{
  "_note": "The designers' rules, standards and sizes that snuug.app's tools and guides use, in one place. The calculators in assets/js/tools/ read this file, and the guides quote it, so the site never disagrees with itself. Each rule has its value, its unit, one plain sentence, its strength and its source with the date we checked it. 'kb' is the matching claim id in knowledge/ (query it with `python3 knowledge/tools/kb.py get <id>`). Change a number here, never in a page or a script. 'unverified' says what we could not open ourselves.",
  "checked": "2026-10-31",
  "strengths": {
    "tradition": "A practice of a cultural tradition such as feng shui. Report it as what its teachers say, never as an effect.",
    "designers' rule": "A convention from designers, magazines or shops. Nobody has tested it in a study. Say 'a rule designers use', never 'evidence-based'.",
    "standard": "A published building or industry standard (for example Approved Document M or K). Name the standard.",
    "industry guideline": "A figure an industry body or trade group publishes or is widely quoted for (SMPTE, THX, CEDIA). Not a law, not a study.",
    "study": "A measured result from a published study. Say 'in one study' unless it has been repeated.",
    "shop sizes": "The sizes most shops stock. A fact about the market, not a rule."
  },
  "rules": [
    {
      "id": "rug.uk-sizes",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "UK stock rug sizes",
      "value": [[120, 170], [160, 230], [200, 290], [240, 340]],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Most UK shops sell rugs at 120 × 170, 160 × 230, 200 × 290 (or 200 × 300) and 240 × 340 cm.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Love-Rugs, Rug size guide UK (120 × 170, 160 × 230, 200 × 300, 240 × 340 cm)", "url": "https://www.love-rugs.com/blogs/advice/rug-size-guide-uk-dimensions", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Ruglove, What size rug for living room? (200 × 290 cm)", "url": "https://www.ruglove.co.uk/blogs/rugs/what-size-rug-for-living-room", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "IKEA UK, How to choose the right rug size (160 × 230, 170 × 240, 200 × 300 cm)", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/living-room/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-rug-size-pub4eafcf30/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "The third size is 200 × 290 cm at some shops and 200 × 300 cm at others (IKEA, Love-Rugs). IKEA also sells 170 × 240 cm.",
      "unverified": "Love-Rugs and Ruglove returned HTTP 429 to us on 31 Oct 2026; their sizes come from search-result summaries. IKEA UK we read in full."
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.us-sizes",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "US stock rug sizes",
      "value": { "5x8": [152, 244], "6x9": [183, 274], "8x10": [244, 305], "9x12": [274, 366] },
      "unit": "cm (from feet)",
      "plain": "US shops sell rugs in feet: 5 × 8, 6 × 9, 8 × 10 and 9 × 12 ft (152 × 244 to 274 × 366 cm).",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Rugs.com, What size rug do I need? The complete rug size guide", "url": "https://rugs.com/blog/what-size-rug-do-i-need-the-complete-rug-size-guide-for-every-room/", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The cm values are our conversion (1 ft = 30.48 cm, rounded)."
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.past-sofa",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Rug wider than the sofa",
      "value": [15, 20],
      "unit": "cm each side",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: the rug runs at least 15 cm, ideally 20 cm, past each end of the sofa (6–8 in).",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, Living room rug size (6–8 in past each side)", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/living-room-rug-size", "checked": "2026-10-15" },
        { "label": "IKEA UK: the rug should be longer than the sofa", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/living-room/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-rug-size-pub4eafcf30/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "Emily Henderson's page returned 403; the figure comes from search summaries (research/reveals-programmes-rulebook.md §c)."
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.front-legs",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Front legs on",
      "value": "front legs of the sofa and every chair on the rug",
      "unit": null,
      "plain": "A rule designers use: the front legs of the sofa and of every chair rest on the rug, so the group reads as one.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-008",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Livingetc (Wolfe, 22 Aug 2025), The two-thirds rule", "url": "https://www.livingetc.com/advice/two-thirds-living-room-rule", "checked": "2026-10-24" },
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, Living room rug size", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/living-room-rug-size", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.under-front",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "How far the rug tucks under the sofa",
      "value": 20,
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Our working figure: for front legs on, the rug tucks about 20 cm under the front of the sofa, which puts legs set 5–10 cm in from the front about 10–15 cm onto the rug.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [],
      "unverified": "Our own geometry, not a published number. It follows from 'front legs on' and typical leg positions."
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.ikea-third",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "IKEA: a third of the sofa on the rug",
      "value": 0.33,
      "unit": "share of sofa depth",
      "plain": "IKEA's rule: at least a third of the sofa stands on the rug, unless the rug is big enough for all of it.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "IKEA UK, How to choose the right rug size", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/living-room/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-rug-size-pub4eafcf30/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.border",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Bare floor between rug and wall",
      "value": [30, 45],
      "min": 20,
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: leave 30–45 cm of bare floor between the rug and the walls; 20 cm is the least that still looks meant.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-008",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Livingetc (Wolfe, 22 Aug 2025), The two-thirds rule (12–18 in border)", "url": "https://www.livingetc.com/advice/two-thirds-living-room-rule", "checked": "2026-10-24" },
        { "label": "Architectural Digest, How to choose the right size rug (about 15–35 cm)", "url": "https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-choose-the-right-size-rug-for-every-room", "checked": "2026-10-24" },
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, Living room rug size (10–18 in in a small room, about 24 in in a large one)", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/living-room-rug-size", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Architectural Digest: about 15–35 cm. Livingetc: 30–45 cm. Emily Henderson: 25–45 cm in a small room, about 60 cm in a large one. The 20 cm floor is our choice, inside Architectural Digest's range.",
      "kbAlt": "scale-014"
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.sofa-two-thirds",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Sofa about two thirds of the rug",
      "value": 0.67,
      "unit": "sofa width ÷ rug length",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: the sofa is about two thirds of the rug's length.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Livingetc (Wolfe, 22 Aug 2025), The two-thirds rule", "url": "https://www.livingetc.com/advice/two-thirds-living-room-rule", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.off-walkway",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Keep the rug off the walkway",
      "value": "rug edge stops before the main route",
      "unit": null,
      "plain": "One designer's rule: size and turn the rug so its edge stops short of the main walkway, rather than spilling across it.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-040",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.bed",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Rug beside a bed",
      "value": [50, 60],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "IKEA suggests about 50 cm of rug beside the bed; Emily Henderson says at least 60 cm (24 in) on three sides.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "IKEA UK, How to choose the right rug size", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/living-room/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-rug-size-pub4eafcf30/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, Choosing the right rug size for every room", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/choosing-the-right-rug-size-for-every-room", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "rug.dining",
      "topic": "rug",
      "name": "Rug past a dining table",
      "value": [60, 80],
      "unit": "cm each side",
      "plain": "IKEA suggests 60–80 cm of rug on each long side of a dining table, so chairs stay on it when pulled out.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "IKEA UK, How to choose the right rug size", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/living-room/how-to/how-to-choose-the-right-rug-size-pub4eafcf30/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Emily Henderson says 24–36 in (60–90 cm)."
    },
    {
      "id": "walkway.main",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Walkway width",
      "value": [75, 90],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: keep walkways 75–90 cm wide (30–36 in), and about 90 cm on the main route.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "layout-009",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, Living room rules to know (30–36 in)", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/living-room-rules-know", "checked": "2026-10-15" },
        { "label": "Jackie Barnes Design, Key measurements for a living room (about 90 cm main route)", "url": "https://www.jackiebarnesdesign.com/blog/key-measurements-every-homeowner-should-know-when-designing-a-living-room", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "walkway.tight",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Walkway in a tight room",
      "value": [45, 60],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "In a tight room, designers accept 45–60 cm (18–24 in) for a path few people use.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, Living room rules to know (18–24 in minimum)", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/living-room-rules-know", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "walkway.adm-bedroom",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Approved Document M: bedroom route",
      "value": 750,
      "unit": "mm",
      "plain": "For new accessible homes (M4(2)), Approved Document M asks for a clear route at least 750 mm wide from the bedroom door to the window, and 750 mm beside and at the foot of the bed.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "kb": "anthro-001",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "HM Government, Approved Document M, Volume 1 (2015 with 2016 amendments)", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f8a82ed915d74e622b17b/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "walkway.nkba",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "NKBA walkway",
      "value": 914,
      "unit": "mm",
      "plain": "The NKBA's kitchen guidelines ask for walkways at least 914 mm (36 in) wide.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "NKBA, Kitchen Planning Guidelines", "url": "https://kb.nkba.org/uploads/2022/05/Kitchen-Planning-Guidelines.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "coffee.gap",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Coffee table to sofa",
      "value": [35, 45],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: leave 35–45 cm between the sofa and the coffee table (14–18 in).",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-003",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Castlery UK, Coffee table dimensions (5 Aug 2026)", "url": "https://www.castlery.com/uk/blog/coffee-table-dimensions", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Emily Henderson: 16–18 in (41–46 cm)."
    },
    {
      "id": "coffee.size",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Coffee table length",
      "value": [0.5, 0.67],
      "unit": "share of sofa length",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: the coffee table is half to two thirds of the sofa's length, and 5–10 cm lower than the seat.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-009",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Castlery UK, Coffee table dimensions (5 Aug 2026)", "url": "https://www.castlery.com/uk/blog/coffee-table-dimensions", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "sofa.two-thirds-wall",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Sofa about two thirds of its wall",
      "value": 0.67,
      "unit": "sofa width ÷ wall length",
      "plain": "A rough rule designers use: the sofa spans about two thirds of the wall behind it. One designer calls it \"a proportion cue, not a commandment\".",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-001",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Livingetc (Wolfe, 22 Aug 2025), The two-thirds rule", "url": "https://www.livingetc.com/advice/two-thirds-living-room-rule", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "tv.smpte",
      "topic": "tv",
      "name": "SMPTE 30°",
      "value": 30,
      "unit": "degrees of horizontal view",
      "factor": 1.63,
      "plain": "The screen fills 30° of your view when you sit about 1.6 times its diagonal away. It is widely quoted as the SMPTE figure.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Optimum HDTV viewing distance (SMPTE 30, ×1.6264 for 16:9)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimum_HDTV_viewing_distance", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Audioholics, How to find the right size TV", "url": "https://www.audioholics.com/hdtv-formats/how-to-find-the-right-size-tv", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Wikipedia notes that SMPTE itself seems to make no direct recommendation; the 30° figure is quoted in its name."
