Symbols for furniture and the real space requirement Bed Work
place Sofa and easy chairs Cupboard
Slide 3
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
Slide 4
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 / Entrance A 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. Bedrooms The 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
Slide 5
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
Slide 6
Arrangement of bedroom Here 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.
Slide 7
Living rooms A 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
Slide 8
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
Slide 9
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
Slide 10
Kitchen In 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 Preparation 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
Slide 11
Dish washing area Preparation Cooking For convenience the
cooking place should be placed to the right and the dish washing
area to the left side. Arranging the Kitchen
Slide 12
Distances and heights in kitchens
Slide 13
40m2 utilised in 3 different ways
Slide 14
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. Passage With 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
Slide 15
Examples on how bathrooms can be arranged
Slide 16
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
Slide 17
Entrances 1.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 area 5.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? Kitchen 8.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.? Bedroom 14.is there space
for required furniture in sensible arrangements consider use of
beds? 15.can bedroom be used for childs homework, entertaining
friends & hobbies? Bathroom 16.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