| If you are planning to remodel your basement or | | | | and saw details. Many art stores as well as the |
| attic, the simplest procedure involves a large piece of | | | | emporiums specializing in arts and crafts supplies sell |
| graph paper. Mark off the area you have to work | | | | ready-packaged scale model kits designed for this |
| with, using as large a scale as possible (one inch | | | | purpose. Such an item usually includes cardboard |
| equals one foot works well). Pencil in the walls, | | | | for floors and walls already marked off in graph |
| partitions and other major alterations. | | | | form, plus all materials for doors, windows, scale-size |
| One hint: These items have thickness so be sure to | | | | furniture and other accessories. |
| allow for this in the plan. Next add the largest items | | | | In case none of these procedures appeal, you may |
| that will be in the room, built-ins, etc. At this point | | | | want to try a little system called full-scale planning. |
| you will probably receive a nasty jolt. Odds are good | | | | Clear everything out of the loom. Mark off the |
| that the space pictured in your mind seemed much | | | | position of walls and doors on the floor with chalk. |
| larger than the actual area available. There will most | | | | Then move furniture back into place. Simulate the |
| certainly be an uncomfortable moment when | | | | stuff you don't have. An ironing board with a sheet |
| you discover it is absolutely impossible to fit a bar, a | | | | of heavy cardboard will serve to indicate the actual |
| regulation pool table, a sofa plus two easy | | | | size of the bar; wrapping paper on the floor can be a |
| chairs and a table into the room. | | | | table, etc. Try out the room for size. Spread out |
| Incidentally, there's one pitfall in all room planning. | | | | some plates, silverware, etc., on the "table" and see |
| Make sure you measure the furniture so that you | | | | if you have enough room. At this point, you may |
| can mark it off according to scale on the plan. The | | | | discover that a rectangular table will fit in better than |
| author knows of one family that omitted this bit of | | | | a square one. More important, perhaps a drop-leaf |
| precision. When they finally came to their senses and | | | | table attached to the wall will be more practical. You |
| compared an actual Ping-pong table with counterpart | | | | may even decide to shift the position of a partition |
| they had roughly sketched in place, the paper version | | | | wall a few inches in one direction or another. |
| was roughly equivalent to a hopscotch court for a | | | | Finally, test the walkways. If the room is a "dead |
| small squirrel. | | | | end" area, you will have few problems in this |
| If you are willing to spend a little extra time, it's very | | | | department. On the other hand, if you must pass |
| rewarding to make a small cardboard model of the | | | | through it every time you want to use the laundry, |
| room. This too should be in scale but here you will | | | | look at the furnace or get a hammer from the |
| have the advantage of seeing the finished job in | | | | workshop, make sure that you can get through |
| three dimensions. You'll also have the opportunity to | | | | without having to do a hip-swiveling dance past |
| try out colors, fabrics, wall coverings and even | | | | the coffee table and around the snack bar. |
| furniture arrangements in advance of the hammer | | | | Enjoy the planning and you'll be off to a good start. |