How to Measure Your Room Before Buying Furniture

Introduction

There's nothing more frustrating than falling in love with a sofa, wardrobe, or dining table — only to find it doesn't fit through the door or overwhelms the room. At House of Murphy, we see it happen more often than you'd think. The good news? It's completely avoidable with a little preparation. Here's our step-by-step guide to measuring your room before buying furniture.

1. What You'll Need

Before you start, gather the following:

• A steel tape measure (more accurate than fabric ones)
• A notepad and pen, or a room planning app
• A helper if possible — measuring alone can be tricky

2. Measure the Room

Start with the basics — the overall dimensions of your room:

• Length and width — measure wall to wall at floor level
• Ceiling height — important for tall furniture like wardrobes or bookcases
• Alcoves and recesses — note any irregular features that could affect placement
• Radiators, sockets, and switches — mark their positions so furniture doesn't block them

Sketch a rough floor plan and note all measurements clearly.

3. Measure Doorways, Hallways & Stairs

This is the step most people forget — and it's often where problems arise. In many Irish homes, particularly older terraced houses and apartments, access can be tight. Measure:

• Front door width and height
• Hallway width — including any tight corners or bends
• Staircase width — if furniture needs to go upstairs
• Internal door widths — for the room the furniture is going into

As a rule of thumb, you need at least 5–10cm of clearance on each side of the furniture to manoeuvre it safely.

4. Plan Your Layout

Once you have your room dimensions, think about how the furniture will sit in the space:

• Allow at least 45cm of walkway space around key pieces
• Your sofa should take up no more than two-thirds of the room's width
• Leave space for doors and drawers to open fully
• Consider natural light — avoid blocking windows with tall furniture

You can use free tools like Roomstyler or IKEA's room planner to visualise your layout before committing.

5. Check the Furniture Dimensions

When browsing our sofa collection or any other furniture, always check:

• Overall width, depth, and height
• Seat height — important for comfort, especially for older family members
• Leg height — affects how easy it is to clean underneath
• Diagonal depth — the measurement used when tilting furniture to get it through a doorway

If you're unsure about any dimensions, our team at House of Murphy is always happy to help — just get in touch before you order.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Measuring only the room and forgetting the access route
• ❌ Forgetting to account for skirting boards (they reduce usable wall space by 1–2cm)
• ❌ Not checking if a corner sofa can be separated into sections for delivery
• ❌ Assuming a sofa will fit because it "looks about the right size" online

Final Thoughts

A few minutes spent measuring carefully can save you a huge amount of hassle — and money. Once you know your room dimensions, you can shop with confidence.

Browse our sofa collection → or explore our sofa beds — and if you need any help, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.