Begin with the room’s fixed reference points
Photograph the whole room straight-on and mark the fireplace, alcoves, picture rail, skirting, doors, sockets and window line. Measure between those fixed points instead of relying on a single wall width. Decide what must remain visible and which furniture needs daily clearance. This establishes a design boundary before products are ordered. It can reveal that a standard cabinet blocks an original vent or that a television centreline conflicts with comfortable viewing. The aim is not to freeze the room in time; it is to add useful elements deliberately, without cutting sound joinery simply because the product arrived in a standard size.