    },
    {
      "id": "tv.thx",
      "topic": "tv",
      "name": "THX 40°",
      "value": 40,
      "unit": "degrees of horizontal view",
      "factor": 1.2,
      "range": [28, 40],
      "plain": "THX's best seat fills 40° of your view, about 1.2 times the diagonal away. THX's own range runs from 40° (closest) to about 28° (farthest).",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Optimum HDTV viewing distance (THX 40°, range 40–28°)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimum_HDTV_viewing_distance", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "tv.vertical",
      "topic": "tv",
      "name": "Look up no more than 15°",
      "value": 15,
      "unit": "degrees",
      "plain": "THX says a viewer should not have to look up more than 15°. CEDIA, based on SMPTE guidance, says no viewer should have more than 15° to the top or bottom of the screen.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Optimum HDTV viewing distance, Screen height (THX, 15°)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimum_HDTV_viewing_distance", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Acoustic Frontiers, Home theater viewing angles, distances and sightlines (CEDIA, 15°)", "url": "https://acousticfrontiers.com/blogs/Articles/Home-theater-viewing-angles-distances-and-sightlines", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "THX measures to the screen as a whole (look up no more than 15°); CEDIA measures to the top or bottom edge, which is stricter for a big screen. The calculator uses CEDIA's edge test."
    },
    {
      "id": "tv.eye-level",
      "topic": "tv",
      "name": "Screen centre at seated eye height",
      "value": [100, 110],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "A common rule: the centre of the screen sits at your seated eye height, which on most sofas is about 100–110 cm (around 42 in). Measure your own.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "canon-058",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Optimum HDTV viewing distance: eyes level with the bottom or middle of the display", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optimum_HDTV_viewing_distance", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "We found no authoritative source for the 100–110 cm figure (research/reveals-programmes-rulebook.md: 'weak sources only'). Treat it as a starting point and measure your own eye height."
    },
    {
      "id": "tv.preferred-distance",
      "topic": "tv",
      "name": "Preferred distance in one study",
      "value": "D = (2.73 S + 75) / S screen heights, S = diagonal in inches (24–65 in)",
      "unit": "screen heights",
      "plain": "In one Japanese lab study of HD screens from 24 to 65 inches, people chose to sit at about (2.73 × S + 75) ÷ S screen heights, where S is the diagonal in inches. For a 55-inch TV that is about 2.8 m.",
      "strength": "study",
      "kb": "scale-141",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Journal of the ITE of Japan 65 (2011), preferred viewing distance of HD LCD TVs", "url": "https://doi.org/10.3169/itej.65.1215", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ],
      "unverified": "We read the abstract only."
    },
    {
      "id": "art.centre",
      "topic": "art",
      "name": "Picture centre height",
      "value": [145, 150],
      "unit": "cm from the floor",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: on an open wall, hang a picture so its centre is 145–150 cm from the floor (57–60 in).",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-004",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Apartment Therapy, How to hang artwork: 57 inches from the floor", "url": "https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-hang-artwork-properly-57-inches-from-the-floor-6174", "checked": "2026-10-15" },
        { "label": "Livingetc (Wolfe, 29 Dec 2025), Picture hanging hack (about 60 in, 150 cm)", "url": "https://www.livingetc.com/advice/picture-hanging-hack", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ],
      "disagree": "57 in (145 cm) at Apartment Therapy and many galleries; 58 in (147 cm) in some museum guides; 60 in (150 cm) from the art adviser Livingetc quotes.",
      "unverified": "The museum guides (Purdue, Everson) failed to load when we checked, so we do not cite them. Apartment Therapy returned 403; its figure comes from search summaries."
    },
    {
      "id": "art.gap",
      "topic": "art",
      "name": "Gap above a sofa or sideboard",
      "value": [15, 25],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: leave 15–25 cm between the top of the sofa or sideboard and the bottom of the frame (6–10 in).",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-016",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Architectural Digest, How to hang a picture (about 15–25 cm)", "url": "https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-hang-picture", "checked": "2026-10-24" },
        { "label": "Hunker (Hordos, 7 Feb 2010), The right size picture over a couch (8–10 in)", "url": "https://www.hunker.com/13410932/how-to-find-the-right-size-picture-for-over-a-couch", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Apartment Therapy: 5–8 in (13–20 cm). Livingetc: 6–12 in (15–30 cm). One source says at least 12 in (30 cm)."
    },
    {
      "id": "art.width",
      "topic": "art",
      "name": "Art about two thirds of the furniture",
      "value": [0.6, 0.75],
      "target": 0.67,
      "unit": "art width ÷ furniture width",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: art over a sofa or sideboard is about two thirds of its width (60–75%).",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "kb": "scale-005",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Hunker (Hordos, 7 Feb 2010), The right size picture over a couch", "url": "https://www.hunker.com/13410932/how-to-find-the-right-size-picture-for-over-a-couch", "checked": "2026-10-24" },
        { "label": "Apartment Therapy, Art sizing rules over a sofa", "url": "https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/art-sizing-rules-over-sofa-256298", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "art.gallery-gap",
      "topic": "art",
      "name": "Gaps in a gallery wall",
      "value": [8, 15],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: keep 8–15 cm (3–6 in) between frames in a group, the same gap every time.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Apartment Therapy, The three measurements you need to know when hanging artwork", "url": "https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-three-measurements-you-need-to-know-when-hanging-artwork-224943", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "door.uk-internal",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Standard UK internal door",
      "value": [762, 1981],
      "unit": "mm (width × height)",
      "plain": "The most common internal door in England and Wales is 762 × 1981 mm (2 ft 6 in × 6 ft 6 in). The gap you can carry a sofa through is smaller.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Howarth Timber (Green, 14 Sep 2026), UK door sizes", "url": "https://www.howarth-timber.co.uk/inspiration-advice/uk-door-sizes", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "door.uk-other",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Other UK door widths",
      "value": { "imperial": [457, 533, 610, 686, 762, 838], "metric": [526, 626, 726, 826, 926] },
      "unit": "mm",
      "height": { "imperial": 1981, "metric": 2040 },
      "plain": "Imperial doors (1981 mm high) come in 610, 686, 762 and 838 mm widths, plus 457 and 533 mm for cupboards. Metric doors, common in Scotland, are 2040 mm high and 626–926 mm wide.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Howarth Timber (Green, 14 Sep 2026), UK door sizes", "url": "https://www.howarth-timber.co.uk/inspiration-advice/uk-door-sizes", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "Howarth calls 610 and 686 mm doors 'for limited wall space'. That 686 mm (2 ft 3 in) doors are common in older houses is a trade observation we did not find in a source."
    },
    {
      "id": "door.clear-opening",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "The clear opening",
      "value": [700, 720],
      "unit": "mm, for a 762 mm door",
      "plain": "Measure the clear opening: from the door stop to the face of the open door. On a 762 mm door that is often about 700–720 mm, because the open door (about 35 mm) and the stop (10–15 mm) take their share.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "HM Government, Approved Document M, Volume 1, Diagram 2.2 (how clear opening width is measured)", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f8a82ed915d74e622b17b/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The 700–720 mm range is our arithmetic (762 − 35 − 10 to 15 mm, minus hinge play), not a measured survey. The measuring method is Approved Document M's."
    },
    {
      "id": "door.adm-entrance",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Approved Document M: front door",
      "value": 775,
      "unit": "mm clear opening",
      "plain": "For new homes, Approved Document M (M4(1)) says the main front door should give at least 775 mm of clear opening; accessible homes (M4(2)) need 850 mm.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "kb": "standards-004",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "HM Government, Approved Document M, Volume 1, 1.14a and 2.20d", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f8a82ed915d74e622b17b/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "hall.adm",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Approved Document M: hall width",
      "value": 900,
      "min": 750,
      "unit": "mm",
      "plain": "In new accessible homes (M4(2)), halls and landings should be at least 900 mm clear, narrowing to 750 mm for a short obstruction such as a radiator.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "kb": "standards-020",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "HM Government, Approved Document M, Volume 1, 2.22", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7f8a82ed915d74e622b17b/BR_PDF_AD_M1_2015_with_2016_amendments_V3.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "sofa.diagonal",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "The diagonal-depth test",
      "value": "diagonal depth < clear door width, and sofa width < door height or the clearance beyond the door",
      "unit": null,
      "plain": "Furniture shops' test: a sofa that is too deep to go straight through can be tipped back through the door if its diagonal depth is less than the door's clear width, and its length is less than the door's height or the clearance from the door to the facing wall.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Darlings of Chelsea, Sofa fit guide (PDF)", "url": "https://www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk/static/Darlings-of-Chelsea-Will-it-Fit-Guide.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Furniture Choice, How to measure a sofa", "url": "https://www.furniturechoice.co.uk/inspiration/how-to-measure-a-sofa/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Shops measure diagonal depth two ways: a straight edge from the top of the back to the front of the arm, then the distance to the back bottom corner (Darlings of Chelsea), or a tape from the top back corner to the bottom front of the arm (Furniture Choice). We draw the straight-edge method, which matches how a sofa tips."
    },
    {
      "id": "sofa.margin",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Sofa sizes vary",
      "value": 5,
      "tight_cm": 5,
      "unit": "% (value); cm (tight_cm, our margin)",
      "plain": "One maker says its sofas vary by about ±5% from the listed size, so the calculator calls anything with under 5 cm to spare 'tight'.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Darlings of Chelsea, Sofa fit guide (PDF)", "url": "https://www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk/static/Darlings-of-Chelsea-Will-it-Fit-Guide.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The 5 cm 'tight' margin is our choice. The Online Sofa Shop suggests aiming for 10–15 cm of clearance (search summary, not opened)."
