HowTo - Spatial Plan
Our quick and handy Howto guide on spatial plan, helping you to make the most of your room and guide you with furnishing. Part of LitterArty x HowtoHome’s handy HowTo series.
It can be daunting sometimes working out how and where to fit and position furniture in any given space. While there is some level of subjectivity based on personal comfort and requirements, there are a few handy rules to help you establish suitability of furniture and not end up in a situation where things don’t fit or the space isn’t accessible.
How to ensure you have enough free space?
A general rule of thumb is to allow approximately 50cm (minimum) of space from one piece of furniture to the next. There are of course exceptions to this rule such as the distance between a console table and the back of the sofa or next to a bed. In cases where your aim is to have one support the other and be in close contact then obviously this rule does not apply.
In hallways and passing places it’s advisable to up this minimum and allow at least 80-90cm of space so that the area doesn’t feel cramped and walking past objects and items of furniture is a challenge.
Top Tips:
- Consider where fixed obstacles positioned, such as doors, windows, radiators and fireplaces. You need to allow space around and plan furnishings that will fit around these features and balance out the space.
- Think about volume and don’t over fill a space.
- Ergonomics - ensure that there is a circulation passageway through a room. This follows an easy pathway from the door to all the other main areas of activity.
- Edit your clutter, clutter brings in spaces and creates a sense of chaos. By minimising clutter you optimise your space, yes it’s common sense.
Questions to ask:
1) What, is the space used for, what are its functions?
2) Who, uses it? How many people does it need to accommodate etc.
3) How, do you want the room to feel? Spacious, airy, cosy, minimal….
4) Are there focal points? Or do you need to create focal points?
Another question we are regularly asked is; What is the optimal distance between a TV and your seating? Again, a general rule of thumb is to base this on the size of your TV, take that measurement and times it by 1.5 to 2.5 to gauge your most comfortable viewing distance. So for example, a 37 inch TV could be positioned around 6 ft from your sofa for optimal spatial planning. Obviously, this is relative and subjective to personal comfort but it’s not a bad rule to stick by.
HowTo - Measure a Room
Our quick and handy Howto guide on measuring a space. Part of LitterArty x HowtoHome’s handy HowTo series.
1. Make sure you have a sturdy and decent length tape measure. This simply makes life easier and means you can measure quickly.
2. Have a paper and pen to hand for notes and to quickly sketch out the outline of your room. All you need is the general shape, no need for accuracy as long as it makes sense to you.
3. Mark window and door locations.
4. Start by measuring the width at the longest point of the room, the same with the depth and then the height.
5. Then take at least the same measurements at around 5 points across the room. This helps with accuracy, as most rooms are nor 100% even. 6. Next measure all large elements such as alcoves and other nooks. Do this by following the same principle as above (width, depth and height). Note these measurements in the correct locations on your room outline.
7. Measure all the windows and doors. You want to know the width and height of the opening and then also the height of the window base from the floor. Again mark this on the outline.
8. Make notes of all utility and socket locations i.e. radiators, sockets, aerial points. To measure their exact location, measure from the nearest fixed point (i.e. edge of the wall in a corner) to the middle of the fixture. This is particularly useful for radiator location.
Tips
- When measuring the height of your room, make sure you allow for picture rail and cornice height. This is relevant for walls where you are wanting to feature wither freestanding or built in units such as shelving that require to sit within these parameters. Make notes where relevant.
- Doorway measurements are pivotal for planning furniture as well as the layout design, it’s all well and good picking great furniture but what if the space to get it in to the room is limited?! All these details help.
- Not location of any architectural features that are relevant or limit design decisions.
- Clear detail is key!