Measure the room
Start with a sketch of the room. Mark doors, windows, radiators and the route people take through it. Measure the available space before choosing the largest pieces. Leave enough room to open drawers and pull chairs away from the table.
Write the measurements on the sketch, including the distances between openings and corners. Note low windowsills, sockets and any sloping ceilings that could affect placement. Measure furniture you plan to keep and mark its position. Use the same units throughout, then check the measurements again before comparing them with furniture dimensions. For a room with uneven walls, measure at more than one point. Keep the sketch nearby when checking product details so each option is compared with the same available space.
Check everyday movement
Think about how you use the room. A living room used for conversation needs a different arrangement from one centred on a screen. Place the main seat first, then check where a side table or reading light would be useful. In a dining area, measure the space around the table as well as the tabletop.
Draw the outline of each large piece on the plan before adding smaller items. Include the space a chair needs when someone sits down, and the full reach of a cupboard door or drawer. Check the route from the entrance to each seat. If you are unsure about a layout, mark furniture outlines on the floor with paper and walk through the room.
Try the arrangement with the activities you expect to do there. Check where you would put a book or drink, reach a light switch and plug in a lamp. Account for the cables as well as the furniture. Move the outlines and check again before settling on a plan.
Compare materials in place
Keep materials and colours together while making choices. Collect a small set of samples or images and compare them in the room's light. Check cleaning instructions before selecting upholstery, especially for a room used by children or pets.
Look at the samples beside the floor, curtains and furniture you are keeping. Compare them during the day and under the lights you use in the evening. Record the material and colour names alongside the dimensions so you can return to the same choices.
Check the delivery route
Before ordering, measure the delivery route too: entrances, stairways, lifts and narrow turns. Record these dimensions alongside the room sketch so you can check each piece against the same information.
Check the listed delivery dimensions, including packaging where provided. If a tight turn or doorway is difficult to assess, ask about it before placing the order.
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