Furniture that doesn't fit: how to measure, check the delivery route and fix it on site
A few centimetres can stop a wardrobe, a sofa or a reception desk. Where size problems come from, how to avoid them and what to do on site.
Furniture usually does not fit for one of three reasons: the room was built differently from the drawings, the piece was made to drawing dimensions instead of site measurements, or it cannot pass through the delivery route. To prevent it, measure the site after walls, floors and ceilings are finished, approve production drawings with real dimensions, check doors, corridors, lifts and stairs, and plan tolerances for built-in pieces. If something still does not fit, many issues can be fixed on site; DOMA's specialists solve them on site.
Why furniture doesn't fit
- Built is not drawn. Walls are rarely perfectly straight or square. A niche drawn at 200 cm can be 198 cm at the top and 201 cm at the bottom.
- Finishes add thickness. Tiles, stone, wall panels and skirting change the clear size of the room after the first measurement.
- Hidden obstacles. Sockets, AC grilles, sprinklers, access panels and window sills appear where the drawing showed a clean wall.
- The route. The piece fits the room but not the door, the corridor turn, the service lift or the stairs.
- Last-minute changes. A layout changes after the order and nobody updates the furniture drawing.
How to measure
- Measure after the finishes. Final floor, walls and ceiling. For built-in pieces, measure as late as the programme allows.
- Measure in several places. Width at the bottom, middle and top; height at both ends; check the corners for square.
- Mark every obstacle. Sockets, switches, grilles, pipes, skirting heights, door swings.
- Photograph the site with a tape measure in the frame.
- Put it on the production drawing. The factory works from the approved drawing, so the site sizes must be on it.
Check the delivery route
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Entrance and apartment doors | Clear width and height with the door open, not the door leaf |
| Corridors and turns | A long sofa may pass a straight corridor but not a 90° turn |
| Service lift | Inside width, depth, height and diagonal; booking rules in towers |
| Stairs | Width, headroom and turns for villas and duplexes |
| Loading bay | Truck access and delivery hours set by building management |
When the route is tight, the piece can be designed to arrive in sections, with removable legs or arms, and be assembled in the room.
Plan tolerances for built-in pieces
Built-in wardrobes, panelling and banquettes should not be made to the exact millimetre of the niche. They are made slightly smaller, with filler or scribe pieces that are cut on site to close the gap against the real wall. The result looks built-in, and the piece goes in without force.
What to check by item
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Built-in wardrobes | Width at three heights, ceiling height at both ends, skirting, door swing in front |
| Sofas and sectionals | Route through doors and lifts, sections and connectors, wall sockets behind |
| Dining tables | 60–75 cm around the table for chairs to pull out |
| Beds and headboards | Wall width, sockets and switches behind the headboard, bedside space |
| Rugs | Measured after the floor is finished and the furniture plan is fixed. See how a bespoke rug is made |
| Reception desks | Floor boxes and power, level floor, delivery in sections |
If something doesn't fit on the day
- Small gaps and uneven floors: adjustable feet, levellers, filler and scribe pieces.
- Too large for the route: partial disassembly, removing legs or doors, assembly in the room.
- Too large for the space: adjustment on site where the construction allows, or a corrected piece made from updated measurements.
- Record everything: photos and measurements, so the factory works from facts.
If something doesn't fit, our specialists solve it on site
We measure, approve production drawings with real dimensions and check the delivery route before anything is made. If something still does not fit, our specialists solve it on site.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't my furniture fit?
Usually because the room was built differently from the drawings, the piece was made to drawing sizes instead of site measurements, or it cannot pass the doors, corridors or lift on the way in.
When should a site be measured for furniture?
After the walls, floors and ceilings are finished. For built-in pieces, as late as the programme allows.
How do I check if a sofa will fit through the door?
Measure the clear door width and height, the corridor and any turns, and the service lift inside dimensions and diagonal. Long pieces can be made in sections.
What are scribe or filler pieces?
Strips that are cut on site to close the gap between a built-in piece and an uneven wall, so the piece looks built-in without being forced in.
Can furniture be adjusted on site?
Often, yes: levellers, fillers, partial disassembly and assembly in the room. DOMA's specialists solve size problems on site.
Who measures the site for custom furniture?
The supplier should measure or verify the site before production and put the real dimensions on the drawing that the factory approves.
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Send the drawings and the site address. We check the sizes and the route before anything is made.
+971 58 535 2102
mz@doma.ae · main@doma.ae
The H Office Tower, office 2903-2
1 Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
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