How to Measure and Sketch Your Room Quickly? The Best and Easiest Way to Do It
Updated: Nov 25, 2022
One common mistake most people make when it comes to interior design is relying on their eyes to make a measurement. But, to be sure you make home improvements and investments you won't regret, you must follow the right step to take measurements. Plus, knowing how to measure and sketch a space is an expertise you want to have if you adore interior design.
It can also be challenging to measure a room when it includes built-in features like recesses, bay windows, or sloping ceilings. You can make better decisions about the space in your room if you have an accurate measurement. In this article, you'll learn how to measure and sketch a room quickly and easily.
First, you’ll need to gather supplies; pens, graph Paper (or plain white paper), measuring tape (Ideally at least 25 feet long), and a helper if one is available.
Now, let’s get started;
Determine the Level of Measurement Accuracy Required
You don't need to be extremely accurate if you only need to measure and sketch the approximate size of your space. However, you will want to be more specific when planning your space, such as a kitchen. If you're only making a rough sketch for a contractor, ensure to measure to the closest 1/4 inch. Before buying materials, the contractor will measure again, so your drawing will be "near enough." If you're doing the home improvement project yourself, be as precise as possible, measuring to the closest 1/16 inch.
Draw a Rough Sketch of the Room
The first thing to do is draw a rough sketch of your room. For instance, draw a rectangular shape on paper if the room is rectangular. Draw windows, doors, and other room fixtures with a rough estimate. For a simple measurement, like flooring or paint, a typical sketch works. If you are not sharing your measurements with anyone and don’t have to be too specific, you can just use a piece of blank paper.
If you plan to work on something more detailed or with a contractor, you may need a much better sketch with exact measurements, and you can use grid paper for that.
Measure the Perimeter
Start by measuring the longest wall in the room. Run the measuring tape from one corner of the room to the other side along the baseboard to acquire a complete wall-to-wall measurement. If this is not possible, run the measuring tape along the floor and adjust for the baseboards’ width. Repeat these processes for the remaining walls. At this stage, don't be concerned with door openings. What you need is an exact measurement of the entire wall dimensions.
If you will be using Imperial/US measurements, use inches for your measurement rather than a combination of inches/feet, and use decimals rather than fractions. For instance, you could use 126.50 inches if the wall is about 10' 6-1/2 inches long. The rationale for this is that it will be much easier for you to double-check your calculations later. Once you've measured the perimeter of the room, double-check your math to ensure you have close dimensions. Also, make a note of the room's orientation on your drawing.
Measure Doors, Windows, and Other Permanent Structures
Now you'll need to sketch everything else that's permanent in the room. Windows, doors, built-in cabinets, stairs, a fireplace, or any other structure that cannot be relocated and may alter the placement of your furnishings are examples of permanent structures. To start, measure the distance to the door opening from the nearest corner and mark it on your drawing. Ignore the trim and casings. Take the width of the door into account. Take note of the door's swinging direction and depict it with an arc on your design. Measure and mark the casings’ width around the door on your sketches.
Then move to the windows, and measure them from the frame edge to the frame edge, excluding trim and casings. Depending on the purpose of your room sketch and measurement, you may also wish to measure the height and distances of windows from the ceiling and floor. Instead of trying to fit everything on your graph, utilize the back of the page as a window/door schedule. On your sketch, label or number windows and doors, then take note of the various dimensions.
Measure the Walls of The Room
Okay, this may not appear to be an important consideration, but it is. Assume you wish to purchase new furnishings for your living room. You take all the necessary measurements, then head to the store and purchase the desired furniture. You return to your house and arrange the sofa against a wall. However, you need to plug your laptop into the outlet behind the sofa at some point. That's when you realize the furniture is in your way, and you can't plug in your devices unless you first move everything.
It's critical to measure your walls and obtain dimensions for radiators, electrical plugs, and other fixtures. The more informed you are about room sketches and measurements, the better your decision will be in the long run, thus saving you time and money. Use a separate plan if the last one is so full of notes that you barely have a place to add anything. We would recommend naming your rooms or assigning them numbers, so you know which one is which. You can label the walls, either with a number or a letter, so that when you design the room's walls, you know which one has the radiators or sockets and so on.
Summary
That's all there is to it. You can measure a room in your home and know precisely where you're starting from, whether you're planning a remodel job on your own or hiring a designer or contractor to help you. If you need more assistance with your remodeling or renovating efforts, make sure to contact The Hauss!