    },
    {
      "id": "sofa.depths",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Typical sofa depths",
      "value": { "2-seater": [80, 95], "3-seater": [85, 100], "corner": [85, 100] },
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Most two-seater sofas are 80–95 cm deep, and three-seaters and corner sofas 85–100 cm.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Furniture Choice, How to measure a sofa", "url": "https://www.furniturechoice.co.uk/inspiration/how-to-measure-a-sofa/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "stair.headroom",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Stair headroom",
      "value": 2000,
      "unit": "mm",
      "plain": "Approved Document K asks for at least 2 m of headroom over stairs and landings in new work (loft conversions may have less).",
      "strength": "standard",
      "kb": "standards-088",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "HM Government, Approved Document K (2013), Diagram 1.3", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60d5bdcde90e07716f516cfd/Approved_Document_K.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "stair.pitch",
      "topic": "door",
      "name": "Stair pitch",
      "value": 42,
      "unit": "degrees",
      "plain": "Approved Document K sets 42° as the steepest pitch for a private stair in new work.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "kb": "standards-083",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "HM Government, Approved Document K (2013), Table 1.1", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60d5bdcde90e07716f516cfd/Approved_Document_K.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-24" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "conversation.distance",
      "topic": "layout",
      "name": "Conversation distance",
      "value": [120, 210],
      "max": 370,
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Edward Hall's 'social distance' (close phase) is 1.2–2.1 m, a common guide for how far apart facing seats sit. Observed in one culture in the 1960s.",
      "strength": "study",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Hall (1966), The Hidden Dimension, via Wikipedia, Proxemics", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxemics", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "home.ndss-gia",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Space standard: minimum gross internal area",
      "value": { "1b1p": [39, null, null], "1b2p": [50, 58, null], "2b3p": [61, 70, null], "2b4p": [70, 79, null], "3b4p": [74, 84, 90], "3b5p": [86, 93, 99], "3b6p": [95, 102, 108], "4b5p": [90, 97, 103], "4b6p": [99, 106, 112], "4b7p": [108, 115, 121], "4b8p": [117, 124, 130], "5b6p": [103, 110, 116], "5b7p": [112, 119, 125], "5b8p": [121, 128, 134], "6b7p": [116, 123, 129], "6b8p": [125, 132, 138] },
      "unit": "m² gross internal area, for homes of 1, 2 and 3 storeys (null: the standard gives no figure)",
      "plain": "England's nationally described space standard sets the smallest gross internal area for a new home by bedrooms (b) and bed spaces (p): for example 50 m² for a one-storey 1b2p flat and 93 m² for a two-storey 3b5p house. A 1b1p with a shower room instead of a bathroom may be 37 m².",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "DCLG, Technical housing standards: nationally described space standard (March 2015, notes added 19 May 2016), Table 1 and paragraph 10", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6123c60e8fa8f53dd1f9b04d/160519_Nationally_Described_Space_Standard.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "GOV.UK, Technical housing standards: nationally described space standard (publication page: 'Applies to England'; 'not a building regulation and remains solely within the planning system')", "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-housing-standards-nationally-described-space-standard", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "scope": "England only. New homes only, and only where the local planning authority has adopted the standard in its Local Plan (paragraph 6), or for new homes made under permitted development rights (SI 2020/1243, from 6 April 2021). It is a planning standard, not a building regulation, and it has no statutory meaning for existing homes (paragraph 2)."
    },
    {
      "id": "home.ndss-storage",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Space standard: built-in storage",
      "value": { "1b1p": 1.0, "1b2p": 1.5, "2b": 2.0, "3b": 2.5, "4b": 3.0, "5b": 3.5, "6b": 4.0 },
      "unit": "m² (included in the gross internal area)",
      "plain": "The space standard asks new homes for built-in storage of 1 m² (1b1p) rising to 4 m² (6 bedrooms), counted inside the gross internal area.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "DCLG, Technical housing standards: nationally described space standard (March 2015, notes added 19 May 2016), Table 1 and paragraph 10", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6123c60e8fa8f53dd1f9b04d/160519_Nationally_Described_Space_Standard.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "home.ndss-bedrooms",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Space standard: bedroom sizes",
      "value": { "single": { "area": 7.5, "width": 215 }, "double": { "area": 11.5, "width": 255, "mainWidth": 275 } },
      "unit": "m² floor area, cm width",
      "plain": "In the space standard a single bedroom is at least 7.5 m² and 2.15 m wide. A double or twin is at least 11.5 m²; one double is at least 2.75 m wide and every other double at least 2.55 m. A home for two or more has at least one double.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "DCLG, Technical housing standards: nationally described space standard (March 2015, notes added 19 May 2016), Table 1 and paragraph 10", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6123c60e8fa8f53dd1f9b04d/160519_Nationally_Described_Space_Standard.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "scope": "As home.ndss-gia: new homes in England where the standard applies."
    },
    {
      "id": "home.ndss-ceiling",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Space standard: ceiling height",
      "value": 230,
      "unit": "cm, over at least 75% of the gross internal area",
      "plain": "The space standard asks for a floor-to-ceiling height of at least 2.3 m over at least 75% of a new home's gross internal area. Floor under 1.5 m of headroom does not count, unless it is storage.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "DCLG, Technical housing standards: nationally described space standard (March 2015, notes added 19 May 2016), Table 1 and paragraph 10", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6123c60e8fa8f53dd1f9b04d/160519_Nationally_Described_Space_Standard.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "home.ndss-pd",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Permitted development homes: space standard and 37 m²",
      "value": 37,
      "unit": "m² gross internal area",
      "plain": "Since 6 April 2021, every new home in England made under permitted development rights (for example an office turned into flats) must meet the space standard and be at least 37 m².",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/1243), regulation 3", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1243/regulation/3/made", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Planning Portal, Content updates: new minimum space standards, April 2021 (30 Mar 2021)", "url": "https://blog.planningportal.co.uk/2021/03/30/content-updates-new-minimum-space-standards-april-2021/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The 6 April 2021 start date comes from the Planning Portal and law firms' summaries (search results, 31 Oct 2026); the legislation.gov.uk page we read shows the regulation's text but not its commencement."
    },
    {
      "id": "home.hmo-rooms",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Licensed HMOs: smallest sleeping rooms",
      "value": { "oneAdult": 6.51, "twoAdults": 10.22, "child": 4.64 },
      "unit": "m² floor area",
      "plain": "In a licensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) in England, a room slept in by one person over 10 must be at least 6.51 m², by two people over 10 at least 10.22 m², and by one child under 10 at least 4.64 m². No one may sleep in a room under 4.64 m².",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Mandatory Conditions of Licences) (England) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/616), regulation 2", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/616/regulation/2/made", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "scope": "Licensed HMOs in England only, from 1 October 2018. Floor under 1.5 m of ceiling height does not count."
    },
    {
      "id": "home.overcrowding-1985",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Housing Act 1985: the space standard for overcrowding",
      "value": { "110": 2, "90": 1.5, "70": 1, "50": 0.5 },
      "unit": "people per room, by floor area in sq ft (a room of at least the key's area)",
      "plain": "The legal overcrowding test for existing homes in England, Part X of the Housing Act 1985, counts a room of 110 sq ft (10.2 m²) or more for 2 people, 90–110 sq ft for 1½, 70–90 sq ft for 1 and 50–70 sq ft for ½. Rooms under 50 sq ft do not count.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Housing Act 1985, section 326 (up to date with changes in force on or before 28 Oct 2026, per legislation.gov.uk)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/68/section/326", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "legislation.gov.uk lists changes to section 326 not yet applied to its text. The m² values are our conversion (1 sq ft = 0.0929 m²)."
    },
    {
      "id": "home.ehs-floor-area",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Average floor area of English homes",
      "value": { "all": 94, "semiDetached": 97, "detached": 149, "terraced": 88, "bungalow": 77, "convertedFlat": 65, "purposeBuiltFlat": 58, "ownerOccupied": 108, "privateRented": 75, "socialRented": 66, "london": 84 },
      "unit": "m² usable floor area (mean)",
      "plain": "The average home in England has 94 m² of usable floor area (English Housing Survey 2018-19): 58 m² for a purpose-built flat, 88 m² for a terraced house, 97 m² for a semi and 149 m² for a detached house.",
      "strength": "study",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "MHCLG, English Housing Survey 2018-19, Size of English homes fact sheet", "url": "https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f047a01d3bf7f2be8350262/Size_of_English_Homes_Fact_Sheet_EHS_2018.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Later English Housing Survey reports, as summarised by others, put the average at 95–96 m²; we use the 2018-19 fact sheet because we read it in full. Usable floor area is close to, but not the same as, the space standard's gross internal area."
    },
    {
      "id": "home.household-size",
      "topic": "home",
      "name": "Average UK household size",
      "value": 2.35,
      "unit": "people per household (2024)",
      "plain": "The average UK household had 2.35 people in 2024 (ONS).",
      "strength": "study",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "ONS, Families and households in the UK: 2024 (23 Jul 2025)", "url": "https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/families/bulletins/familiesandhouseholds/2024", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "From search-result summaries of the ONS bulletin on 31 Oct 2026; we did not open the bulletin itself."
    },
    {
      "id": "room.labc-new-build",
      "topic": "room",
      "name": "Average room sizes in homes built since 2010",
      "value": { "living": 17.1, "living1970s": 24.9, "bedroom": 13.4, "kitchen": 13.4, "home": 67.8 },
      "unit": "m²",
      "plain": "In LABC Warranty's 2018 analysis of 10,000 listings, the average living room in a home built since 2010 was 17.1 m², against 24.9 m² in the 1970s; the average bedroom was 13.4 m².",
      "strength": "study",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Which? (Garber, 14 Apr 2018), Shrinking homes: the average British house is 20% smaller than in the 1970s (LABC Warranty analysis of 10,000 Zoopla and Rightmove listings)", "url": "https://www.which.co.uk/news/2018/04/shrinking-homes-the-average-british-house-20-smaller-than-in-1970s/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Statista, Average living room sizes in new British houses 1930–2020 (LABC Warranty data)", "url": "https://www.statista.com/statistics/1056003/average-living-room-sizes-new-british-houses-1930-2020", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Which? calls 13.4 m² the average bedroom; the Guardian's report of the same study calls it the main bedroom. Which? gives the kitchen as 13.44 m²; LABC's data sheet, as summarised in search results, gives 12.61 m². 'home' excludes halls and stairs.",
      "unverified": "Listings data, not measured rooms. Statista and the Guardian seen only through search summaries."
