Measure and plan
A measured floor plan is the basis of any design: it shows the windows, doors and outlets, and how much space is left for living.
your own design: a home and garden reference
Mydiz: design your own home and garden
A good interior and a comfortable garden start long before any shopping: with a tape measure, a sheet of paper and an honest look at how you actually live. Here we calmly explain how to measure a room yourself, draw a plan, think through light, color and furniture layout, connect the house with the garden and divide your plot into clear zones. No brand names, no big promises and no calculations you cannot check.
A mistake on paper is fixed with an eraser; a mistake in a finished room takes another renovation.
Where to start
Light and color
How daylight changes colors, why a room needs several lighting scenes, and how to choose textures that work together instead of competing.
House and garden
The deck, the view from the window and the entrance: ideas that help the interior and the garden feel like one whole.
Your plot
Watching sun and shade, a wish list, zones for relaxing and for chores, paths, flower beds and a pond: everything goes on the plan first.
Reference sections
- Materials
Light, color, textures, textiles and furniture as the building blocks of a design: what to look for when choosing. The article catalog is here too.
- Ideas
Ideas by zone: living room, kitchen, bedroom, kids' room, entryway, deck and the garden by the house, with no brands.
- How-to
How to draw a measured floor plan of a room, put together a mood board and lay out a garden path.
- Planning
Stages from idea to works: the plan, a rough budget, the order of works and agreements with a contractor.
- Tools
What helps when designing a home and garden: tape measure, laser distance meter, level, graph paper, samples, stakes and string.
- Care
Seasonal care for finishes, furniture, textiles, the deck, garden paths and flower beds.
- FAQ
Answers about this reference, about designing your own home, and about safety in the garden and during works.
Example: think through one room over a weekend
Measure and draw a plan
Walk around the room with a tape measure and write down the length of every wall, the ceiling height and the size of any projections. Transfer it all to graph paper at one scale.
Mark windows, doors and outlets
Add the openings, which way the doors swing, radiators, switches and outlets. These are what most often decide where the sofa or table can go.
Decide what happens in the room
Write down what the room is used for: sleeping, working, having guests, playing with the kids. Each activity needs its own corner and its own light.
Put together a mood board
Gather the pictures, fabric samples and paint swatches you like on one sheet or board. A day later, remove everything that clashes with the overall mood.
Arrange furniture on the plan
Cut furniture shapes out of paper at the same scale and move them around the plan. Check that walkways stay clear and that doors, drawers and windows can open.
The essentials
Are you a design studio?
No. Mydiz is an independent reference. We do not take design commissions, sell anything or carry out works; we only explain how to think through your home and garden on your own.
Can I knock down a wall myself?
No. Removing or moving walls, relocating a kitchen or bathroom and any changes involving gas count as remodeling and are done under the established rules, and rules differ by country. Ask your building management or a specialist about the procedure first, and never touch load-bearing walls yourself.
Where do I start when planning a plot?
With observation and a plan. Watch where the sun stays all day and where there is shade, where water collects and what the windows look out on. Then draw a plan to scale, and only after that buy plants and materials.
Should we have a pond if we have small children?
Open water is dangerous for small children even when it is shallow. If your children are young, it is safer to postpone the pond or put up a sturdy fence, and children should be near the water only under adult supervision.
About the project
A different website used to run on this domain, and later unrelated spam pages appeared here. Their content has not survived; we do not restore or reproduce it, and this reference has no connection with them. The name comes with the domain.
Mydiz is written for people who want to understand their own home and garden: new homeowners, owners of summer cottages and country houses, and anyone preparing for a renovation who wants to come to the tradespeople with a clear plan. We talk about principles, not purchases.
Read next
- Planning
Stages from idea to works: the plan, a rough budget, the order of works and agreements with a contractor.
- Ideas
Ideas by zone: living room, kitchen, bedroom, kids' room, entryway, deck and the garden by the house, with no brands.
- Plot planning
Archived address: how to plan your own plot, with zones, paths, flower beds, a rock garden and a pond.
What we rely on
- Manufacturers' instructions for materials and equipment
- Building management rules and local remodeling regulations
- Mydiz editorial materials
The advice in this reference is general and based on material manufacturers' instructions and widely accepted safety rules for the home and garden. Check paint composition, installation methods and work requirements in the instructions for the specific material and with your building management, and leave electrical work, remodeling and complex installation to professionals.