some new furniture for your home? Pretty exciting, isn’t it? You’ve probably spent plenty of time and effort picking out the perfect spot in a room and imagining how your new item will look when it gets there. You may have gone a step further and measured the space so that you know exactly how large a sofa, chair or table can go in that location and still settle in comfortably. You’ve asked and answered the question: will my furniture fit?

But do you know how it’s going to get through the outside door, down the hallway, up the stairs or into and out of doorways? It isn’t enough to know how to determine if furniture will fit in the room. You also must know how to determine if furniture will fit around the corner.

Making sure of your furniture’s pathway through the house is perhaps not the most exciting task, but it is vital to avoiding massive disappointment on delivery day. Here is a step-by-step guide to measuring the critical dimensions of your home and furniture. Do this, and you’ll ensure a seamless delivery at that thrilling moment when your new furnishings arrive.

Step 1: Measure Your Space

Entryway: Hallways and Doors

The first step is to measure the height (A) and the width (B) of all the hallways and doorways that stand between the outside door and the furniture’s destination. Be sure to measure interior dimensions so that you account for the doorframe. If it’s a tight squeeze, you may be able to gain an inch or so by taking the door off its hinges.

Don’t forget stairways and elevators. Consider obstacles such as overhead lights, banisters and low ceilings.

The other critical measurement is clearance (C). That’s the distance from the wall, through the doorway and to the opposite wall. The door may be large enough to accommodate the height and depth of the piece, but if there isn’t enough room to turn it once you move through, you’re going to be stuck. You may have to change the orientation and angle the furniture as you navigate a doorway, and you’ll want to do that without damaging either your new purchase or the walls of your home.

Step 2: Measure Your Furniture

Next, you need to measure the furniture’s width (A), height (B) and depth (C). It’s ideal to take actual dimensions with a tape measure, but you can use the numbers from the furniture's specifications if need be. See if the vendor provides dimensions for a disassembled unit as well as specs for the assembled item. If there are removable parts such as legs, feet and bases, you can exclude these from the measurement. Didn’t bring your tape measure? Don’t fret! A knowledgeable sales associate can help you in securing all the measurements you need.

If the furniture isn’t boxy, as with some sofas and recliners, you can consider the angles or curves: the piece might slip around some corners that a box-shaped unit can’t navigate. You might also want to measure the diagonal (corner to opposite corner) distance. It could be important when maneuvering through some of your doorways.

Step 3: Find the Best Pathway

Once you have all the measurements, it’s time to determine the best pathway to your furniture’s new location. Sometimes it will be obvious, but many times there will be options such as different outside doors or alternative doorways into a room. Walk though possible routes and consider any potential obstacles.

These might include ceiling height, banisters, low-hanging lights and anything else that can’t be moved out of the way. At each doorway, determine whether the furniture will have to be angled or can come straight through. That way, you’ll not only have a pathway, but you’ll also know how the furniture needs to be maneuvered at each juncture.

Step 4: Prep for Delivery

Take these measures to ensure everything goes seamlessly on the day your selection arrives:

• Double check with your delivery service. Make sure they have your correct contact info. Ask what time you can expect them.

• Remove obstacles. Relocate anything that might disrupt your furniture’s pathway. This could include plants, wall art, loose rugs and small pieces of furniture. Remove anything from a shelf or table where it’s at risk of getting knocked off. Don’t forget to clear sidewalks and porches of any outdoor obstacles.

• Keep children and pets out of the way. Make sure that indoor pets don’t have a path to escape through a door if it has to stay open for a minute or two.

• Inspect for damage. Make sure your furniture (and your home) is as it should be before the movers leave.

Enjoy Your New Furniture!

It’s a great feeling to power back that fresh recliner or stretch out on your new bed and mattress for the first time. You have every reason to be delighted in how they look and feel. Once you have your new pieces in your home and placed just how you want them, you’ll be able to enjoy them for many years.

However, life brings change, and among those changes is how you use your space. At some point, you may realize you want to move these furnishings elsewhere in the home. When that happens, simply reference the same steps you followed for delivery! You’ll not only protect your furniture and enhance its longevity, but you’ll also safeguard your home.

If you follow the steps laid out here, you can expect a smooth and hassle-free delivery day. You’ll happily wind up with the furniture you always wanted, looking great in the spot where you always wanted it.