Want to Avoid Returning Furniture? Try This Simple Planning Trick at Home

Want to Avoid Returning Furniture? Try This Simple Planning Trick at Home

As we've mentioned in previous posts, planning interior changes can be more challenging than it seems. Even with the best intentions, it's often difficult to imagine the actual size of a piece of furniture in your room. When arranging a space—especially a smaller one—just a few centimetres can make a big difference.

We’ve already shared two useful methods:

1. Cutting out the furniture shape from cardboard,
2. Drawing your room layout in real size using chalk outdoors.

Now, we’re excited to share a third idea that’s just as effective and even easier to do indoors—creating a scaled floor plan on paper. This method gives you a fresh perspective on your space and helps prevent the all-too-common issue of buying furniture that just doesn’t fit.

What You’ll Need:

• A sheet of graph paper (we recommend at least A3 size – bigger than A4 – so you can plan with more detail)
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Compass (for round shapes)
• Eraser (mistakes happen!)

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Set your scale:
   Decide that 1 square on the paper equals 10 cm in real life.
2. Measure your room:
   Take accurate measurements of the space you want to design.
3. Draw the lines of the room:
   Using your measurements and the scale, draw the outline of the room on graph paper. Use a ruler to ensure straight, clean lines. Include any features like windows, doors, or built-in fixtures.
4. Measure your furniture:
   Write down the width and length of each piece.
5. Convert to your scale:
   For example, if your sofa is 88 cm wide and 210 cm long:
• Width: 8 full squares + 8/10 of another
• Length: 21 full squares
  Mark it out on the paper accordingly.
6. Draw your furniture:
   Use the ruler for straight edges and the compass for circular furniture (like a round table).
7. Leave walking space:
   Don’t forget to leave enough room between furniture so you can move around comfortably.
8. Play with layout ideas:
   Try different arrangements. You might be surprised to find that the one you hadn’t considered works best!

Why This Works

This method is not just simple—it’s smart. Sticking to accurate measurements means you'll get a realistic view of your room before you even lift a piece of furniture. It saves time, energy, and the frustration of returns.

Returns can be exhausting—not just for you, but for the environment. Transporting furniture back and forth generates emissions and waste. By planning ahead, you reduce the chances of needing a return and get closer to a perfectly styled room with less hassle.

Plus, there’s something satisfying about doing it yourself. Taking time offline to sketch and plan can spark creativity, strengthen problem-solving skills, and help you feel more connected to your space.

Final Tip:

If you don’t have A3-sized paper, tape a few A4 sheets together to create a larger canvas. The more space you give yourself, the more detailed and realistic your plan will be!