Draw Your Own Layout Plan.

Follow easy, step-by-step instructions to learn how to arrange furniture like a professional interior designer.

We are going through the whole design process with you - helping you to interior design it yourself...

Here we are concentrating on arranging the furniture and drawing a plan to help you make sure it fits right first time.

You can use this page together with your Free PDF 'How to Design' checklist - download it here... (opens in a new window)

For a simple, very inexpensive (but totally impressive!) web programme to help you to draw your layout plans on the computer, click on the Plan3D link below.

To learn how to draw your plans on paper, read on ....

Revolutionary 3D Home Design Tool!: Design rooms, remodel kitchens, plan landscaping and more. Check out Plan3D.com!

If the Plan 3D design tool does interest you, please support my website by using the links on this page to buy. The price to you is always the same, but I will earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to provide you with the information on this website, all for free.

I also have a fabulous free design tool, which I'll share with you later in the page - keep reading to find out more...

How to Draw your Layout Plan

1. Start your plan by measuring the room.


2. You may need someone to hold the other end of the tape measure - otherwise it can get rather awkward at times - believe me!


3. Take measurements of the main dimensions of the room - also include any alcoves - or the chimney breast - anything that juts in or out.


4. Also note down the positions of any windows or doors - and their sizes.
5. I also like to put in TV aerial points, plug sockets or phone/internet points.

   It all helps with arranging the furniture - or you may decide you need to get the electrician in to add more sockets, or move existing ones.

   Make sure you do this before you start your home decorating plans though - changing the electric wiring may involve some upheaval or replastering!

• Well, professional interior designers use something called a ‘scale rule’. It has measurements marked on in a variety of scales - 1:10, 1:20, 1:50.


• A scale of 1:10 means 1 tiny measurement on the scale rule, or your paper, represents a measurement 10 times bigger in real life...

  So 1cm on your page represents 10cm in real life.



• If you have a scale rule, all well and good - feel free to use it!


• If not - don’t rush out and buy one - when I work on interior design ideas for myself at home I usually use the following method - (all done using a ‘normal’ ruler)


• If you have squared paper - make one square on the paper represent a certain measurement in real life - such as 1 foot, or one metre.


• So, if your room was 12 foot wide, and your chosen scale was 1 square = 1 foot - then your line would need to be 12 squares long.


• If you don’t have any squared paper - again, don’t rush out and buy some - just make 1cm on the paper represent 1 foot in real life - or 1 metre, or even a half metre.


• Choose your scale to fit the size of the paper - so that you have a good sized layout drawing of your room - that you can see clearly.

Keep your plan nice and simple.
It doesn't have to be a work of art!

Putting Furniture on your Layout Plan.

If you are buying all new furniture for your interior design scheme - this will help you decide what pieces you really need - or maybe just want....!

If you are using existing furniture - it will help you to decide how to arrange the furniture.

Think about if you really do need all of it - every single piece? all in that room? - could some be used better in a different room?

Really objectively assess your need for each piece.

Next, you need to draw and cut out the furniture...

Don’t worry - no artistic skills required - it doesn’t have to be fancy - just the basic shape.

Here's how to do it...

1. Measure existing pieces, and draw a bird’s-eye plan.

   Remember to use exactly the same measuring formula as you did when you were drawing your plan out - eg 1cm = 1 foot.

2. If you plan to buy all new furniture I have included the measurements of some standard sizes of furniture to help you.

   If you think it is likely to be a bit of a tight squeeze - or your intended purchases are much larger than standard - revisit your plan to check it will all work.

3. When you have all your cut out pieces of paper 'furniture' - now is the time to arrange the furniture - and create your ideal layout.
4. Just play about with the papers on your plan. Think about all the different ways of arranging the furniture.

It is a very inexpensive web programme, that makes it really easy for you to get professional-looking layout plans that you can use in all your interior design projects.

You can add all kinds of furniture and accessories to get the exact look you want, then view in perspective mode to get a really useful, realistic view of your virtual home.

It is great fun to play around with, and designed specially for people who want to interior design it themselves - why not try it out on your current interior design project ... Revolutionary 3D Home Design Web Tool: Design rooms, remodel kitchens, plan landscaping and more. Check out Plan3D.com!

Free Interior Design Tool

My new favorite is the free software tool which I feature on my website here...

Don't miss it!

More interior design software reviews...

What's next:

Have a look at my best furniture arrangement tips for some handy hints on getting the layout that works for you.

Make sure you have room to manoeuvre with these professional guidelines on ideal spacing.

Don't forget:

Make notes on your How to Design checklist to keep your design on track

Help with the design process

Get help with the whole interior design process - and find out how interior designers do it in the main How to Design and Interior Design Tips section

Return from this page on Layout to the main page on Arranging Furniture

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