Cheat sheets
Ceiling heights: 7 ft rooms, 6′8″ baths, 5 ft on slopesBathroom
Seating group: keep seats within 8 ft and float them off the wallLiving room
Kitchen remodel timeline: plan first, then about 12 weeks on siteRenovation
IFC in Revit: link to coordinate, open to take overCAD craft
Two twin beds: 100″ of wall in the corners, 148″ with walkwaysBedroom
Keep renovation receipts: improvements can lower the tax when you sellRenovation
Block naming: group, type, size, units, every timeCAD craft
Side tables: within 2″ of the sofa arm, and 11 ft of wall for the setLiving room
Bath fan size: 1 CFM per sq ft, 50 CFM minimum, vented outsideRenovation
Imperial vs metric kitchens: 24″ is not 600 mmCAD craft
A desk in the bedroom: 36″ behind the chair, 24″ beside the bedBedroom
Kitchen budget split: cabinets 29%, install 17%, appliances 14%Renovation
Accessible bathroom: 60″ to turn, toilet 16–18″ from the wallBathroom
Queen sofa bed: 3 ft deep by day, about 7½ ft at nightBedroom
Home built before 1978: hire a lead-safe certified contractorRenovation
Insertion points: back center for wall pieces, center for tablesCAD craft
Entryway console: 10–14″ deep and 36″ left to walkHalls, stairs and more
Renovation contract: 8 clauses to read before you signRenovation
Kitchen landing areas: 15″ by the fridge, 24″ + 18″ at the sinkKitchen
Counter vs bar stools: leave 10–12″ under the counterKitchen
Allowances: the bid numbers that aren't real yetRenovation
Door widths: a 36″ leaf gives about 33½″ clearHalls, stairs and more
Kids room: bed in the corner, top bunk from age 6Bedroom
Lien waivers: get one with every paymentRenovation
Clearance layers: VP freeze them for client setsCAD craft
Dining light: 30–36″ above the table, ½–⅔ its widthDining
Signed at home: 3 business days to cancelRenovation
Bathtub sizes: 60 × 30″ standard, 30″ clear in frontBathroom
Coffee table size: two-thirds of the sofaLiving room
Six checks before you hire a contractorRenovation
Bedroom storage: 36″ in front of dressers, 24″ deep closetsBedroom
Hang curtains high and wide: 4–6″ up, 8–12″ outHalls, stairs and more
Which renovation projects usually need a permitRenovation
Lineweights: heavy cuts, light furniture, by layerCAD craft
Sectionals: subtract the 36″ path before you buyHalls, stairs and more
The renovation costs missing from the quoteRenovation
Hallway widths: 36″ is the floor, not the goalHalls, stairs and more
Nightstand height: match the mattress topBedroom
Hold the final payment until the punch list is doneRenovation
Toilet rough-in: 12″ is standard, check before you buyBathroom
Dining for four in a small room: round or rectangle?Dining
Change orders: get every change in writing firstRenovation
Minimum bedroom size vs a room that fits a queenBedroom
Art above a sofa: two-thirds wide, 8–10″ aboveLiving room
Make every selection before demo dayRenovation
Kitchen work triangle: legs 4–9 ft, 26 ft maxKitchen
TV seating distance: 1.2–1.6× the screen sizeLiving room
Renovation phases in the right orderRenovation
Island seating: 24″ per stool, 15″ knee spaceKitchen
Bed placement: 24″ on each sideBedroom
Contractor payments: never pay ahead of the workRenovation
Stair dimensions: 7¾″ risers, 10″ treadsHalls, stairs and more
Small living room 12 × 12: what actually fitsLiving room
Compare contractor bids: same scope, side by sideRenovation
Home office clearances: 36″ behind the deskHome office
Rug size guide: living room, bedroom, diningBedroom
Renovation contingency: set aside 10–20%Renovation
Laundry room dimensions: 27″ machines, 36″ in frontHalls, stairs and more
Will the sofa fit through the doorLiving room
How much paint you need: the 4-step mathRenovation
Living room clearances: 14–18″ to the coffee tableLiving room
Measure a room in 5 minutesHalls, stairs and more
Flooring waste factor: order 10–15% extraRenovation
The numbers, on one page.
