Space needed around furniture
Clearances that make a room comfortable — walkways, space beside beds, in front of wardrobes, around dining tables and in kitchens and bathrooms.
By Hayk Petrosyan · · 2 min read
A room can be full of furniture that technically fits and still be uncomfortable. The numbers below are common guidelines used by designers; accessibility standards ask for more.
Walkways
| Where | Comfortable clear width |
|---|---|
| Main route through a room | about 90 cm |
| Minor route (between a bed and a wall) | about 60 cm |
| Corridor or hall | 90–120 cm |
Living room
- Between a sofa and a coffee table: 40–50 cm, so you can reach a cup without leaning.
- Between facing sofas or a sofa and armchair: about 120–240 cm, close enough to talk.
- TV distance: roughly 1.5–2.5 times the screen diagonal.
Bedroom
- Beside the bed: at least 60 cm on each side you get in from.
- At the foot of the bed: 70–90 cm if you walk past or there is a wardrobe opposite.
- In front of a wardrobe with hinged doors: about 90 cm; sliding doors need less.
Dining
- Behind a dining chair: at least 75 cm to pull it out and sit down, about 100 cm if people walk behind it.
- Width per seated person at a table: about 60 cm.
Kitchen
- Between facing counters or a counter and an island: 100–120 cm, more if two people cook.
- In front of a dishwasher or oven: enough to open the door fully and stand beside it, about 100 cm.
- See also the kitchen work triangle.
Bathroom
- In front of a toilet or basin: about 60 cm clear.
- Beside a toilet: about 20 cm from its centre line to a side wall, or more.
Doors
A hinged door sweeps a quarter circle as wide as the door. Keep that area clear of furniture; Roomdraft draws each door's swing and marks furniture that blocks it.