Space requirements And furniture

Symbols for furniture and the real space requirement

Bed

Work place

Sofa and easy chairs

Cupboard

Symbols for furniture, fixed furniture and sanitary appliances

Furniture

Bed

Sofa

Easy chair

Ordinary chair

Wheel Chair

Dining table

Working table

Entrance wardrobe with racks

Clothes & linen cupboard

Chest

Cabinet

Bookcase

TV

Kitchen equipment

Single & double sink

Cooker &

oven

Refrigerator

Storage closet for broom etc.

Table top with wall cupboards

Bathroom equipment

WC

Bidet

Hand wash Basin

Shower place

Bath tub

Laundry equipment

Washing machine

Drying space/closet

Washing table top with wall cabinet

The usefulness of a dwelling highly depends on the way it is furnished. Well organised furniture will increase the usefulness of the dwelling.

The following outline with measurements of furniture can be of help to make useful furniture planning. The outline will provide measurement on commonly used furniture and the required free space around the furniture, when they are used and space required for cleaning.

Hall way / EntranceA wardrobe or a rack with hangers for 4 persons requires min. 600 x 1200 mm, and a chest of drawers approx. 400 x 800 mm plus free space in front approx. 900 mm. The hall should have a free floor area of at least 1300 x 1300 mm.

BedroomsThe size of a bed is approx. 2100 x 900 mm. Besides that a free space of 700mm along the bed is required. Space required in total 2100 x 1600 mm.

700mm as free floorspace along the bed is not much for cleaning. With 1000 x 1200 mm cleaning becomes much easier.

A combined bed- and living room for one person should have a width om min. 2400mm and a floor area of at least 10m2 to give reasonable possibilities for organising furniture in the room.

There should be at least 900mm free space in front of wardrobes/cabinets and table to allow space for cleaning and movement.

Space requirements for furniture

A double bed requires approx. 2100 x 1800 mm, and with free space approx. 2700 x 3200mm including passage at one end og the bed.

A bedroom furnished with a double bed, should have a floor area of at least 12m2 and one full wall lenght of at least 3200mm. (without windows or doors)

Placed parallel two beds including free space occupy at least 2700 x 2100 mm.

Two beds placed at an angle should be spaced with a distance of at least 600mm toallow space for cleaning and doing the bed. Total space required for such two beds is approx. 3600 x 2100mm.

Bedrooms continued

Arrangement of bedroomHere are 3 examples of room for one person. The floor area is 8, 10 and 12 m2

The examples illustrate how much can be achieved by increasing the floor area with a few m2.

Living roomsA sofa and two easy chairs require approx. 2200 x 3000mm, with three chairs approx. 3000 x 3000mm and with four chairs approx. 4000 x 3000mm.

In a common living room there should be at leat 3000mm wall space for chest of drawers, bookscase and shelves etc., where books, papers,tv, radio and taperecorder can be placed.

An ordinary office desk requires approx. 800 x 1600mm plus space for a chair 900mm, in total 1700 x 1600 mm. A small desk requires approx. 600 x 1200mm plus space for a chair 900mm, in total approx. 1500 x 1200mm

A dining area for 4 persons require approx. 1200 x 2400mm and for 8 persons approx. 2400 x 2400mm. Additionally 600mm space for passage should be included at one table end.

A dining area with a round table for 4 – 6 persons require approx. 2800 x 2800mm. If extended for 8 persons the space required is approx. 2800 x 3400mm. Additional space should be included for passage on at least one side of the table.

Dining area

The possibilities of arranging furniture in a room depends on the size and shape of the room as well as the placement of windows and doors.

A room with sizes of approx. 3 x 4 m kan be utilised in a number of ways. For example as bedroom, living room or dinning room.

How the individual rooms can be arranged

KitchenIn a dwelling for 2 - 3 persons there should be approx. 4 m work top including cooker and refrigerator, and in an dwelling for 4 – 6 persons the length shuold be approx. 4 – 5 m.

Regardless of the kitchen type and shape the best working sequence is aquired when the individual workplaces and work tops in principal are arranged as shown on fig. 1, with dish washing area at the left side.

The closet for broom can be placed outside the kitchen, for example in the scullery or entrance room. Also the fridge can be placed outside the kitchen.

Dish wash Preparatio

n Cooking

Kitchen Work tops and fixtures for dwelling with 2 – 3 persons

Kitchen Work tops and fixtures for dwelling with 4 - 6 persons

Kitchen equipment

Fig. 1

Dish washing area PreparationCooking

For convenience the cooking place should be placed to the right and the dish washing area to the left side.

Arranging the Kitchen

Distances and heights in kitchens

40m2 utilised in 3 different ways

Bathrooms

To ensure a reasonable free floor space and space for cleaning in the bathroom, there should be a free distance of at least 1100mm in front of sanitary equipment. In an extra WC – room a free distance of 600 – 800 mm could be acceptable, but the space is limited and cleaning difficult.

PassageWith a free area of 600mm one can pass between two pieces of furniture or between a piece of furniture and wall. If 900mm is available one can pass carrying a tray or a bucket and a broom.

Areas with intensive traffic, for example between two doors, or between a sofa and a dining place or along a staircase, should be at least 1000mm wide.

Bathroom equipment and arrangement

Examples on how bathrooms can be arranged

The way a door is placed and the space it occupies when opened, has great influence on the way the room can be furnished and arranged.

A door placed close to the corner of a room can be left open without interupting anything.

With a distance of 400mm from the corner there is space for a bookcase or shelf behind the door. With 700mm distance a wardrobe or closet can be fixed behind the door.

If the distance is 1000mm between door and a corner, it will be possible to place a bed next to the door and if there is 1500mm there could also be room for a bed table.

A distance of 2200mm between door and corner allows a bed or sofa to be placed along the wall.

Placing of Doors

Entrances1. is protection from weather provided at entrances?2. is there space in hall for receiving visitors?3. is there convenient storage for outdoor clothing & pram?4. can meters be read without entering living area

 

Living area5. is there space for required furniture in sensible

arrangement?6. is there sufficient space to seat guests in dinning area?7. does living room face private garden?

 

Kitchen8. is there direct access, on same level, from kitchen to

dinning area?9. is work surface adequate, free from interruption &

obstruction?10. is work triangle (sink, cooker – refrigerator) compact and

free from cross – circulation?11. has possible use of kitchen by elderly or disabled people

been considered?12. is there space for additional equipment or large items

likely to be used in future?13. has kitchen view of outside world – for callers, toddlers

play etc.? 

Bedroom14. is there space for required furniture in sensible

arrangements – consider use of beds?15. can bedroom be used for child’s homework, entertaining

friends & hobbies? 

Bathroom16. is bathroom convenient for bathing baby?17. has use of bathroom by elderly people, invalids, been

considered?18. is there space for appropriate bathroom equipment

hanging towels etc.? 

Storage &accessibility 19. are refuse bine & fuel storage accessible, conveniently

placed for collection & delivery?20. can bicycles be taken outside, pram put in garden &

garden refuse removed, without passing through living area?

 

  

User requirement check list