How to make a simple floor plan

On a grid, let each square be 10 or 20 cm. Draw the outline, then doors and their swing, windows, and anything fixed. Test furniture with tape on the floor, or drag real products in Plan a room.

A pencil sketch is enough for shopping. Use Plan a room when you want real product sizes on the plan.

The tape-on-the-floor trick

Tape the piece's width and depth on the floor, walk your usual paths, and open imaginary doors. Five minutes that catches the sofa with only 40 cm left to walk around it.

The most common mistakes

Re-measure anything expensive. Account for skirting. Check the delivery path (stairs, hall, 90-degree corners). Fit the room rather than filling it. Confirm listed dimensions - floor models are sometimes a different size.

Measuring for a Murphy or wall bed

Note wall width for the closed cabinet, folded depth off the wall (often about 40 cm, a permanent bump), and clear floor in front for the mattress when down (203 cm for a queen, plus walking space). Check ceiling height - vertical-fold cabinets can be over 230 cm. See the Murphy beds and wall beds NZ guide for cabinet sizes and how to search by your measurements.

The 20-minute recap

Steel tape. All four walls, every doorway, ceiling height. Sketch as you go. Tape the footprint before you buy. Check the delivery path. Verify the listing dimensions, then search FurnitureFit with your measurements.

Browse furniture by your measurements

Ready to put your measurements to work? Here are sofas and beds from NZ retailers - check dimensions on each listing, then use FurnitureFit to filter by your exact room size.