In short. To furnish a room without mistakes, about ten measurements are enough: a stool seat 25 to 30 cm lower than the worktop, 65 to 80 cm between a table and the bottom of its pendant light, about 60 cm of table width per guest, a living room rug 30 to 50 cm wider than the sofa, a side table at armrest height within 5 cm, and a bedside table 5 to 10 cm from the top of the mattress. This cheat sheet gathers all these measurements in one table, with a link to the detailed guide for each piece of furniture.
Measurements and rules taken from our guides published between September and November 2026. External sources (Amerisleep, Studio McGee, DutchCrafters, Flowyline, Decor Snob) are cited in each guide.
The reference measurements table
| Furniture | Measurement to remember | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen island or counter stool (worktop about 90 cm) | seat at 60 to 65 cm | bar stool height |
| Bar stool (bar top about 105 cm) | seat at 75 to 76 cm | bar stool height |
| Low stool | 45 to 47 cm | low and kitchen stools |
| Dining table | about 60 cm of width per person. 4 people: 80 cm square or 90 to 110 cm round. 6 people: round of at least 120 cm | dining table size |
| Chair with armrests | top of the armrest about 4.5 cm below the table apron | chairs with armrests |
| Dining or end-of-bed bench | 45 to 50 cm high, shorter than the bed (100 to 116 cm for a 140 cm bed) | bench size |
| Pendant light over the table | 65 to 80 cm between the table top and the bottom of the lamp. Diameter: a third to a half of the table | pendant light height |
| Living room rug | 30 to 50 cm wider than the sofa. 2-seater: 160 x 230. 3-seater: 200 x 290. Corner sofa: 240 x 340 | living room rug size |
| Round rug under a round table | table diameter plus 120 to 150 cm | round rug |
| Kids' room rug | 120 x 180 along the bed, 160 x 230 for a room of about 3 x 3 m | kids' room rug |
| Side table | armrest height within 5 cm, placed 5 to 8 cm from the sofa | side table height |
| Footstool pouf | 2 to 3 cm lower than the sofa seat | pouf height |
| Table lamp | less than 1.5 times the height of the table under it, bottom of the shade at eye level when seated | table lamp |
| Bedside table | top 5 to 10 cm from the top of the mattress | bedside table height |
| Sofa cushions | 4 to 5 on a standard sofa, 7 to 10 on a corner sofa, 5 to 10 cm between sizes | cushion sizes |
| TV stand | at least as wide as the screen: 50 inches about 111 cm, 55 inches about 122 cm, 65 inches about 144 cm | TV stand size |
Kitchen and dining room
- the 25 to 30 cm rule: between a stool seat and the top of the worktop, you need 25 to 30 cm to fit your legs. A 90 cm island therefore calls for a 60 to 65 cm seat, a 105 cm bar for a 75 to 76 cm seat
- 60 cm per stool or per guest: a 2 metre island seats 3 stools. On a 107 cm bench at the table, two people fit, with about 53 cm each
- the pendant light: with a 250 cm ceiling and a 75 cm table, the 65 to 80 cm rule leaves about 100 cm between the ceiling and the bottom of the lamp. Over a table longer than 160 cm, two or three small pendants, spaced 60 to 80 cm apart, light better than a single one
- armrests: measure from the floor to the underside of the table apron before buying. Armrests at 65, 67 or 69 cm need an apron at 69.5, 71.5 or 73.5 cm at least
Living room
- the rug: at the very least, the front feet of the sofa rest on it, and 30 to 50 cm of bare floor is left between the rug and the walls
- the side table: measure the armrest from the floor, then aim for the same height within 5 cm
- the table lamp: on a 40 cm side table, the lamp stays under 60 cm, and its shade stays narrower than the table top
- cushions: the largest at the back (Studio McGee recommends 56 to 61 cm), the smallest in front. On an armchair, one cushion is enough
- the TV stand: a 55 inch 16:9 screen is about 122 cm wide without its frame, so a stand of at least 130 cm
Bedroom
- the bedside table: 5 to 10 cm from the top of the mattress, according to mattress seller Amerisleep. For a bedside lamp, the bottom of the shade reaches shoulder height when you sit in bed
- the end-of-bed bench: 100 to 116 cm for a 140 cm bed, 133 to 135 cm for a 160 cm bed
- the kids' rug: in a 3 x 3 m room, a 290 x 200 cm rug covers 64 % of the floor, which is too much. The 160 x 230 cm stays the largest size that leaves room for furniture
The 5 most common measuring mistakes
- a 75 cm bar stool at a 90 cm island: only 15 cm is left for the legs
- a rug narrower than the sofa: the seating area looks smaller
- a pendant light hung too high over the table: it lights the ceiling instead of the table top
- armchairs whose armrests do not fit under the table apron
- a 60 cm round mirror bought to see yourself in: on our rattan models, the glass is only 25 to 30 cm, the rest is the frame (mirror guide)
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard seat height of a kitchen stool?
60 to 65 cm for a worktop of about 90 cm, that is 25 to 30 cm below the top.
How much space per person at the table?
About 60 cm of width per guest.
How high should a pendant light hang over a dining table?
65 to 80 cm between the table top and the bottom of the lamp.
What size of rug for a 3-seater sofa?
A 200 x 290 cm rug for a sofa of about 200 to 220 cm.
How high should a bedside table be?
5 to 10 cm from the top of the mattress, according to Amerisleep.
How high should a side table be?
The height of the sofa armrest, within 5 cm.
Sources
- Deko District guides linked in the table, each with its own sources
- Deko District shipping policy
Written by Dorian, product manager at Deko District.