63 free sheets to save, download and keep next to your plans.
Ceiling heights: 7 ft rooms, 6′8″ baths, 5 ft on slopesBathroom
Seating group: keep seats within 8 ft and float them off the wallLiving room
Kitchen remodel timeline: plan first, then about 12 weeks on siteRenovation
IFC in Revit: link to coordinate, open to take overCAD craft
Two twin beds: 100″ of wall in the corners, 148″ with walkwaysBedroom
Keep renovation receipts: improvements can lower the tax when you sellRenovation
Block naming: group, type, size, units, every timeCAD craft
Side tables: within 2″ of the sofa arm, and 11 ft of wall for the setLiving room
Bath fan size: 1 CFM per sq ft, 50 CFM minimum, vented outsideRenovation
Imperial vs metric kitchens: 24″ is not 600 mmCAD craft
A desk in the bedroom: 36″ behind the chair, 24″ beside the bedBedroom
Kitchen budget split: cabinets 29%, install 17%, appliances 14%Renovation
Accessible bathroom: 60″ to turn, toilet 16–18″ from the wallBathroom
Queen sofa bed: 3 ft deep by day, about 7½ ft at nightBedroom
Home built before 1978: hire a lead-safe certified contractorRenovation
Insertion points: back center for wall pieces, center for tablesCAD craft
Entryway console: 10–14″ deep and 36″ left to walkHalls, stairs and more
Renovation contract: 8 clauses to read before you signRenovation
Kitchen landing areas: 15″ by the fridge, 24″ + 18″ at the sinkKitchen
Counter vs bar stools: leave 10–12″ under the counterKitchen
Allowances: the bid numbers that aren't real yetRenovation
Door widths: a 36″ leaf gives about 33½″ clearHalls, stairs and more
Kids room: bed in the corner, top bunk from age 6Bedroom
Lien waivers: get one with every paymentRenovation
Clearance layers: VP freeze them for client setsCAD craft
Dining light: 30–36″ above the table, ½–⅔ its widthDining
Signed at home: 3 business days to cancelRenovation
Bathtub sizes: 60 × 30″ standard, 30″ clear in frontBathroom
Coffee table size: two-thirds of the sofaLiving room
Six checks before you hire a contractorRenovation
Bedroom storage: 36″ in front of dressers, 24″ deep closetsBedroom
Hang curtains high and wide: 4–6″ up, 8–12″ outHalls, stairs and more
Which renovation projects usually need a permitRenovation
Lineweights: heavy cuts, light furniture, by layerCAD craft
Sectionals: subtract the 36″ path before you buyHalls, stairs and more
The renovation costs missing from the quoteRenovation
Hallway widths: 36″ is the floor, not the goalHalls, stairs and more
Nightstand height: match the mattress topBedroom
Hold the final payment until the punch list is doneRenovation
Toilet rough-in: 12″ is standard, check before you buyBathroom
Dining for four in a small room: round or rectangle?Dining
Change orders: get every change in writing firstRenovation
Minimum bedroom size vs a room that fits a queenBedroom
Art above a sofa: two-thirds wide, 8–10″ aboveLiving room
Make every selection before demo dayRenovation
Kitchen work triangle: legs 4–9 ft, 26 ft maxKitchen
TV seating distance: 1.2–1.6× the screen sizeLiving room
Renovation phases in the right orderRenovation
Island seating: 24″ per stool, 15″ knee spaceKitchen
Bed placement: 24″ on each sideBedroom
Contractor payments: never pay ahead of the workRenovation
Stair dimensions: 7¾″ risers, 10″ treadsHalls, stairs and more
Small living room 12 × 12: what actually fitsLiving room
Compare contractor bids: same scope, side by sideRenovation
Home office clearances: 36″ behind the deskHome office
Rug size guide: living room, bedroom, diningBedroom
Renovation contingency: set aside 10–20%Renovation
Laundry room dimensions: 27″ machines, 36″ in frontHalls, stairs and more
Will the sofa fit through the doorLiving room
How much paint you need: the 4-step mathRenovation
Living room clearances: 14–18″ to the coffee tableLiving room
Measure a room in 5 minutesHalls, stairs and more
Flooring waste factor: order 10–15% extraRenovation