    },
    {
      "id": "room.carpet-widths",
      "topic": "room",
      "name": "UK carpet roll widths",
      "value": [400, 500],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Most domestic carpet in the UK is made in 4 m and 5 m widths and sold by the metre off the roll.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Flooring Hut, What widths do carpets come in?", "url": "https://www.flooringhut.co.uk/carpets/guides/what-widths-do-carpets-come-in-and-how-does-this-affect-ordering", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Some ranges come in 3 m, 2 m and 1 m too (Ulster Carpets); not every carpet comes in 5 m."
    },
    {
      "id": "room.skirting-lengths",
      "topic": "room",
      "name": "UK skirting board lengths",
      "value": [240, 305, 420],
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "UK MDF skirting is sold in 2.4 m lengths at DIY stores and 3.05 m or 4.2 m lengths from skirting makers.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "B&Q, Metsä Wood primed MDF square skirting board, 2.4 m, pack of 4", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/metsa-wood-primed-white-mdf-square-skirting-board-l-2-4m-w-94mm-t-18mm-pack-of-4/5022652850067_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "MDF Skirting World, The length option (3050 and 4200 mm)", "url": "https://mdfskirtingworld.co.uk/the-length-option", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "From search-result summaries of the shops' pages on 31 Oct 2026."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.uk-ready-made",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "UK ready-made curtain sizes",
      "value": { "widths": [117, 168, 229], "drops": [137, 183, 229, 274] },
      "unit": "cm, each curtain of a pair (width laid flat × drop)",
      "inches": { "117": 46, "168": 66, "229": 90, "137": 54, "183": 72, "274": 108 },
      "plain": "UK shops sell ready-made curtains in pairs, each curtain 117, 168 or 229 cm wide (46, 66, 90 in) and 137, 183 or 229 cm long (54, 72, 90 in); some ranges also come 274 cm (108 in) long.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Dunelm, How to measure for curtains (widths 117, 168, 228 cm; 2× standard and 2.5× luxury gather; hems 1 cm above floor or sill, 15 cm below the sill, 2–7 cm puddle; window + 40 cm)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.com/info/buying-guides/how-to-measure-for-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "John Lewis, Hidcote Weave lined eyelet curtains (W167 and W228, drops 137, 182, 228, 274 cm)", "url": "https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-hidcote-pair-lined-eyelet-curtains/p113256086", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Next, Living room help: curtain sizes (eyelet widths 135, 168, 228 cm; drops 137, 183, 229 cm; drop from the top of the pole for eyelet and tab top)", "url": "https://zendesk.next.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/28404611069969-Living-Room", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Blinds Direct, How to measure for curtains (ready-made 117, 168, 229 cm wide by 137, 183, 229 cm drop)", "url": "https://www.blindsdirect.co.uk/measuring-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Dunelm says 228 and 182 cm, John Lewis 167, 228 and 182 cm, for the same 66, 90 and 72 in sizes. Next's eyelet widths are 135, 168 and 228 cm. Dunelm also sells 284 cm (112 in) widths online in some ranges.",
      "unverified": "Blinds Direct's sizes come from our earlier check for /guides/curtain-pole-height; Dunelm's drops come from its product pages, not the measuring page."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.pole-above",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Pole above the window",
      "value": 15,
      "tight": 8,
      "unit": "cm above the window frame",
      "plain": "UK shops advise fitting a curtain pole at least 15 cm (6 in) above the window frame; 8–10 cm still fits a pole where space is tight.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Dunelm Ireland (10 Nov 2018), How to put up a curtain pole (at least 15 cm above the window)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.ie/blog/guide-how-to-fit-a-curtain-pole/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Terry's Fabrics, How to measure your window for curtain poles (15–20 cm above; 8–10 cm when tight)", "url": "https://www.terrysfabrics.co.uk/file2.html", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "Terry's Fabrics returned HTTP 429; its figures come from search summaries."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.two-thirds",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Pole two thirds of the way to the ceiling",
      "value": 0.667,
      "unit": "fraction of the gap from the window frame to the ceiling",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: hang the pole about two thirds of the way from the top of the window to the ceiling.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Havenly (Clark, 3 Jun 2025, updated 10 Jun 2026), How to hang curtains like an interior designer (two thirds of the way to the ceiling)", "url": "https://www.havenly.com/blog/how-to-hang-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.overhang",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Pole past each side of the window",
      "value": [15, 20],
      "heavy": [25, 30],
      "unit": "cm each side",
      "plain": "Let the pole run 15–20 cm (6–8 in) past each side of the window, or 25–30 cm for pencil pleat and heavy curtains, so they stack off the glass. Dunelm's rule with no pole fitted: the window + 40 cm.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Argos, Curtain pole buying guide (15–20 cm each side)", "url": "https://www.argos.co.uk/features/curtain-pole-buying-guide", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Dunelm, How to measure for curtains (widths 117, 168, 228 cm; 2× standard and 2.5× luxury gather; hems 1 cm above floor or sill, 15 cm below the sill, 2–7 cm puddle; window + 40 cm)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.com/info/buying-guides/how-to-measure-for-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Poles and Blinds, Extra long curtain poles guide (25–30 cm each side for heavy curtains)", "url": "https://www.polesandblinds.com/blogs/extra-long-curtain-poles-ultimate-guide", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "Argos and Poles and Blinds refused our fetch; their figures come from search summaries."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.hem",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Where the hem ends",
      "value": { "floor": 1, "sill": 1, "below_sill": 15, "puddle": [2, 7] },
      "unit": "cm (above the floor or sill; below the sill; past the floor)",
      "plain": "Dunelm ends floor-length curtains 1 cm above the floor, sill-length ones 1 cm above the sill, below-sill ones 15 cm under the sill, and puddled ones 2–7 cm past the floor.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Dunelm, How to measure for curtains (widths 117, 168, 228 cm; 2× standard and 2.5× luxury gather; hems 1 cm above floor or sill, 15 cm below the sill, 2–7 cm puddle; window + 40 cm)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.com/info/buying-guides/how-to-measure-for-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Blinds Direct, How to measure for curtains (ready-made 117, 168, 229 cm wide by 137, 183, 229 cm drop)", "url": "https://www.blindsdirect.co.uk/measuring-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Blinds Direct gives 1.25 cm above the floor and 15–20 cm below the sill."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.fullness",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Curtain fullness",
      "value": { "standard": 2, "luxury": 2.5, "tab_top": 1.5 },
      "unit": "× the pole's length (both curtains together, laid flat)",
      "plain": "Both curtains together, laid flat, are about twice the pole's length for Dunelm's standard gather, 2.5 times for a fuller look, and about 1.5 times for tab tops.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Dunelm, How to measure for curtains (widths 117, 168, 228 cm; 2× standard and 2.5× luxury gather; hems 1 cm above floor or sill, 15 cm below the sill, 2–7 cm puddle; window + 40 cm)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.com/info/buying-guides/how-to-measure-for-curtains", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Dunelm, Curtains measuring guide (PDF, undated: tab top 1.5× the pole; pencil pleat drop from the hook's eye or the top of a track; eyelet and tab top from the top of the pole)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.com/infodocs/curtains-measuring-guide.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Terry's Fabrics: at least 1.75× for eyelets, up to 2×. Shops' own 'fits a pole of' ranges allow from about 1.3× (Next) to 2.75× (Screwfix)."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.stack-back",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Stack-back per fabric width",
      "value": { "eyelet": 15, "pencil_pleat": 25 },
      "fabric_width": 137,
      "unit": "cm of stack per 137 cm width of fabric",
      "plain": "Open curtains stack about 15 cm deep for each 137 cm width of fabric in an eyelet curtain, and about 25 cm for a pencil pleat.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Direct Fabrics, Understanding curtain stacking (about 15 cm per fabric width for eyelet, 25 cm for pencil pleat)", "url": "https://direct-fabrics.co.uk/understanding-curtain-stacking-stack-back", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "Direct Fabrics refused our fetch; its figures come from search summaries. We use the eyelet figure for tab tops (our assumption)."
    },
    {
      "id": "curtain.drop-from",
      "topic": "curtain",
      "name": "Where the drop is measured from",
      "value": { "eyelet": "top of the pole", "tab_top": "top of the pole", "pencil_pleat_pole": "eye of the ring", "pencil_pleat_track": "top of the track" },
      "ring_eye_below_pole_top": 4,
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Measure the drop from the top of the pole for eyelet and tab top curtains, from the eye of the ring for pencil pleats on a pole, and from the top of a track.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Dunelm, Curtains measuring guide (PDF, undated: tab top 1.5× the pole; pencil pleat drop from the hook's eye or the top of a track; eyelet and tab top from the top of the pole)", "url": "https://www.dunelm.com/infodocs/curtains-measuring-guide.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Next, Living room help: curtain sizes (eyelet widths 135, 168, 228 cm; drops 137, 183, 229 cm; drop from the top of the pole for eyelet and tab top)", "url": "https://zendesk.next.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/28404611069969-Living-Room", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The ring's eye sitting about 4 cm below the top of the pole is our assumption: measure your own rings."
