Do not measure the door width only. Also check the space the door needs when it opens.

In older rentals, converted flats or narrow bedrooms, a cabinet placed too close to the door may sit inside the swing area. Measure from the hinge and check whether the door can open comfortably without hitting the furniture.

A drawer needs more space than the cabinet depth alone.

If a drawer is 38 cm deep, you need roughly the same amount of clear space in front to open it fully, plus a little extra room for your hand. In a narrow bedroom or hallway, deep drawers can quickly reduce usable floor space. Before choosing a cabinet, check the drawer depth and where the drawer will open.

For a desk, measure the chair space as carefully as the desktop.

Pull your chair out as if you are standing up. As a practical guide, around 60 cm behind the chair can work for a compact setup, while 75 cm usually feels more comfortable if you use an office chair with arms. This is one of the easiest measurements to forget in a small work-from-home corner.

A small room still needs clear routes.

Check the paths you use every day: bed to door, desk to window, sofa to kitchen, cabinet to wardrobe. Around 90 cm feels comfortable for regular movement, but in a compact rental, 60 cm may be a practical minimum for one person to pass. Try not to let furniture break your main walking lines.

Skirting boards can stop furniture from sitting flush against the wall.

In many European rentals, skirting boards protrude a few centimetres from the wall. In older or period properties, they may be taller or deeper than expected. Measure at floor level, not just at eye level, and check whether the cabinet base or back panel allows for a small gap.

Radiators need space around them.

A cabinet placed directly in front of a radiator can block heat circulation and may affect the furniture over time. If you need to place furniture near a radiator, leave clearance for airflow and avoid covering valves or controls. For tight rooms, a lower cabinet may work better than a tall unit beside a radiator.

Sockets are easy to forget until the furniture is already in place.

Before placing a tall cabinet, bookcase or desk, check whether you still need access to that socket for a lamp, router, charger or monitor. If cable access matters, check the product images and specifications before you decide where the furniture will go.

The delivery route matters as much as the room.

Measure the doorway, hallway, stair turns and lift before delivery. For flat-pack furniture, check the package dimensions rather than the assembled size. The longest side, narrowest edge and diagonal of the box can all matter, especially in older buildings, walk-ups or flats with tight turns.