How to Graph Scale Models of Floor Plans
Whether you are rearranging your furniture, redecorating a room or designing an entire new house it is helpful to know how to graph scale models of floor plans. The only tools needed to graph a floor plan are graph paper, a measuring tape, a pencil and basic math skills. With these tools you can take the guesswork out of rearranging your furniture and you can design your dream room, even your dream house, with ease. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Select the scale of your floor plan by deciding what measurement will be represented by each square on the graph paper. The easiest option is to make each 1/4-inch square represent a foot (12 inches). If you want your floor plan to be large enough to include a great deal of detail, however, you may need to make each square represent a half foot (6 inches) or even a quarter of a foot (3 inches).
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Measure the walls of your room using a measuring tape and transfer your measurements onto the graph paper by counting out the squares. For example, if you are using a 1 square to 6-inch scale and your room measures 12 feet by 13 feet, on graph paper the floor plan will measure 24 by 26 squares.
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Measure the widths of doors and windows in your room and add them to the drawing by darkening the squares of graph paper or by drawing a thick line. Use your measuring tape to determine the exact position of each door and window and draw them in the correct position on your floor plan. To differentiate between doors and windows you can mark doors with a line extending into the room and an arc connecting the edge of the door to the wall.
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Measure the lengths, widths and position of any permanent fixtures in the room such as sinks, counters and islands. Mark these fixtures on your floor plan and label them accordingly.
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Draw out scale models of the furniture you intend to use in your room on a separate piece of graph paper. Use the same scale you used for your floor plan. Cut out the scale drawings of furniture and experiment with different furniture arrangement by placing the drawings on your floor plan.
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Tips & Warnings
You can use this process to draw out scale models of floor plans using existing rooms for the purpose of furniture rearrangement or it can be an easy way to experiment with designs for new rooms.
Create all of your drawings in pencil in case you find that you need to alter the scale or the position of a door or window part-way into the process.
Many floor plan design programs are available online that can make it even easier to create scale model floor plans.
References
- Photo Credit plan of a flat image by forca from Fotolia.com
