This is probably one of the most common concerns we hear from first-time piano shoppers.  Of course, the answer varies as much as the pianos we offer do.  Still, with a little creativity and some helpful tools, you might be surprised to discover how easily a piano can fit into your home!

Grand Pianos and Baby Grand Pianos

Because they have 88 notes, most pianos (upright, grand or digital) are all about the same width (between 55 inches or 140cm and 60 inches or 153cm).  With upright pianos, it’s the height of the instrument that varies by model.  With grands (or “baby grands” if the grand piano is shorter than 5’7” or 170cm), it’s the depth that varies by model.  In fact, many modern piano builders use the piano’s length in centimeters as the model number (The Schumann GP-152, for example, is 152cm long.  The Baldwin BP-178 is 178cm long.  Etc.).  However, just because a piano is 178cm long, that doesn’t mean it’s going to take up your entire living room.  Remember.  Grand pianos have a unique curved shape.  It’s the tail of the piano (it’s narrowest part) that extends out into your room.  This means it can fit around furniture, in corners and even at the edge of traffic areas!  You might be surprised to find that YOU have room for a baby grand piano just by moving a few things around.

By folding this template up along the outlines of different piano models, we can help you find the perfect size, position and location for your baby grand piano or grand piano. …and the consultation is free!

A great (recent) example is a neighbor of mine, who was telling me she would love to get back to playing but just didn’t have room for a piano. I walked around her living room with her and found several bookcases full of books that she’d already read.  I asked her why she kept them if she wasn’t going to read them again and she said she hesitated to just give them away.  I told her she could donate them to a library so lots of folks could enjoy them or sell them to a used bookstore and use the money for new books!  I also suggested she donate the bookcases to Goodwill and free up space to bring the music she craves into her home.  I said, “Look, you want to get back to playing because you told me how much you loved it. Those books and bookcases aren’t much more to you than dust magnets. Get rid of them and put music back in your life!”  We removed the bookcases and even got rid of an old desk and chair she put in the opposite corner “because the corner looked empty.”  That’s all it took!  Now she’s in love with her piano and she’s getting FAR more out of her living room than she thought possible!

When I joined Riverton, I was thrilled to discover that Yamaha has provided us with special cloth templates that we can bring to your home and help you see where you might have a perfect space for a grand or baby grand piano.  If you’re not sure where you’d put a piano or how you’d orient it in your room, we can come out (at no cost to you) and help advise you!  There’s nothing like shopping with confidence – knowing you have room for your dream piano!

Upright Pianos and Digital Pianos

Though more people have room for a baby grand piano then they might think, some homes are just too small.  That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy music, though!  In cases like this, you might consider and upright piano or digital piano.

Compact digital pianos like this Roland model can provide you with a wonderful sound and touch without taking up a lot of room.

An upright piano is only about 20 inches (50cm) to 24 inches (61cm) deep. (Remember – all pianos are between 55 inches or 140cm and 60 inches or 153cm wide.) It’s the height that changes here.  Taller pianos have better sound, but even a shorter piano (if well made) will give you years of musical bliss!

Digital pianos give you even more options.  Traditional digital pianos have the same width as other pianos (between 55 inches or 140cm and 60 inches or 153cm), but can be as little as a foot (31cm) deep!  Some models are even designed to function as furniture when not in use.  In REALLY tight spaces (like an RV or tiny home), portable digital pianos are ideal.  They can be collapsed and tucked away under a bed or behind the couch when not in use.  There’s almost nowhere they can’t fit!

Digital Grand Pianos and Mini-Grands

Digital mini-grands like this Roland GP607 are beautiful to look at and a TON of fun to play. Click the photo to learn more about a Roland digital grand piano.

Some of the most popular pianos we sell are digital grand pianos.  These stunning instruments have the same width as their acoustic piano cousins, but don’t need near the depth.  Some can be as small as 3.5 feet (107cm) deep!  These pianos fit perfectly into a snug corner – providing the beauty and sophistication of a grand piano in a much smaller footprint.  They are also lightweight and easy to move around if you need to reposition them.  If you want a grand piano, but don’t have room for one, take a look at a digital grand piano or “mini grand.”  These instruments offer a ton of fun features AND a stunning grand piano look!

My neighbor told me she felt like an idiot after realizing how much space she actually DID have and that she could easily fit a piano into her home. …but she’s not and idiot at all.  She just fell into the trap of getting too used to the way things ARE instead of what they COULD BE. We get so used to a room being arranged a certain way that we forget that we can totally change it – EASILY.

It’s really all about priorities. If your dream of playing the piano (or having someone in your family play) is a priority in your life, then I encourage you to look at your house or apartment with new eyes. Find what unused or little-used things you can get rid and make room for your new piano. …and – of course – if you need help figuring out where to put your piano, contact us for a free in-home visit!  We’ll help you find some great placement options so you can begin playing right away.  There’s no charge for our visit, so why wait?  Contact us today.  You won’t regret it!