Size It Up
Measuring Your Space
Proper and accurate measuring is a must before planning which cabinets and accessories will be needed and placement of exact
appliance locations. Kitchen designers will use ½" scale which means ½" on your ruler represents 12 inches or 1 foot of actual floor space. We have provided grid paper to download for your rough draft. On the grid paper, to make it even easier, we've scaled it so each square of the grid is equal to 3 inches of your actual floor space. Besides the grid paper, you will need
a tape measue, a one foot ruler and a pencil to begin your rough draft.
Follow the steps below to accurately measure your space. Transfer each measurement on the provided grid paper using the Sample Wall Measurements as a guide. Click here to download these steps.
Step 1: Begin at the left of any corner in the room and measure to the right corner, noting the total measurement in inches.
Step 2: Return to the left corner and measure to the outer edge of moulding of a door/window opening.
Step 3: Measure the doors and windows from the outer edge of moulding to outer edge of moulding. Notate which way
doors swing open.
Step 4: Continue measuring all doors and windows this same way along the wall to the right corner.
Step 5: Double-check your measurements by adding up all the measurements from Step 2 to Step 4. These should total
the overall wall measurement for Step 1. If they do not equal, you must remeasure before proceeding.
Step 6: Return to the left corner and measure to the center of any water lines, water drains, gas lines, electrical outlets or
electrical switches. You will need to pull appliances away from the wall if in the way.
Step 7: Note the measurements from the center of each outlet/switch to the floor. Continue measuring all of the items
listed on Step 6 until you reach the right corner.
Step 8: Double check that these measurements total the overall measurement in Step 1. Again, if they do not equal, you
must remeasure before proceeding.
Step 9: Note the overall height of each door, including moulding.
Step 10: Note the measurement from the bottom of the windowsill to the floor below each window.
Step 11: Note the measurement from the bottom of the windowsill to the top of the moulding of each window.
Step 12: Note the measurement from the top of each window to the ceiling.
Step 13: Measure the overall floor to ceiling height, accounting for soffits and beams.
Step 14: Double check that the measurements in Steps 10 through 12 equal Step 13. If they do not, remeasure.
Step 15: Repeat Steps 1 through 14 for each wall of the room.
Step 16: Measure all existing appliances that will be reused in your new kitchen. If new appliances will be used, it is best to
get the manufacturer's specifications prior to designing your new kitchen.
Step 17: As an added measure of caution, it is recommended that you measure the inside width of all entry doors and
doorways to check that existing cabinets and appliances can be removed, but especially that all new cabinets,
appliances and counter tops can be brought in without onsite modifications.
See a Sample Wall Measurement Diagram
Drawing Your Floor Plan
You are now ready to draw your floor plan on the grid paper provided. (A scale ruler is helpful.) Before you begin, understand that you are converting your measurements in inches down to a scale of ½". In other words, each 12" (or 1 foot) section of your
actual measurements will equal ½" on your ruler. Furthermore, each small square on your grid paper equals 3" of your actual
measurements. To transfer the measurements that you have obtained from each wall, use a pencil and follow the steps below. Download grid paper here.
Step 1: Draw a line equal to the total measurement of each wall that was measured in ½" scale.
Step 2: Notate the total measurement in "dimension lines" on the outside of the lines drawn in Step 1.
Step 3: Draw where the doors and windows are located on each wall using these symbols:
Window
Door
Step 4: Notate the measurements of each window and door in "dimension lines" between the wall lines and the "dimension lines" for the total measurement.
Step 5: Locate and draw the gas lines, water lines, electrical outlets and switches located on each wall using these symbols:
Gas
Water
Electrical Outlets
Switches
See a Sample Layout