    },
    {
      "id": "light.lux",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Light levels for each room",
      "value": { "living": [100, 200], "bedroom": [50, 100], "kitchen": [150, 300], "bathroom": [100, 150], "home_office": [250, 300] },
      "unit": "lux (lumens per square metre arriving on the floor or table)",
      "task": { "living": 200, "bedroom": 100, "kitchen": 500, "bathroom": 150, "home_office": 500 },
      "plain": "Lighting guidance from the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) and CIBSE gives about 100–200 lux for a lounge, 50–100 lux for a bedroom, 150–300 lux for a kitchen, 100–150 lux for a bathroom, and 250–300 lux for a home office, with 500 lux at the desk.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Spear Lighting, Technical section: residential lux levels from SLL LG9 (2013), BS EN 12464-1 and HSG38; office lux levels (catalogue pages 388–391, PDF of 18 Sep 2020)", "url": "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/601bc9c809d01b5ec47c23c6/t/604bb0611c93f475fa7675fc/1615573089670/Lighting+Guideline+Summary.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "CIBSE, SLL LG9 Lighting for communal residential buildings (2022 edition; paywalled, not read)", "url": "https://www.cibse.org/knowledge-research/knowledge-portal/lg9-lighting-for-communal-residential-buildings-2022", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "CIBSE Code for Interior Lighting (1994), hotel table as reproduced on SlideShare (bedroom 50–100, kitchen 150–300 lux)", "url": "https://www.slideshare.net/nosuhaila/led-lighting-code-for-interior-lighting-1994", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "SLL LG9 (2013) is for communal residential buildings: lounge 100–200 lux (200 lux for reading), TV lounge 50, kitchens 200, bathrooms 150, toilets 100, bedrooms 100 (bedhead 100, desk 250). The 1994 CIBSE Code gives hotel bedrooms 50–100 and kitchens 150–300. CIBSE office guidance: 300 lux for the room, 500 lux at the desk; we use LG9's 250 lux desk figure as the low end for a home office. Kitchen worktop 500 lux is the figure for kitchens in schools. No UK standard sets light levels for private homes. US IES figures run higher.",
      "unverified": "We read LG9 and the offices table only in Spear Lighting's summary (2013 edition); the 2022 edition is paywalled. The 1994 Code comes from a copy on SlideShare."
    },
    {
      "id": "light.utilisation",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "How much bulb light reaches the room",
      "value": { "base": 0.3, "per_room_index": 0.15, "min": 0.35, "max": 0.65, "dark_walls": -0.1, "working_plane_cm": 80 },
      "unit": "utilisation factor (0–1)",
      "plain": "Only part of a bulb's lumens reach the floor and tables: about half in a typical room with light walls, less with dark walls, a high ceiling or a small room. Bulb lumens ≈ lux × floor area ÷ utilisation factor.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "electricaltechnology.org, Lighting design calculation in a building, step by step (lumen method; UF 0.66 at room index 1.8 with 70/50/20 reflectances)", "url": "https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2017/03/lighting-design-calculation-in-building.html", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The straight-line fit (0.3 + 0.15 × room index, between 0.35 and 0.65, 0.1 lower with dark walls) is our approximation of published utilisation tables, not a value from one table. Room index = L × W ÷ (h × (L + W)), with h the height from 80 cm (about desk height) to the ceiling."
    },
    {
      "id": "light.bulbs",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Common bulb outputs",
      "value": { "470": 40, "806": 60, "1055": 75, "1521": 100 },
      "unit": "lumens → the old watts they replace",
      "plain": "An LED bulb that says '60 W equivalent' gives at least 806 lumens; 40 W means 470 lm, 75 W 1055 lm and 100 W 1521 lm.",
      "strength": "standard",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2020, equivalence claims for non-directional light sources (470 lm = 40 W, 806 lm = 60 W, 1055 lm = 75 W, 1521 lm = 100 W)", "url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/2020/pdfs/eur_20192020_2019-12-05_en.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "light.downlight-spacing",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Downlight spacing",
      "value": 0.5,
      "wall": 0.5,
      "unit": "× ceiling height apart; × the spacing from the wall",
      "plain": "A rule installers use: space downlights about half the ceiling height apart (1.2 m under a 2.4 m ceiling), and half that again from the walls (about 60 cm).",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Philips Hue, How far should recessed lights be from the wall? (ceiling height ÷ 2 apart; 50–60 cm from the wall at 2.4 m)", "url": "https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/explore-hue/faq/lamps/how-far-should-recessed-lights-be-from-the-wall", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Philips Hue gives 50–60 cm from the wall at 2.4 m. Some UK shops use a third of the ceiling height; some US sites allow up to the full ceiling height between lights."
    },
    {
      "id": "light.layers",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Light in layers",
      "value": { "living": [30, 50, 20], "bedroom": [40, 40, 20], "kitchen": [60, 0, 40], "bathroom": [70, 0, 30], "home_office": [50, 20, 30] },
      "unit": "% of lumens: ceiling, lamps, task",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: light a room from at least two or three sources at two or more heights, not from one ceiling light.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Emily Henderson, 19 lighting combos and rules (at least 2–3 light sources, at 2 or more heights)", "url": "https://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/19-lighting-combos-rules-lighting", "checked": "2026-10-15" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The percentages are our starting split for the calculator, not a published figure. Emily Henderson's page refused our fetch; the rule comes from search summaries."
    },
    {
      "id": "light.colour-temperature",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Colour temperature by room",
      "value": { "living": [2700, 3000], "bedroom": [2700, 3000], "kitchen": [3500, 4500], "bathroom": [3500, 4500], "home_office": [4000, 5000] },
      "unit": "kelvin",
      "plain": "Lighting shops usually suggest warm white (2700–3000 K) for living rooms and bedrooms, neutral to cool white (3500–4500 K) for kitchens and bathrooms, and 4000–5000 K for a desk.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "BLT Direct (7 May 2026), What is the difference between warm white, cool white and daylight LEDs?", "url": "https://www.bltdirect.com/what-is-the-difference-between-warm-white-cool-white-and-daylight-leds", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "dining.per-diner",
      "topic": "dining",
      "name": "Table edge per diner",
      "value": 60,
      "unit": "cm of table edge",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: give each diner at least 60 cm of table edge (24 in). The NKBA asks for a 610 mm (24 in) wide place at a 30 in table.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "IKEA Switzerland, How much space per person at a dining table (at least 60 cm; 40 cm at an end)", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/ch/en/customer-service/knowledge/articles/3gbc7ffd-5023-4c02-bfeb-50d51e204d4g.html", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "NKBA, Kitchen Planning Guidelines, Guideline 9 (24 in × 18 in knee space per diner at a 30 in table)", "url": "https://kb.nkba.org/uploads/2022/05/Kitchen-Planning-Guidelines.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "furniture.co.uk (Amy, 14 Mar 2026), Dining table size guide (60 cm per person)", "url": "https://furniture.co.uk/blog/dining-table-size-guide/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "dining.clearance",
      "topic": "dining",
      "name": "Space behind the chairs",
      "value": { "tight": 75, "no_traffic": 81, "edge_past": 91, "walk_past": 112 },
      "unit": "cm from the table edge to a wall or furniture",
      "plain": "The NKBA's guidelines: 813 mm (32 in) from the table edge to the wall when nobody passes behind a seated diner, 914 mm (36 in) for someone to edge past, 1118 mm (44 in) to walk past. 75 cm is the least for a chair to pull out.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "NKBA, Kitchen Planning Guidelines, Guideline 8: traffic clearance at seating (32, 36, 44 in)", "url": "https://kb.nkba.org/uploads/2022/05/Kitchen-Planning-Guidelines.pdf", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "furniture.co.uk (Amy, 29 May 2026), Round dining table sizes (75 cm least, 90 cm comfortable, 100–120 cm for a busy home)", "url": "https://furniture.co.uk/blog/round-dining-table-sizes-what-diameter-seats-4-6-or-8/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "IKEA Indonesia, Ideal dining table height (at least 75–90 cm to walls or furniture)", "url": "https://www.ikea.co.id/en/inspirations/ideal-dining-table-height", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "furniture.co.uk's size guide says at least 90 cm and 100–110 cm to be comfortable; its round-table guide says 75 cm is the absolute least. The NKBA's own access standard asks 36 in (914 mm) even with nobody passing.",
      "unverified": "The cm values are our rounding of the NKBA's mm. The NKBA writes for kitchen seating; designers use the same figures for dining rooms."
    },
    {
      "id": "dining.ends",
      "topic": "dining",
      "name": "A diner at each end",
      "value": 90,
      "corner": 20,
      "unit": "cm table width",
      "plain": "Our rule: a table at least 90 cm wide seats one diner at each end, and the end diners take about 10 cm of each corner from the long sides. IKEA says 40 cm of edge is enough at an end.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "IKEA Switzerland, How much space per person at a dining table (40 cm at an end)", "url": "https://www.ikea.com/ch/en/customer-service/knowledge/articles/3gbc7ffd-5023-4c02-bfeb-50d51e204d4g.html", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The 90 cm width and the 20 cm for the corners are our choice, set so the seat counts match furniture.co.uk's chart (150–180 cm seats 6, 200–220 cm seats 8)."
    },
    {
      "id": "dining.round",
      "topic": "dining",
      "name": "Seats at a round table",
      "value": 70,
      "unit": "cm of edge per diner (π × diameter ÷ 70)",
      "plain": "Our working figure: a round table seats one diner for each 70 cm of its edge, because the chairs crowd together towards the middle. That gives 90–110 cm for 4, 135 cm for 6 and 180 cm for 8, as UK shop charts do.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "furniture.co.uk (Amy, 29 May 2026), Round dining table sizes (100–120 cm for 4, 120–150 cm for 6, 150–180 cm for 8)", "url": "https://furniture.co.uk/blog/round-dining-table-sizes-what-diameter-seats-4-6-or-8/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Castlery UK, Round dining tables (90–100 cm seats 2–4, 120 cm 4, 135–150 cm 4–6, 150–180 cm 6–8)", "url": "https://www.castlery.com/uk/tables/round-dining-tables", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The 70 cm is our calibration against these two charts, not a published figure. It calls a 120 cm table a five-seater; Castlery calls it a four-seater."
    },
    {
      "id": "dining.uk-sizes",
      "topic": "dining",
      "name": "UK stock dining table sizes",
      "value": { "rectangular": [[90, 90], [120, 80], [140, 80], [150, 90], [160, 90], [180, 90], [200, 100], [220, 100], [240, 100], [260, 100]], "round": [90, 100, 110, 120, 135, 150, 180], "oval": [[150, 90], [160, 90], [180, 100], [200, 100], [220, 100]] },
      "unit": "cm (length × width, or diameter)",
      "plain": "UK shops sell rectangular tables from 120 × 80 cm (four) to 260 × 100 cm (ten), round tables 90–180 cm across and ovals from 150 × 90 to 220 × 100 cm.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "furniture.co.uk (Amy, 14 Mar 2026), Dining table size guide (4: 120–140 × 80–90; 6: 150–180 × 85–95; 8: 200–220 × 90–100; 10: 240–260 × 100–110 cm)", "url": "https://furniture.co.uk/blog/dining-table-size-guide/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "furniture.co.uk (Amy, 29 May 2026), Round dining table sizes", "url": "https://furniture.co.uk/blog/round-dining-table-sizes-what-diameter-seats-4-6-or-8/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Castlery UK, Round dining tables (90–180 cm)", "url": "https://www.castlery.com/uk/tables/round-dining-tables", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The list is our pick of common sizes inside these ranges. We did not survey shop listings. The oval sizes come from search summaries of UK shops (180 × 100 and 220 × 100 cm ovals), not pages we opened."
