Figuring out how to draw a floor plan can seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple steps you can swiftly and easily create something that shows off the space in your home and will help you design it in no time. All you need is a pencil, paper, tape measure and a bit of creativity!
First, measure the dimensions of the room. This is super important, as it gives you an accurate idea of the size of the space, as well as its proportions. Get a feel for the width of the walls, the length of them and the approximate corner angles. Once you have those basics down, you can get ready to draw your floor plan.
Secondly, decide how you want to arrange the furniture – it’s much easier to plan ahead than trying to cram everything in later. Pull up a chair and envision where you’d like the sofa, the TV, the rugs, and other items to go, and draw them in. Try to keep things balanced, but it doesn’t have to be exact – this is just the outline of the space.
Thirdly, start locating the walls. Use your measurements from step one and draw a simple outline on the blank sheet of paper. You can draw these walls freehand or use graph paper or a ruler for a super precise result. Don’t worry about adding details like windows and doors just yet- all you need is the bones of the room.
Now for the fun part – adding those details! Pop your windows and doors in their corresponding places, and you can even begin mapping out the location of any electrical points, skirting boards and radiators. Once you’re done you’ll get a better feel for how each detail of the room comes together.
Finally, you’ll want to finish off your floor plan with a bit of interior design. Choose what flooring you’re going to place and where. If you need help, use a swatch to get a better idea of the look and feel. Consider what colours could work in the room and get creative with patterns and textures. Doing a few sketches of the end result can also be helpful.
When you’re done getting creative, you can use your floor plan to visualise the entire space and get a stronger understanding of how your different pieces might work together. Plus, if you ever want to change things up, you can easily refer to your plan to check what works and where. So before you attempt a major home design project, why not try drawing up a detailed floor plan? It’ll make things go much smoother and take a lot of the guesswork out of crafting a beautiful home!
Now that you know the basics of how to draw a floor plan, here are a few additional steps to take when creating your design. First, make sure to create a grid pattern for your walls to trace the edges and accurately size the walls. This will give you a good sense of how everything should fit in the room. Secondly, it can be helpful to make a note of the orientation of the room, including what side is north. This will help you set up the room correctly and make sure you don’t end up with any awkward placement problems later down the line.
Thirdly, when you are plotting furniture and fixtures, take into account the size of the pieces you plan on using. That way, you can ensure they will fit in the room and look balanced. Fourthly, don’t forget to draw in power outlets and light switches – it’s easy to get carried away in the design process, only to realise you don’t have an easy way to plug in your appliances at the end. Lastly, if you plan to use any existing furnishings, like a sofa or a bed, make sure to measure them and include them in the plan. This is an important way to make sure nothing gets left behind or forgotten when it comes time to move.
Now that you know how to draw a floor plan, why not get creative with the details? From drawing in a fireplace, to adding in plants to bring a bit of life to the room, getting creative is the best way to bring personality and flair to your space. Play around with the design and materials until you have something that truly speaks to you and your individual style. With a bit of imagination and some trial and error, you can create a floor plan that accurately depicts your dream home – and will be a helpful guide throughout the entire designing process!
