Kashaf Guide · About 8 minutes
How to plan a room layout that works
Good layouts come from a few measurements and some well-tested rules of thumb. Here’s how to measure, which clearances to keep, and how to check your plan before you move anything heavy.
1. Measure the room (or scan it)
Measure each wall at floor level, then note the ceiling height, every door and window (width, height and how high the sill is), radiators, sockets and anything fixed. Sketch the room from above and write the numbers on it. Measure doors’ swing too: an inward-opening door needs its full width of clear floor.
On an Android phone, Roomcraft can scan the room for you: walk around slowly and it captures walls, doors and windows as an editable 3D plan. You can also pick a room shape and type the sizes in.
2. Decide what the room is for
List what happens in the room (watching TV, reading, working, hosting) and choose a focal point: a window, fireplace, view or the TV wall. Arrange the main seating to face it, then fit everything else around that.
3. Keep these clearances
These are common rules of thumb used by designers. Small rooms can bend them a little; busy family rooms benefit from more space.
| Space | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|
| Main walkways | About 90 cm (36 in) wide |
| Secondary paths between furniture | At least 60–75 cm (24–30 in) |
| Sofa to coffee table | 40–45 cm (16–18 in), close enough to reach a drink |
| Conversation seating | Sofa and chairs within about 2.5–3 m (8–10 ft) of each other |
| Dining table to wall or furniture | About 90 cm (36 in) so chairs can slide out |
| Space per diner | About 60 cm (24 in) of table edge per person |
| Around a bed | 60–75 cm (24–30 in) on the sides you walk |
| Pendant over a dining table | About 75–90 cm (30–36 in) above the tabletop |
Roomcraft’s layout check flags tight walkways and blocked doors as you move furniture, so you don’t have to measure every gap yourself.
4. Size furniture to the room
- Sofas: roughly two-thirds of the wall it sits against usually looks balanced.
- Coffee tables: about two-thirds of the sofa’s length, and close to the seat height.
- Rugs: big enough that at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on it. Leave around 20–45 cm (8–18 in) of floor between the rug and the walls.
- TVs: for a 4K screen, sit roughly 1–1.5 times the screen diagonal away; further for HD.
- Art: hang it so its centre is around 145–150 cm (57–60 in) from the floor, or 15–25 cm (6–10 in) above a sofa or sideboard.
5. Layer the lighting
Plan three layers: ambient light for the whole room (ceiling lights, daylight), task light where you read, cook or work, and accent light for art, plants or texture. Think about the room at night as well as by day: rooms that look bright at noon can feel gloomy at 9 pm.
In Roomcraft you can slide the time of day from morning to night and see where the light falls before you buy a single lamp.
6. Test the plan before you commit
- Walk it. Trace your daily routes (door to sofa, sofa to kitchen) and make sure nothing blocks them.
- Try two options. Put the sofa on different walls and compare; the second idea is often better.
- Check real sizes. Mark large pieces on the floor with masking tape, or place them in your room at true size with AR.
- Keep a budget. Add prices as you go so the plan stays affordable.
Plan it in 3D. Roomcraft brings all of this together: scan or draw the room, drag in real furniture, check clearances, compare options A and B, and see it at any time of day. Join early access.