    },
    {
      "id": "pendant.table-gap",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Pendant above a dining table",
      "value": [75, 90],
      "aim": 80,
      "unit": "cm from the table top to the bottom of the light (ceiling up to 2.44 m)",
      "plain": "A rule lighting shops use: hang the bottom of the light 75–90 cm (30–36 in) above the table under a standard ceiling. The calculator aims for 80 cm.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Jim Lawrence, Lighting FAQ (75–85 cm above the table)", "url": "https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/faq-lighting", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "The Lighting Centre (NZ), How to size a pendant (750–900 mm above the table)", "url": "https://thelightingcentre.co.nz/howtosizeapendant/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Mod Lighting (2 Jan 2025), How to find the right chandelier size for your dining room (30–36 in with an 8 ft ceiling)", "url": "https://www.mod-lighting.com/blogs/read/how-to-find-the-right-chandelier-size-for-your-dining-room", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Jim Lawrence: 75–85 cm. The Lighting Centre: 75–90 cm. Mod Lighting: 30–36 in (76–91 cm). The 80 cm aim is our choice inside all three."
    },
    {
      "id": "pendant.ceiling",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Higher under a tall ceiling",
      "value": 0.25,
      "base": 244,
      "unit": "cm higher per cm of ceiling above 2.44 m",
      "plain": "Mod Lighting: for every foot of ceiling above 8 ft, hang the light 3 in higher (about 7.5 cm per 30 cm). Jim Lawrence: 7 cm higher for every 30 cm of ceiling above 2.5 m.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Mod Lighting (2 Jan 2025), How to find the right chandelier size (add 3 in per foot above 8 ft)", "url": "https://www.mod-lighting.com/blogs/read/how-to-find-the-right-chandelier-size-for-your-dining-room", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Jim Lawrence, Lighting FAQ (add 7 cm per 30 cm above 2.5 m)", "url": "https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/faq-lighting", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "pendant.width",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Light about half the table's width",
      "value": [0.5, 0.67],
      "narrower": 30,
      "unit": "light diameter ÷ table width",
      "plain": "A rule designers use: a light over a dining table is half to two thirds of the table's width, and at least 30 cm (1 ft) narrower than the table, so nobody knocks it standing up.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Jim Lawrence, Lighting FAQ (half to two thirds of the table's width)", "url": "https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/faq-lighting", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Mod Lighting (2 Jan 2025), How to find the right chandelier size (one half to two thirds; one foot less than the table's width)", "url": "https://www.mod-lighting.com/blogs/read/how-to-find-the-right-chandelier-size-for-your-dining-room", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "The Lighting Centre (NZ) says two thirds to three quarters of the table's width."
    },
    {
      "id": "pendant.room",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "The room rule for a light's size",
      "value": [15, 12],
      "unit": "(room length + width in cm) ÷ this = diameter in cm",
      "plain": "The room rule: add the room's length and width in feet, and the sum in inches is the light's diameter. In cm, that is (length + width) ÷ 12. The Lighting Centre's metric version, (length + width) ÷ 15, gives a smaller light.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Mod Lighting (2 Jan 2025), How to find the right chandelier size (room length + width in feet = diameter in inches)", "url": "https://www.mod-lighting.com/blogs/read/how-to-find-the-right-chandelier-size-for-your-dining-room", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "The Lighting Centre (NZ), How to size a pendant ((length + width in metres) ÷ 15 = diameter in metres)", "url": "https://thelightingcentre.co.nz/howtosizeapendant/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "unverified": "The ÷ 12 is our conversion: 1 ft of room = 1 in of light, and 30.48 ÷ 2.54 = 12."
    },
    {
      "id": "pendant.walkway",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "Headroom under a hanging light",
      "value": 210,
      "min": 200,
      "unit": "cm from the floor to the bottom of the light",
      "plain": "Where people walk under a light, keep its bottom at least 2.1 m from the floor. Jim Lawrence gives at least 2 m (7 ft) in sitting rooms, bedrooms and halls.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "The Lighting Centre (NZ), How to size a pendant (not lower than 2.1 m in the centre of a living space)", "url": "https://thelightingcentre.co.nz/howtosizeapendant/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Jim Lawrence, Lighting FAQ (at least 2 m, 7 ft, in sitting rooms, bedrooms and halls)", "url": "https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/faq-lighting", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "US guides say no lower than 7 ft (213 cm) over open floor (search summaries, not opened)."
    },
    {
      "id": "pendant.fitting-height",
      "topic": "light",
      "name": "A chandelier's own height",
      "value": [2.5, 3],
      "unit": "in of fitting per ft of ceiling",
      "plain": "Mod Lighting: allow 2.5–3 in of chandelier height for each foot of ceiling height, about 50–60 cm under a 2.4 m ceiling.",
      "strength": "designers' rule",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Mod Lighting (2 Jan 2025), How to find the right chandelier size", "url": "https://www.mod-lighting.com/blogs/read/how-to-find-the-right-chandelier-size-for-your-dining-room", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "paint.coverage",
      "topic": "paint",
      "name": "Emulsion coverage per litre",
      "value": {"matt": 13, "silk": 13, "cautious": 10},
      "unit": "m² per litre, per coat",
      "plain": "Dulux says its Walls & Ceilings matt and silk emulsions cover up to 13 m² per litre on average, per coat. B&Q's and Homebase's own calculators assume 10 m² per litre.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "B&Q, Dulux Walls & Ceilings matt emulsion 2.5 l (up to 13 m² per litre on average; 14 m²/l in the specification)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/dulux-walls-ceilings-egyptian-cotton-matt-emulsion-paint-2-5l/126241_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "B&Q, Dulux Walls & Ceilings matt emulsion 5 l (13 m²/l on average; 70 m² per tin in the specification)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/dulux-walls-ceilings-ivory-lace-matt-emulsion-paint-5l/126289_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Screwfix, Dulux Pure Brilliant White silk emulsion 2.5 l (13 m²/l)", "url": "https://www.screwfix.com/p/dulux-2-5ltr-pure-brilliant-white-silk-emulsion-paint/4503V", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "B&Q, Wall painting calculator (assumes 10 m² per litre)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/calculators/wall-painting-calculator", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Homebase, Paint calculator (assumes 10 m² per litre)", "url": "https://www.homebase.co.uk/paint-decorating/paint-calculator/c/h70", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "disagree": "The same B&Q pages give 13 m²/l in the description and 14 m²/l in the specification. Crown's retail matt is listed at 14 m²/l, trade matts at 16–17 m²/l. B&Q's and Homebase's calculators use 10 m²/l. We use 13 for matt and silk, and show 10 as the cautious figure.",
      "unverified": "The Screwfix silk figure (and Wickes' 13 m²/l) comes from search-result summaries on 31 Oct 2026: Screwfix did not return the page to us. The B&Q pages, B&Q's and Homebase's calculators we read in full."
    },
    {
      "id": "paint.coats",
      "topic": "paint",
      "name": "Coats of emulsion",
      "value": 2,
      "unit": "coats",
      "plain": "Two coats of emulsion is the usual advice for walls and ceilings; a strong colour change can need a third.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "Homebase, Paint calculator (\"We recommend 2 coats for the best finish on most interior surfaces\")", "url": "https://www.homebase.co.uk/paint-decorating/paint-calculator/c/h70", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Dulux UK, How much paint do you need? (one coat for Simply Refresh, two for EasyCare Washable & Tough)", "url": "https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/expert-help/how-much-paint-do-you-need", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "disagree": "Dulux sells one-coat paints (Simply Refresh) and says two coats for most others."
    },
    {
      "id": "paint.spare",
      "topic": "paint",
      "name": "Spare paint",
      "value": 10,
      "unit": "% extra",
      "plain": "B&Q and Homebase advise buying about 10% more paint than the area needs, for spills, mistakes and touch-ups.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "B&Q, Wall painting calculator (\"at least 10% extra\")", "url": "https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/calculators/wall-painting-calculator", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Homebase, Paint calculator (optional 10% buffer)", "url": "https://www.homebase.co.uk/paint-decorating/paint-calculator/c/h70", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "paint.tins",
      "topic": "paint",
      "name": "UK emulsion tin sizes",
      "value": [1, 2.5, 5],
      "unit": "litres",
      "plain": "Emulsion comes in 2.5 l and 5 l tins (some colours in 1 l). At B&Q a 5 l tin costs less per litre: £36 (£7.20/l) against £25 (£10/l) for 2.5 l of Dulux Walls & Ceilings matt.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "B&Q, Dulux Walls & Ceilings matt 2.5 l (£25, £10/l)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/dulux-walls-ceilings-egyptian-cotton-matt-emulsion-paint-2-5l/126241_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "B&Q, Dulux Walls & Ceilings matt 5 l (£36, £7.20/l)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/dulux-walls-ceilings-ivory-lace-matt-emulsion-paint-5l/126289_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Dulux UK, How much paint do you need? (1 l for a 2.5 m feature wall; 2.5 l for a 2 × 2 m room; 5 l for a 4 × 4 m room)", "url": "https://www.dulux.co.uk/en/expert-help/how-much-paint-do-you-need", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "unverified": "Prices change and multi-buy offers run often; the prices are B&Q's on 31 Oct 2026. Dulux's room sizes are its rough guide, with no ceiling height given."
