How to measure a room with irregular walls

Sketch first, furnish later

Draw the room from above, even if the first sketch is not to scale. Label each wall segment and mark doors, windows, columns and recesses. Measure between finished wall surfaces, at a consistent height if possible. Older rooms may not have perfectly parallel walls: check several positions.

Measuring an L-shaped room

Either divide the outline into rectangles or record the vertices in order. A 4 × 3 m outer rectangle with a 1 × 1 m recess has 11 m², not 12 m². Always note each recess depth and its distance from a fixed corner.

Record openings and obstacles

• Measure both the width and position of each doorway.
• Note which way doors swing and whether drawers need clearance.
• Measure fixed cupboards, radiators, pipes and columns.
• Double-check dimensions that determine whether a piece of furniture will fit.
• Keep your units and measurement date on the sketch.

Turn the sketch into a plan

In EspacioExacto, start with a rectangle, an L-shaped outline or editable vertices. Add fixed features first, then furniture using its actual width and depth. Compare the resulting circulation routes before choosing a layout.

Frequent errors

Using outside dimensions instead of inside ones, forgetting skirting boards, assuming all corners are square, or failing to consider door opening space. A planning sketch is not a substitute for precise on-site verification when tolerances are tight.