How toMeasureyourSpace.
Buying a new sofa is one of the biggest decisions you'll make for your home. It's where family gathers, where weekends are spent, where guests are welcomed and where everyday life unfolds.
Yet one of the most common mistakes people make isn't choosing the wrong fabric or colour - it's choosing furniture that simply doesn't fit the room, or the way they live.
At Sophie Conran, we believe beautiful furniture should feel as though it belongs in your home. That's why we offer a complimentary Floor Planning Service, to help remove the guesswork before you place your order.
Before you start comparing sofa styles, here are the most important things to consider.
Our Complimentary Floor Planning Service
1. Think About How You Really Use the Room
Before reaching for a tape measure, ask yourself one simple question: how do you actually live in this space?
Every home is different. Perhaps your living room is where the whole family gathers for movie nights. Maybe it's your quiet retreat for reading with a cup of tea. Or perhaps it's a formal entertaining room, used for hosting friends and family.
The room should work for your lifestyle, not the other way around.
Each of these uses naturally lends itself to a different furniture layout
2. Consider the Flow of the Room
A beautiful room also needs to function beautifully. Think about how people move through the space, and ask yourself:
- Is this a walkway between rooms?
- Does everyone naturally pass through here?
- Are there doors that need to open fully?
- Will children be running around?
If your room is used as a thoroughfare, avoid creating obstacles with oversized footstools or furniture placed across natural walking routes. Instead, consider layouts that define seating areas while still allowing easy movement.
Creating good flow often makes a room feel larger, calmer and more comfortable.
3. Identify the Room's Natural Focal Point
Every room has something that naturally draws the eye. It might be a fireplace, beautiful garden views, large windows, original architectural features, artwork, shelving - or even simply the television.
Rather than fighting these features, arrange your furniture to celebrate them. Creating a clear focal point helps a room feel balanced and intentional - the same instinct that runs through Sophie's approach to interior design.
Measuring Your Room
Once you've thought about how you'd like the room to work, it's time to measure. Don't worry - your sketch doesn't need to be an architect's drawing. A simple hand-drawn plan is absolutely perfect.
Draw a simple floor plan
Start at one corner — a doorway is usually easiest — and work your way around the room. Include:
- wall lengths
- doors
- windows
- fireplaces
- alcoves
- built-in cabinetry
- radiators
- steps or level changes
Label every measurement as you go. The drawing doesn't need to be to scale: accuracy is far more important than artistic ability.
Take plenty of photographs
Photos provide valuable context that measurements alone can't. Try to capture:
- every wall
- windows
- fireplaces
- architectural details
- adjoining rooms
- ceiling height
- existing furniture
The more information we have, the easier it is to visualise your space.
No access to the property?
Not everyone has the keys yet — and that's absolutely fine. If you're moving into a new home, we can usually work from:
- estate agent floor plans
- architectural drawings
- PDF plans
- JPEG images
- DWG architectural files
Estate agent floor plans are often an excellent starting point, as they typically include the room dimensions we need.
Never assume two alcoves, or either side of a fireplace, are identical. In older homes they rarely are.
Measure each side separately — you'd be surprised how often they're different.
How Much Space Should You Leave Around a Sofa?
Simple rules of thumbThe Plans We Draw for You
What We'll Create for You
Once you've gathered your measurements and photographs, we'll create a personalised furniture layout designed specifically for your home. Our team can help you:
- choose the right sofa size
- compare different layouts
- explore alternative furniture combinations
- understand circulation space
- ensure your furniture feels balanced within the room
It's completely complimentary, and often gives customers the confidence to make decisions they would otherwise find overwhelming.
From there, we'll help you create a room that feels comfortable, balanced and beautifully considered — making the process of choosing your new furniture as enjoyable as living with it.