Measuring Before You Buy
Most homeware returns have the same cause: the piece was a different size in the room than it was in the imagination. A side table that looked slim online crowds the sofa. A rug stops short of the furniture it was meant to anchor. A mirror is hung too low because nobody checked the wall. All of it is avoidable with a tape measure, some masking tape and about ten minutes.
Measure the space, not just the spot
Start with the footprint the piece will occupy, then measure the space around it. Furniture needs breathing room. As a rough guide, leave enough space to walk past comfortably, to open drawers and doors, and to pull a chair out. If a piece looks right on paper but leaves a tight squeeze, it will feel awkward every day.
Use tape to see it in the room
Mark the width and depth on the floor with masking tape, or cut a sheet of newspaper to size. For wall pieces such as the Arched Wall Mirror or the Abstract Framed Print, tape the outline on the wall at the height you plan to hang it. Leave it up for a day. You will quickly see whether the proportions work with the furniture beneath it, and whether the height suits you when you walk past.
Rugs: choose the size by the furniture
The Hand-Loomed Accent Rug comes in 120 x 180 cm and 160 x 230 cm. The right one depends on the room. In a living room, the front legs of the sofa and chairs usually look best sitting on the rug, so the furniture feels grouped rather than floating. In a bedroom, a rug that extends beyond the sides of the bed is more comfortable underfoot. Measure the area and compare it to the two sizes before choosing.
Soft furnishings: match the insert
For cushion covers, the usual approach is to choose a cover the same size as the cushion inside, or slightly smaller for a fuller look. The Linen Cushion Cover is offered in 45 x 45 cm, 50 x 50 cm and 60 x 60 cm. Measure your existing inserts across before ordering. For bedding, the Washed Cotton Bedding Set comes in Single, Double and King, so check your mattress size rather than guessing from the name of the bed.
Doors, stairs and corridors
Larger pieces have to get into the house first. Measure the front door, any narrow corridors, lift doors and stairwell turns, and compare them with the piece you are considering. This matters most for furniture and mirrors. A beautiful table that cannot get past a tight landing is a problem for everybody.
Lamps and heights
With lighting, height matters as much as footprint. A table lamp sits on a surface, so measure the surface and think about eye level when you are seated. A floor lamp such as the Slim Floor Lamp needs a spot near a power socket, and a cable that stretches across a walkway is both untidy and easy to trip over. Check where your sockets are before you choose where the lamp will live.
Check the product page, then ask
- Read the size options and description on the product page for the piece you want.
- Compare them with your tape measurements, not with how big the photo feels.
- If you cannot find a measurement you need, message us before ordering.
We would rather answer a question than process a return. If you send your room measurements on WhatsApp, we will tell you honestly whether we think a piece will work. Not every question has a certain answer, but we will not tell you something fits when we are not sure.
If it still does not fit
Most items can be returned within 14 days, as long as they are unused and in their original packaging. Gift cards are non-refundable, and individual products may carry their own notes, so check the product page for the returns policy of what you are buying. Keep the packaging until you are sure you are keeping the piece, because a returned item that is missing its box is harder to accept.
A quick checklist before you order
- Measured the footprint and the space around it.
- Taped the outline on the floor or wall and lived with it for a day.
- Checked doorways, corridors and stairs for larger pieces.
- Picked the right size option for rugs, cushion covers and bedding.
- Found the nearest socket for lamps.
Ten minutes of measuring is dull, and it is also the cheapest part of furnishing a home. Browse the Living Room collection once you know your numbers, and order with confidence. When you place an order, we confirm it with you on WhatsApp first, so you also have one more chance to check the details with us.