THE TARTEEBHOME GUIDES
Measure the place a piece will live and the route it must travel. Use the same units throughout your notes.
Measure usable space
Draw a simple plan and record wall lengths, openings, window sills, sockets and fixed fixtures. Include skirting, radiators where present, door swings and cupboards that need to open. Measure at more than one point when a wall or floor is uneven. Mark the intended furniture footprint with tape or paper and use the room normally before deciding. A product’s external size is different from usable storage or seating space.
Measure the supplied configuration
Ask for width, depth and height of the exact option, not a similar photograph. Beds need both frame dimensions and compatible mattress measurements. Tables need the working footprint with chairs pulled out; extending tables need both closed and open sizes. Storage needs drawer and door clearance. Recliners, sofa beds and lift-up beds require the full operating envelope, including handles and hinges.
Map the delivery route
Start at the unloading point and work through gates, doors, corridors, stairs and lift entrances. Record clear openings with doors fully open, tight turns, stair landings and obstacles. Ask for packaged sizes, weights, number of packages and which parts can be removed by the delivery team. Comparing one doorway width with the item width cannot prove that a large piece will turn through the route.
Resolve uncertainty before ordering
Send your sketch and route photographs to the seller and ask for written confirmation of the delivery method. A diagonal measurement is useful context, not proof that an item will fit around a corner. Never improvise balcony lifting, remove structural elements or dismantle furniture against instructions. If the route is uncertain, request a site assessment or select a smaller configuration. Keep measurement notes with your order.
Your comparison checklist
- Room footprint, door swings and working clearances
- Exact configuration and moving-part dimensions
- Packaged dimensions, weight and access route
- Written seller clarification for any uncertain fit