Introduction: Making a Furniture Plan in AutoCAD

This tutorial is made to explain the importance of proper furniture planning. With the provided floor plan, we will plan all furniture room by room, and discuss the planning that goes into creating a functional and aesthetic home.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will be able to utilize AutoCAD to generate a furniture plan

Students will be able to analyze a blank floor plan for it's uses and paths of travel, utilizing this analysis to shape furniture planning

Lesson Standards:

STEL-2T Demonstrate the use of conceptual, graphical, virtual, mathematical, and physical modeling to identify conflicting considerations before the entire system is developed and to aid in design decision making

  • Students will develop skills in AutoCAD through this instructable, while making decisions about how to plan the space and thinking about how the different aspects of the floor plan interact with each other.

STEL-7Z Apply principles of human-centered design

  • Students are to apply the principles of human-centered design through this exercise, as the goal with furniture plans is to create functional, livable spaces that will properly serve the people that use the space.

STEL-7W Determine the best approach by evaluating the purpose of the design

  • Students will begin their furniture plan in each room by evaluating how each room will be used, and the needs of the room. This practice allows students to gain experience in evaluating the purpose of design, and using that evaluation to shape design decisions.

Supplies

For this tutorial, you will need access to AutoCAD 2023, if you do not have this software already installed, please let an instructor know so they can provide you with a computer that has AutoCAD.

Here is a quick reference guide for AutoCAD commands we utilize in the tutorial:

  • Line = L
  • Offset = OFFSET
  • Circle = CIRCLE
  • Trim = TRIM
  • Rotate = ROTATE
  • Copy = CTRL + C
  • Paste = CTRL + V
  • Delete = DELETE
  • Cancel current command = ESC

Below are the files you will need for this activity. Instructable Floor Plan is the blank floor plan which we will build throughout this activity, and the Architecture Blocks Resource contains all the furniture you will need.

Attachments

Step 1: Designing a Kitchen With Efficient Work Flow

With your downloaded floor plan and furniture block files, we will begin our furniture plan in the kitchen. Planning an efficient kitchen is one of the most important aspects of a functional home. Kitchen planning includes many tasks, like including proper storage, functional appliance placement, and a good work triangle.

Step 2: Planning a Bathroom

Bathroom Planning is often done quickly and haphazardly, leading to highly dysfunctional bathrooms. This tutorial will discuss how to place showers, toilets and sinks, as well as providing ample bathroom storage.

Step 3: Making Living Spaces Actually Livable

Living rooms and family rooms are often the center of a home, where people actually spend their time. It is important that these spaces are functional and use the large floor space efficiently. This video will walk through how to provide ample seating, proper distance from TV for comfortable viewing, and maintaining paths of travel.

Step 4: Designing a Bedroom

Bedrooms can often be made dysfunctional through improper storage or putting the incorrect sizing of furniture, making the room appear to full or too empty. To avoid these flaws, this tutorial will walk you through how to chose the right furniture for the size of bedroom, as well as ensure that the room has ample storage.