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Interior Design vocabulary · Drawings & Presentation

To scale

Meaning in interior design, with examples

phraseCommon term

In interior design, to scale means: Drawn so that every measurement keeps the same fixed ratio to the real size, for example 1:50, so that sizes can be measured from the drawing.

In Turkish: ölçekli, ölçeğine uygun

How it is used

Usually in drawn to scale or not to scale. Sketches and diagrams are often marked NTS (not to scale), which warns builders not to measure from them. In metric countries common interior scales are 1:20, 1:50 and 1:100.

Example sentences

  1. Is this sketch drawn to scale, or should I wait for the CAD drawings?

  2. The furniture on the plan is drawn to scale, so you can see exactly how much room is left.

Common collocations

  • drawn to scale
  • not to scale (NTS)
  • to scale at 1:50
  • scale bar
  • scaleThe size of an object compared with the room it is in and with the people who use it; also the ratio used on a drawing, such as 1:50.
  • floor planA scaled drawing of a room or building seen from directly above, showing walls, doors, windows and often furniture, as if the building were cut horizontally.
  • CADShort for computer-aided design: software used to make precise technical drawings and 3D models, such as AutoCAD, Revit, ArchiCAD or Vectorworks.
  • elevationA flat, straight-on drawing of one wall or side of a room or object, showing heights and vertical details without perspective.

More terms: Drawings & Presentation

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