    },
    {
      "id": "paint.mist-coat",
      "topic": "paint",
      "name": "Mist coat on new plaster",
      "value": [2, 1],
      "unit": "parts emulsion : parts water",
      "plain": "New plaster gets a thinned first coat, the mist coat: B&Q says two parts emulsion to one part water, once the plaster has dried to pale pink. Check the tin first.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "B&Q, How to paint new plaster (two parts emulsion to one part water; usually one mist coat; about 24 hours to dry)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/ideas--advice/painting--decorating/painting/how-to-paint-new-plaster", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "disagree": "Other UK guides give 3:1 (Checkatrade), 7:3 (Homebuilding) and 1:1 (Toolstation). The tin's own instructions come first.",
      "unverified": "No source gives litres for a mist coat. We count it as one more full coat: the water stretches the paint, and the dry plaster soaks it up (our assumption)."
    },
    {
      "id": "wallpaper.uk-roll",
      "topic": "wallpaper",
      "name": "Standard UK wallpaper roll",
      "value": [1005, 53],
      "unit": "cm (length × width)",
      "plain": "A standard UK roll is 10.05 m long and 53 cm wide (about 5.3 m²). Check the label: some are 52 cm wide or 10 m long.",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "B&Q, GoodHome Kerria wallpaper (10,050 × 530 mm, 64 cm straight match)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/goodhome-kerria-white-leaves-wallpaper/3663602560562_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Which?, How to wallpaper (rolls typically 10 m × 0.53 m, though this can vary)", "url": "https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/decorating-and-diy/article/how-to-wallpaper-a5vrr3F24tdk", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "PracticalDIY, Estimating the number of rolls (0.52 × 10.05 m)", "url": "https://www.practicaldiy.com/decorating/wallpaper/wallpaper_quantity.php", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "disagree": "PracticalDIY gives 52 cm wide; several GoodHome rolls at B&Q are 10 m long."
    },
    {
      "id": "wallpaper.wide-rolls",
      "topic": "wallpaper",
      "name": "Wide wallpaper rolls",
      "value": {"wide": [1005, 68.6], "double": [1005, 106]},
      "unit": "cm (length × width)",
      "plain": "Wide-width papers are often 68.6 cm × 10.05 m (Harlequin, Morris & Co); double-width rolls are 1.06 × 10.05 m (Galerie at B&Q, 10.65 m² a roll).",
      "strength": "shop sizes",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "B&Q, Galerie Italian Textures 3 double-width roll (10.05 m × 1.06 m, 10.65 m², 64 cm straight match)", "url": "https://www.diy.com/departments/galerie-italian-textures-3-light-blue-room-plaster-effect-10-05m-x-106cm-double-width-wallpaper-roll/8022560074569_BQ.prd", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Morris & Co, Simply Severn wallpaper (68.6 cm × 10.05 m)", "url": "https://www.wmorrisandco.com/uk/simply-severn-wallpaper-dove-44067-217076/", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "unverified": "The 68.6 cm width (Morris & Co, Harlequin) comes from search-result summaries on 31 Oct 2026: both sites refused us the page. The B&Q Galerie page we read in full."
    },
    {
      "id": "wallpaper.trim",
      "topic": "wallpaper",
      "name": "Trim allowance per drop",
      "value": 10,
      "unit": "cm",
      "plain": "Cut each drop about 10 cm longer than the wall is high, to trim at the ceiling and the skirting.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "Which?, How to wallpaper (\"add 10cm to allow for trimming\")", "url": "https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/decorating-and-diy/article/how-to-wallpaper-a5vrr3F24tdk", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "wallpaper.match",
      "topic": "wallpaper",
      "name": "Pattern match and repeat",
      "value": {"straight": 1, "offset": 1.5},
      "unit": "repeats added at most per drop",
      "plain": "With a straight match every drop starts at the same point of the pattern, so each drop uses a whole number of repeats. An offset (half-drop) match shifts every other drop by half the repeat, so it uses about half a repeat more. A free match wastes nothing.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "Graham & Brown, How to measure for wallpaper (free, straight and offset match; a 64/32 cm offset repeats every 64 cm and matches every 32 cm)", "url": "https://www.grahambrown.com/uk/how-to/measure-your-room/", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ],
      "unverified": "The rounding (a whole number of repeats per drop, plus half a repeat for offset) is our arithmetic from the match types; Graham & Brown does not publish its formula."
    },
    {
      "id": "wallpaper.spare",
      "topic": "wallpaper",
      "name": "Spare roll from the same batch",
      "value": 1,
      "unit": "roll",
      "plain": "Buy every roll from one batch number, plus a spare: rolls from different print runs can differ in colour, and a later order may not match.",
      "strength": "industry guideline",
      "sources": [
        {"label": "Which?, How to wallpaper (check every roll is from the same batch; buy an extra roll or two)", "url": "https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/decorating-and-diy/article/how-to-wallpaper-a5vrr3F24tdk", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "PracticalDIY, Estimating the number of rolls (same batch or lot number; a couple of extra rolls for a large repeat)", "url": "https://www.practicaldiy.com/decorating/wallpaper/wallpaper_quantity.php", "checked": "2026-10-31"},
        {"label": "Graham & Brown, How to measure for wallpaper (allow an extra 10% for waste)", "url": "https://www.grahambrown.com/uk/how-to/measure-your-room/", "checked": "2026-10-31"}
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "kua.formula",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "Kua number formula (Eight Mansions)",
      "value": {
        "male": "11 − s, reduced to 1–9",
        "female": "4 + s, reduced to 1–9",
        "s": "the digit sum of the four-digit birth year, reduced to 1–9",
        "five": { "male": 2, "female": 8 }
      },
      "unit": "kua number 1–9 (no 5)",
      "plain": "In the Eight Mansions tradition, the kua number comes from the birth year and a formula for each sex at birth. A result of 5 becomes 2 on the male formula and 8 on the female one. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "WOFS (Lillian Too's site), How to calculate your kua number (3 Apr 2023, updated 27 Dec 2025)", "url": "https://www.wofs.com/?p=16692", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "LoveToKnow (Hathaway, 14 Mar 2022), Feng shui kua number calculation guide", "url": "https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/design-decor/how-calculate-kua-number", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Skillon, Kua number calculator (a Kua 8 chart in full; Kua 5 is in the West group)", "url": "https://www.skillon.com/kua-number-calculator.cfm", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Most guides write the same formula in two halves split at 2000, using only the last two digits (n): before 2000, male 10 − n and female n + 5; from 2000, male 9 − n and female n + 6. The four-digit version gives the same number for every year (we checked 1900–2099). WOFS lists 5 in the West group without saying which number replaces it.",
      "unverified": "We found no classical primary text. The formula comes from practitioner pages that agree with each other."
    },
    {
      "id": "kua.year-start",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "When the kua year starts",
      "value": 315,
      "unit": "° of solar longitude (Li Chun, 3–5 February)",
      "plain": "The tradition counts the year from Li Chun, the start of spring in the Chinese solar calendar, when the Sun reaches 315° on 3, 4 or 5 February. A birth before it counts as the year before. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Lichun (the Sun at 315°, about 4 February)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichun", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "LynC, Feng shui, bazi and the lunar and solar calendars (8 Apr 2013): the year changes on about 4 Feb; 18 Jan 1968 gives kua 6 (male) or 9 (female)", "url": "https://fengshui88-windandwater.blogspot.com/2013/04/feng-shui-bazi-and-lunar-and-solar.html", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Feng Shui Web (UK), Eight Mansions feng shui (births to about 5 Feb count as the year before; Gua 1 directions)", "url": "https://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/8mansions.htm", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "WOFS (Lillian Too's site), How to calculate your kua number (3 Apr 2023, updated 27 Dec 2025)", "url": "https://www.wofs.com/?p=16692", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "WOFS (Lillian Too's school) starts the year at Lunar New Year instead, which falls between 21 January and 20 February. For a birth between the two dates, the schools give different years.",
      "unverified": "Our Li Chun times come from a short solar formula (Meeus, low precision). Against the times in Wikipedia's Lichun table for 2023–2026 (seen as a search summary), ours ran 2–9 minutes early, so the calculator calls a birth within 20 minutes of Li Chun too close to tell."
