How do I prepare a room layout to discuss with an interior designer?

Aim for a useful starting point, not a polished architectural drawing. Make a rough plan showing the room’s shape and dimensions, then mark doors, windows, radiators, built-ins, outlets or other features that may affect placement. Add furniture you hope to keep, with its width and depth if you can measure them. If a measurement is missing, write “unknown” rather than guessing.

Pair the plan with a few lines about how the room needs to work: who uses it, what activities happen there, and what feels awkward now. Add your priorities—such as keeping a particular piece of furniture or making space for an additional activity—and any limits you already know, like a fixed doorway or furniture that cannot be moved. The designer can help explore arrangements; your brief helps them understand the problem.

Be consistent and clear about what each measurement describes. Note the room’s length and width, and include any alcoves, angled sections, or changes in depth that affect the usable area. Mark where each door and window is along the relevant wall, and indicate which way a door opens if that matters to the layout. Label each wall so you can refer to it easily in conversation.

A hand-drawn sketch is fine if its labels are legible. You can write dimensions directly on it, or make a small list keyed to wall labels. Measure existing furniture you want to retain, too; a sofa’s overall width and depth are often more useful for layout discussion than its name or style. Treat the drawing as a discussion aid, not a guarantee of exact fit. Flag estimates and ask the designer which details need checking before a final plan.

Describe activities and priorities rather than deciding where every item must go. For example, say, “We need comfortable seating for everyday conversation, a clear route between the entrance and the kitchen, and a place to read,” instead of insisting on a specific sofa position before the designer has reviewed the room.

Separate needs from preferences. A need might be keeping a large bookcase; a preference might be trying a chair near the window. Mention what currently works and what does not, with a concrete example: “The chair blocks access to the cabinet when it is pulled out.” If more than one person uses the room, list any different needs so they can be discussed together. You can rank priorities as must keep, would like, and open to changing. That gives the designer room to suggest options while making your boundaries visible.

Copy this into a note and attach your sketch or photos. Replace the bracketed prompts with your details; skip anything that does not apply.

Room: [room name] Main purpose and activities: [what happens here] People using it: [who, or how many] Room shape and dimensions: [measurements, units, unusual sections] Fixed features: [doors and swing direction, windows, built-ins, other features] Furniture to keep: [item, width × depth, height if relevant; mark unknowns] What works now: [specific examples] What is difficult: [specific examples] Priorities: [must keep / would like / open to changing] Known constraints: [items that cannot move, access needs, timing, or other limits] Questions for the designer: [your main layout questions] Uncertain details to verify: [measurements or features to recheck]

For example, “Room: living room. Main purpose: conversation and reading. Must keep: bookcase, dimensions to confirm. Difficult: cabinet access is blocked when the chair is pulled out. Open question: how could seating and the reading area share the room?” This is a hypothetical example, not a recommended layout. Bring the information you have and clearly label what still needs confirmation.