How to Take Bathroom and Kitchen Measurements for Your Remodeling Project
Remodeling a kitchen or bathroom takes a lot of planning and coordinating, and it all starts with taking good measurements. While you may have some rough dimensions already available, measuring rooms in a home provides some context and helps you decide which fixtures and features will work best in the space.
Here are some tips for how to measure for pieces for your bathroom and kitchen, taking into account extra space needed for your countertops, workspaces, and appliances.
Measuring for Kitchen Cabinet Sizes
Kitchen cabinet sizes vary greatly, so it’s crucial to take good measurements so you know what will fit inside your space. Start the measuring process with a long measuring tape, a pad of grid paper, and a couple pens or pencils in different colors. You’ll also want to clear away kitchen counter appliances to allow for proper measuring space.
Then you can draw a basic outline of the room, making sure to note the wall lengths and ceiling height. It’s also a good idea at this point to check the squareness of your corners to determine whether inconsistencies will need to be addressed when installing cabinets. From here, you should take measurements of doors, windows, and pipes along the walls and make note of plumbing fixtures and electrical features. This includes light switches, phone jacks, and heating vents too.
Don’t forget about furniture pieces and appliances that will remain in the kitchen even after the remodeling project is complete. It’s a smart idea to check with an electrician or plumber to determine if any issues will arise from installing kitchen cabinets where you’d like them to be.
Measuring in the Bathroom
Bathroom renovations are also popular among homeowners and pose significant challenges due to space constraints. The standard bathtub size is about 60 inches long and 32 inches wide. However, specialty bathtub styles vary greatly, so yours may be considerably larger than this. Larger bathrooms may be able to accommodate soaking tubs, but if you rarely take baths, you may be able to safe space by only installing a shower.
Meanwhile, most toilets need about 30 inches of width, while sinks need at least 30 inches or more to fit in comfortably. For very small bathrooms, consider placing the sink at the end of the tub if your measurements will accommodate this arrangement.
General Measurement Advice
For both kitchens measurements and bathroom measurements, here are some general pieces of advice for getting accurate figures for easier installation.
• Include duct work and ventilation locations on your measurement drawing
• Include dimensions of light fixtures that you’ll keep after the renovation
• Leave large items in place that will stay in your room when taking measurements
• Measure windows with the trim and sill dimensions included
Tiles Measurement Tips
Another important task when you’re remodeling is to take an accurate tiles measurement. The first step is to find the center of your room to create an aesthetically pleasing layout. Ultimately, you’ll want to start with the center of your bathroom or kitchen and then move out towards the corners.
You can find the center by measuring the distance of all walls and dividing those measurements in half to find the center of each of the walls. Square rooms will yield equal measurements. But if you have walls that are different lengths, just use the measurement from the shorter wall to find the closest point to center.
The golden rule for taking a tiles measurement is "length x width + waste = amount of tile needed." The waste factor is usually about 10 percent, but diagonally installed tile will usually require more materials and create additional waste. When in doubt, it’s a good idea to consult a professional tile installer about tiles measurement questions and any discrepancies that arise to avoid paying for additional materials unnecessarily or running out of supplies in the middle of your project.