A cat tower can fit beautifully in a room and still be difficult to get through the front door. The useful measurement is not always the finished height: delivery cartons, assembled sections and turning space matter too. Before ordering a substantial piece, walk the route it will take from the delivery point to its final position.
Ask what actually arrives
Request the number of parcels, the size of the largest component or carton and whether any sections arrive assembled. Ask for the weight of the items that need moving, rather than guessing from the furniture's appearance. A flat-packed tower and a large assembled section can create very different access questions, even when their finished dimensions are similar. Keep the answers with your order details.
Measure the clear doorway opening
Open each door as far as it can safely go and measure the usable gap. Include handles, door stops and projecting hinges in your assessment. Measure height as well as width. If the entrance is approached through a porch, check both doors and the space between them. Removing a door or changing a fixture should never be assumed in an access plan; discuss any proposed preparation before arranging help.
Look at the turn, not just the corridor
A long component may pass through a straight corridor but fail at the next corner. Note narrow landings, low ceilings over stairs, handrails and turns immediately inside doorways. Photograph the awkward points from both directions. Share these with the seller or delivery team and ask them to assess the component dimensions against the route. One diagonal measurement is not enough to confirm that a rigid object can turn.
Separate delivery from moving and assembly
The ordinary shipping policy says couriers do not carry large products upstairs, place them in a chosen room or assemble them. For bespoke projects, assembly and access arrangements are discussed before ordering. Do not transfer one route's assumptions to the other. Agree the handover point, who moves the items indoors and what assembly work remains. If a lift is involved, check its usable interior, door opening and permitted load with the building manager.
Check the final position
Once the piece reaches the room, you still need space to assemble, position and maintain it. Consider whether it can be turned upright safely and whether any wall or ceiling installation requires professional assessment. Protect access to doors, sockets and curtains. Our floor-space guide addresses the space the furniture will use after delivery; keep that check separate from this transport route.
Send one clear access note
- Delivery postcode and any parking or building restrictions.
- Ground floor or upper floor, with stairs or lift details.
- Narrowest clear doorway width and height.
- Photographs of corners, stairs and landings.
- Largest delivery component: dimensions and weight requested.
- Agreed delivery point, moving help and assembly responsibilities.
For a bespoke design, send this before the specification is finalised. A concern raised early is easier to discuss than a surprise on delivery day.
If access remains uncertain
Ask for clarification before ordering or confirming production. Avoid treating a product image as evidence that a piece will be manageable: photographs rarely show the largest transport section. The Cream Estate is one existing tower to explore; the tower collection provides other configurations. For any shortlisted model, request its own delivery details.
Planning a larger bespoke piece? Explore the Giant Paws design collection and include your access photographs with your enquiry so the arrangements can be discussed before you order.
