Buying a sofa is a big deal, this will be the centrepiece of your living room or lounge for years to come. This is not a decision to be rushed, and before you take the plunge, it is critical to measure the sofa, the room it is intended for, and the approach to the room.
Most importantly, this ensures that the sofa will manage to navigate through tight hallways and staircases. But it also ensures that the sofa will be of the right proportion for the room it is to grace.
In this guide, our furnishing experts share their top tips to properly measure up for your new sofa.
Step One – Establish the Measurements of your Preferred Sofa
It is hard to get the proper perspective of the size of a sofa when viewing it in a showroom or online. Luckily, most retailers will have all the appropriate dimensions at hand, and if not, then it is time to get the measuring tape out!
These measurements are important because they can be used to determine if the sofa will be able to squeeze through any tight hallways, corners, or staircases. It also gives you a better idea of how it will look in its final position.
The latter is often overlooked as often people just consider the look and comfort of a sofa. But it is worthwhile remembering that this is a long-term investment, and you want to get it right. Too big, and it can overwhelm a room, making it look confined and cramped.
Too small and the effect can leave a room looking empty and cold.
Now that we understand the importance of knowing the size of a sofa let’s have a look at the dimensions that matter.
Width
For the width measurement, you need to measure from both widest points of the sofa. This is usually from arm to arm, but this isn’t always the case. Be sure to measure the padding too, because although it will give a little when manoeuvring your sofa, it is less than most people expect.
Height
When measuring the height of the sofa, there are a couple of points to always bear in mind. First, make sure the measurement is based on the highest and lowest points of the sofa, this is notable because certain sofa designs are highest in the centre.
Secondly, if the sofa you are measuring has legs, it is a good exercise to establish whether they are removable. If this is so, then they can be disregarded when measuring; otherwise, include them in the measurement.
Depth
The depth of the sofa is often overlooked when measuring, but it is one of the most critical measurements when ascertaining whether the sofa will safely fit in the room. This is best taken from one of the sofa’s ends and is the measurement from the front corner to the very back of the sofa.
Diagonal Depth
Again, this is a critical measurement for ensuring the sofa will fit into the room. From one corner at the front of the sofa, measure to the diagonally opposite corner. This can be tricky to do accurately but take a little time to do this because it is essential.
Step Tw0 – House Measurements
Once you have the complete dimensions of your sofa, the next step is to measure your home and the room the sofa is intended for. This part plays two important roles, as described below:
Measure Hallways and Entries
It is surprising how often this point is neglected but making sure a sofa can navigate through tight halls and corners is essential. Start by measuring all the doorways that the sofa will need to pass through. It is worth remembering that, especially in older homes, doorway dimensions may change from door to door.
It is also good practice to make sure that there are a few inches to spare when considering the size of your sofa. For those that aren’t afraid of a bit of DIY, then it may be possible to remove doors and frames if the measurements are a bit tight for a sofa you have your heart set on. Builders and joiners can carry out this work if necessary.
Tight corners and stairwells also have to be considered here, take full measurements of all these, including diagonals. Finally, remember to take into account obstacles like radiators or other permanent fixings that may cause problems.
Measure the Intended Room
Wouldn’t it be a shame to have done all these careful measurements only to find that your sofa looks out of place in its new home?
A sofa needs to be in the right proportion for the room it is to live in. This step will determine whether the sofa is the perfect match for your room. Measure all the floor space of the room and compare it against the sofa dimensions.
For a better idea of how it will all come together (or not!), try drawing a scale plan of the room and use a similarly scaled piece of card to represent the sofa. This allows you to try various configurations to check if the sofa will work in the room.
Alternatively, mark the room with tape that represents the footprint of the sofa. This will give you a perfect picture of how much room it takes up.
Summing Up
At Kingsbury Furniture, we are committed to helping all our customers find the perfect piece of furniture for their needs. We hope this guide helps to ensure that the sofa you choose is right for you and your home!
If you need any help choosing the perfect sized sofa or have any concerns about whether it will fit, we are here to help. Why not contact us today and find out more about our stunning range of sofas.
