Before You Start Moving Furniture, Make A Floor Plan

Every so often, we want to freshen the look of a room without spending a lot of money. Maybe you've decided to move your desk into the living room so you can keep an eye on the kids or just have a new view out that picture window. If you've ever muscled some heavy furniture around a room, only to find out the new arrangement you envisioned just doesn't work, here's a primer on making a floor plan. All the potential pitfalls are exposed before you lift a finger moving rugs and furniture.

All that's needed to make a floor plan is some graph paper, a ruler, tape measure and pencil. Depending on the size of the room, determine a scale that's suitable. For example, one square on the graph paper can equal six inches for a medium sized room. Be sure your graph paper accommodates both the width and length of your room.

Use a tape measure to determine the size of the room. Transfer the measurements of the room, in scale, to your graph paper. Include markings for windows, doors and any built-ins that may exist. If you have doors that open into the room, make a note of this too. If you've got a large painting or hanging plants you don't intend to move, be sure you take these fixed items into account.

Next, measure each piece of furniture. You'll want to note length, height and width. When you make a floor plan, you need to include above-floor parts which take up space. For example, if your sofa has armrests which extend beyond the width of the feet, add this amount to the overall dimensions. The same applies to moulding trims on end tables and the like.

When you make a floor plan, there are certain furnishings that require sufficient space for functional purposes. Televisions and entertainment centers, armoires and dining sets are a few examples. You'll want to allow enough space for comfortable TV viewing. With a dining set, the rule of thumb is to allow three feet all around the table for chair space.

If you have many pieces of furniture, such as you might have in the living room, use your graph paper to make a cutout of each piece. This technique makes it easy to move the items this way and that, until you've found the perfect arrangement.

This simple method is a quick, inexpensive and reliable way to make a floor plan that saves energy— yours!