Download - Space requirements And furniture
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