    },
    {
      "id": "kua.groups",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "East and West groups",
      "value": {
        "east": [1, 3, 4, 9],
        "west": [2, 6, 7, 8],
        "east_directions": ["N", "S", "E", "SE"],
        "west_directions": ["W", "NW", "SW", "NE"]
      },
      "unit": "kua numbers and compass directions",
      "plain": "In Eight Mansions, kua 1, 3, 4 and 9 are the East group, with favourable directions N, S, E and SE; kua 2, 6, 7 and 8 are the West group, with W, NW, SW and NE. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Stephen Skinner, The much neglected Eight Mansions method, Feng Shui Today (6 Mar 2021)", "url": "https://fengshuitoday.com/the-much-neglected-eight-mansions-method/", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Skillon, Kua number calculator (a Kua 8 chart in full; Kua 5 is in the West group)", "url": "https://www.skillon.com/kua-number-calculator.cfm", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "kua.directions",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "The eight directions for each kua number",
      "value": {
        "favourable": ["sheng_qi", "tian_yi", "yan_nian", "fu_wei"],
        "unfavourable": ["huo_hai", "wu_gui", "liu_sha", "jue_ming"],
        "names": { "sheng_qi": "Sheng Qi", "tian_yi": "Tian Yi", "yan_nian": "Yan Nian", "fu_wei": "Fu Wei", "huo_hai": "Huo Hai", "wu_gui": "Wu Gui", "liu_sha": "Liu Sha", "jue_ming": "Jue Ming" },
        "kua": {
          "1": { "trigram": "Kan", "sheng_qi": "SE", "tian_yi": "E", "yan_nian": "S", "fu_wei": "N", "huo_hai": "W", "wu_gui": "NE", "liu_sha": "NW", "jue_ming": "SW" },
          "2": { "trigram": "Kun", "sheng_qi": "NE", "tian_yi": "W", "yan_nian": "NW", "fu_wei": "SW", "huo_hai": "E", "wu_gui": "SE", "liu_sha": "S", "jue_ming": "N" },
          "3": { "trigram": "Zhen", "sheng_qi": "S", "tian_yi": "N", "yan_nian": "SE", "fu_wei": "E", "huo_hai": "SW", "wu_gui": "NW", "liu_sha": "NE", "jue_ming": "W" },
          "4": { "trigram": "Xun", "sheng_qi": "N", "tian_yi": "S", "yan_nian": "E", "fu_wei": "SE", "huo_hai": "NW", "wu_gui": "SW", "liu_sha": "W", "jue_ming": "NE" },
          "6": { "trigram": "Qian", "sheng_qi": "W", "tian_yi": "NE", "yan_nian": "SW", "fu_wei": "NW", "huo_hai": "SE", "wu_gui": "E", "liu_sha": "N", "jue_ming": "S" },
          "7": { "trigram": "Dui", "sheng_qi": "NW", "tian_yi": "SW", "yan_nian": "NE", "fu_wei": "W", "huo_hai": "N", "wu_gui": "S", "liu_sha": "SE", "jue_ming": "E" },
          "8": { "trigram": "Gen", "sheng_qi": "SW", "tian_yi": "NW", "yan_nian": "W", "fu_wei": "NE", "huo_hai": "S", "wu_gui": "N", "liu_sha": "E", "jue_ming": "SE" },
          "9": { "trigram": "Li", "sheng_qi": "E", "tian_yi": "SE", "yan_nian": "N", "fu_wei": "S", "huo_hai": "NE", "wu_gui": "W", "liu_sha": "SW", "jue_ming": "NW" }
        }
      },
      "unit": "compass directions (8 sectors of 45°)",
      "plain": "Eight Mansions gives each kua number four favourable directions (Sheng Qi, Tian Yi, Yan Nian, Fu Wei, in the tradition's order) and four unfavourable ones (Huo Hai, Wu Gui, Liu Sha, Jue Ming, mildest first). Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Feng Shui Web (UK), Eight Mansions feng shui (births to about 5 Feb count as the year before; Gua 1 directions)", "url": "https://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/8mansions.htm", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Skillon, Kua number calculator (a Kua 8 chart in full; Kua 5 is in the West group)", "url": "https://www.skillon.com/kua-number-calculator.cfm", "checked": "2026-10-31" },
        { "label": "Stephen Skinner, The much neglected Eight Mansions method, Feng Shui Today (6 Mar 2021)", "url": "https://fengshuitoday.com/the-much-neglected-eight-mansions-method/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "One commercial page gives Kua 8's Jue Ming as east; Skillon's Kua 8 chart and the trigram rule give south-east, which we use.",
      "unverified": "We derived the table from each trigram, then checked Kua 1 (Feng Shui Web) and Kua 8 (Skillon) in full, and the four favourable directions of every kua against one practitioner's table seen only as a search summary."
    },
    {
      "id": "kua.bed-head",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "Bed direction in Eight Mansions",
      "value": "favourable",
      "unit": "the direction the top of your head points, lying in bed",
      "plain": "In Eight Mansions, the tradition points the top of your head, as you lie in bed, towards one of your four favourable directions. Form School's commanding position comes first for most teachers. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "South China Morning Post, Head in the right direction (search summary only)", "url": "https://www.scmp.com/article/709737/head-right-direction", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Stephen Skinner, The much neglected Eight Mansions method, Feng Shui Today (6 Mar 2021)", "url": "https://fengshuitoday.com/the-much-neglected-eight-mansions-method/", "checked": "2026-10-31" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Teachers differ on which of the four to use for a bed. For a desk, some say face a favourable direction and others say sit with it behind you.",
      "unverified": "The SCMP article returned only a search summary."
    },
    {
      "id": "bagua.btb",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "The door-wall bagua (BTB)",
      "value": [["knowledge", "career", "helpful_people"], ["family", "centre", "children"], ["wealth", "fame", "relationships"]],
      "unit": "3 × 3 grid: row 0 on the door wall, column 0 on your left as you stand in the doorway looking in",
      "plain": "In the Western BTB school, you stand in the doorway, look in, and split the room into a 3 × 3 grid. The door wall is the front row, so the door falls in Knowledge, Career or Helpful People. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Anjie Cho, Feng shui 101: the bagua map", "url": "https://www.anjiecho.com/holistic-spaces-blog/2014/4/28/feng-shui-101-the-bagua-map", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Anjie Cho, Q&A Sunday: BTB feng shui bagua", "url": "https://anjiecho.com/holistic-spaces-blog/qa-sunday-btb-feng-shui-bagua", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Marianne Gordon, How to use a feng shui bagua map, mindbodygreen (8 Feb 2020)", "url": "https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-use-a-feng-shui-bagua-map", "checked": "2026-10-17" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Classical teachers lay the areas by compass direction, not from the door (bagua.compass)."
    },
    {
      "id": "bagua.compass",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "The compass bagua",
      "value": { "N": "career", "NE": "knowledge", "E": "family", "SE": "wealth", "S": "fame", "SW": "relationships", "W": "children", "NW": "helpful_people" },
      "unit": "compass direction from the centre of the room or home",
      "plain": "Classical schools place the nine areas by compass direction, in the Later Heaven arrangement: Career to the north, Fame to the south, and the centre in the middle. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Bagua (the trigrams and the Later Heaven directions)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagua", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Marianne Gordon, How to use a feng shui bagua map, mindbodygreen (8 Feb 2020)", "url": "https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-use-a-feng-shui-bagua-map", "checked": "2026-10-17" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Classical practice divides the plan into 8 sectors of 45° (or 24 of 15°) from the centre; a 3 × 3 grid turned to the nearest 45° is a simplification."
    },
    {
      "id": "bagua.areas",
      "topic": "feng-shui",
      "name": "The nine bagua areas",
      "value": [
        {
          "id": "knowledge",
          "name": "Knowledge",
          "also": ["Self-cultivation", "Skills"],
          "trigram": "☶",
          "pinyin": "Gèn",
          "image": "mountain",
          "element": "earth",
          "colours": ["dark blue", "black", "beige"],
          "number": 8,
          "theme": "study and self-cultivation",
          "suggests": ["books", "a quiet seat", "pictures of mountains"]
        },
        {
          "id": "career",
          "name": "Career",
          "also": ["Path in Life"],
          "trigram": "☵",
          "pinyin": "Kǎn",
          "image": "water",
          "element": "water",
          "colours": ["black", "very dark blue"],
          "number": 1,
          "theme": "your path in life and work",
          "suggests": ["a water picture", "a mirror", "a dark mat by the door"]
        },
        {
          "id": "helpful_people",
          "name": "Helpful People",
          "also": ["Travel", "Benefactors"],
          "trigram": "☰",
          "pinyin": "Qián",
          "image": "heaven",
          "element": "metal",
          "colours": ["grey", "white", "silver"],
          "number": 6,
          "theme": "mentors, friends and travel",
          "suggests": ["metal objects", "maps or a globe", "pictures of people you admire"]
        },
        {
          "id": "family",
          "name": "Family",
          "also": ["New Beginnings"],
          "trigram": "☳",
          "pinyin": "Zhèn",
          "image": "thunder",
          "element": "wood",
          "colours": ["green", "blue"],
          "number": 3,
          "theme": "family, ancestors and new beginnings",
          "suggests": ["wood furniture", "plants in good health", "family photos"]
        },
        {
          "id": "centre",
          "name": "Centre",
          "also": ["Tai Qi", "Health"],
          "trigram": "",
          "pinyin": "",
          "image": "",
          "element": "earth",
          "colours": ["yellow", "orange", "brown"],
          "number": 5,
          "theme": "balance: the heart of the room",
          "suggests": ["earth tones", "a clear, open floor"]
        },
        {
          "id": "children",
          "name": "Children",
          "also": ["Creativity", "Completion"],
          "trigram": "☱",
          "pinyin": "Duì",
          "image": "lake",
          "element": "metal",
          "colours": ["white", "metallics", "pastels"],
          "number": 7,
          "theme": "children, creativity and finishing things",
          "suggests": ["metal objects", "playful art", "children's drawings"]
        },
        {
          "id": "wealth",
          "name": "Wealth",
          "also": ["Abundance", "Prosperity"],
          "trigram": "☴",
          "pinyin": "Xùn",
          "image": "wind",
          "element": "wood",
          "colours": ["purple", "green", "blue"],
          "number": 4,
          "theme": "abundance and self-worth",
          "suggests": ["plants in good health", "round-leaved plants", "a picture of flowing water"]
        },
        {
          "id": "fame",
          "name": "Fame",
          "also": ["Recognition", "Reputation"],
          "trigram": "☲",
          "pinyin": "Lí",
          "image": "fire",
          "element": "fire",
          "colours": ["red", "burgundy"],
          "number": 9,
          "theme": "reputation and how others see you",
          "suggests": ["lamps", "candles", "something you are proud of"]
        },
        {
          "id": "relationships",
          "name": "Relationships",
          "also": ["Love", "Partnerships"],
          "trigram": "☷",
          "pinyin": "Kūn",
          "image": "earth",
          "element": "earth",
          "colours": ["pink", "red", "white"],
          "number": 2,
          "theme": "partnership and self-respect",
          "suggests": ["pairs of things", "art of two figures", "soft rather than spiky plants"]
        }
      ],
      "unit": "the tradition's associations",
      "plain": "Each bagua area has a trigram, an element, colours and things the tradition suggests placing there. Feng shui is a tradition, not a science. These rules report what its teachers say; they are not claims that it works.",
      "strength": "tradition",
      "sources": [
        { "label": "Anjie Cho, Feng shui 101: the bagua map", "url": "https://www.anjiecho.com/holistic-spaces-blog/2014/4/28/feng-shui-101-the-bagua-map", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Marianne Gordon, How to use a feng shui bagua map, mindbodygreen (8 Feb 2020)", "url": "https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-use-a-feng-shui-bagua-map", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Wikipedia, Bagua (the trigrams and the Later Heaven directions)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagua", "checked": "2026-10-17" },
        { "label": "Joey Yap, The facts and myths about 8 feng shui factors, Her World (15 Mar 2020)", "url": "https://www.herworld.com/wellness/facts-myths-feng-shui", "checked": "2026-10-17" }
      ],
      "disagree": "Cho and Gordon name some areas differently. Classical teacher Joey Yap says paint colour has no feng shui effect, while BTB uses colour as a main tool.",
      "unverified": "The suggestions are our short summary of Cho's and Gordon's lists."
    }
  ]
}