Start a new blank document in PowerPoint and go to File->Save As.. to save it immediately. Remember to save your work every two minutes.

OR

Download a PowerPoint graph paper template in 1/4" scale.
(Right-click the above link and Save Target As....)

Click on the border of the text box that reads "Click to add title." When it is selected, use the backspace key on the keyboard to delete it.

Do the same with the "Click to add subtitle" text box.

Choose Grid and Guides... from the View menu. A window will appear.

Check Display grid on screen and set the Spacing for 0.25 inches (1/4 inch).

Display the Drawing Toolbar from the View menu (if it is not already in view).

A Drawing Toolbar will appear attached to the bottom or side of the screen.

Select the line tool from the drawing toolbar and drag a line in the document to create straight walls and windows. Keep lines straight by holding down the shift key on the keyboard while you drag a line.

To change the thickness of the line, do one of two things:

1) Double-click on the line you just created. This brings up the Format AutoShape dialog box. You can change the thickness of the line by adjusting the line Style or Weight.

OR

2) Click once on the line you just created and then choose the Line Style tool from the drawing toolbar. Select a line thickness. For more choices, choose More Lines.... This brings up the Format AutoShape dialog box.

Suggestion: Adjust the width of the line to 6 pt for walls and 3 pt for windows. Remember to draw in scale, using the top and side rulers as guides.

If you wish to change the color of the line, select the line you just drew and click on the Line Color tool in the drawing toolbar.

For more color choices, click on More Line Colors and choose a color from the palette that appears.

If you have been working only with the line tool, and you wish to fill in an area with color or texture (to create a floor carpet for example),

1. Select the Freeform tool from AutoShapes->Lines.
2. Click on each corner of the area you wish to fill, forming a closed shape that will be on top of the existing area.
3. Double-click on that new shape to access the Format-> AutoShape dialog box and customize the area.
   
   
   
   
4. Choose Draw-> Order-> Send to Back from the drawing toolbar to move the filled area behind other objects it may be covering.

To create curved lines, use the Scribble tool from the AutoShapes->Lines tool in the drawing toolbar.

After drafting the walls and windows, doors and closets to scale, add dimension lines. Try to draw the dimension lines outside of the floor plan of the room. Use a very thin line width and choose a arrow heads for the dimension line style.

Use the AutoShapes, drawing, and color tools from the drawing tool bar and create your own furniture. Make sure your furniture is to scale and is in proportion to your floor plan.

OR

To insert clip art of furniture choose Insert-> Picture-> Clip Art....

A Search box will appear on the side of the screen. Suggested categories to search for include "furniture" and "office layout."

The results will appear in the same side panel. To insert an image into the floor plan, either

1. click on it or
2. drag it into the drawing.

Make sure that the furniture is in "floor plan view." That is, make sure it appears as if it were flat, with the viewer looking down from above.

After furniture is added to the floor plan, it can be resized or rotated. For example, to rotate and resize a chair,

1. Click on the chair. Little circles will appear around it.
2. Drag on one of the circles to resize the chair. Hold the shift key on the keyboard to maintain its proportions.
3. To rotate the chair, place the cursor over the green circle above the chair and press the mouse button. A circular arrow will appear. Drag the chair around.

The image to the bottom right is the resized and rotated chair from above right.

Use the Text Box tool from the drawing toolbar to add text. Create a text box for the key, the scale, descriptions of furniture, and the total area of the room.

Also use text boxes in your dimension lines to show the length of the walls on the dimension lines.

Double-click on a text box to customize it.