Buying furniture online used to be a gamble: is 88 inches huge or fine? Will the sectional even make it up the staircase? The answer is a tape measure and ten minutes. Here is the same pre-purchase checklist our customer team walks every custom order through.
What you need
A 25-foot tape measure, a notebook or phone, and a second pair of hands for the long walls. Measure twice – furniture does not forgive optimistic math.
Step-by-step: the four measurements that matter
- The footprint. Measure the floor area where the piece will live – for a modular sectional, include the chaise’s full extension, not just the main body.
- The walkways. Mark at least 30 inches of main traffic path and 24 inches beside a bed. Tape the outline on the floor if you want zero doubt.
- The delivery route. Measure every doorway, hallway, elevator, and stairwell turn the box must pass. Our flat-packs fit standard openings, but sectionals above 100 inches deserve a second measurement.
- The vertical clearance. Ceiling height over the piece, window sills behind sofas, and the distance from bed frame to the nearest overhead light – all three surprise people every week.
Three checks most people skip
- Radiators and baseboards: a sofa cannot sit flush against a 4-inch baseboard – count the real depth, not the wall-to-walkway number.
- Door swing: open every door in the room to its full arc while your tape outline is down. A nightstand that eats a door swing is a daily annoyance.
- Scale, not just size: a piece that “fits” on paper can still look tiny against a long wall. Compare its dimensions to furniture you already know works in the room.
Custom sizes start with your numbers
Because we build to order, your measurements set the dimensions – a 92-inch narrow-loft sectional instead of the 108-inch standard, a bed frame shaved six inches for a column corner. Send us your numbers and photos; our engineers verify feasibility and return a written spec sheet plus free fabric swatches before any cutting begins.
Ready to order with confidence? Start from any product in the shop or send us your dimensions on the Custom Furniture page.