The present invention relates to a user friendly method for controlling a robot, where the method comprises placing the robot at a given position P 0 in the surroundings and using a portion or point P of the robot (for instance the point to which a tool is attached during use of the robot) to define one or more geometrical features relative to the surroundings of the robot and establishing a relationship between the geometrical features and first coordinates of a robot-related coordinate system, whereby the robot is subsequently instructed to carry out movements of specified portions of the robot relative to said surroundings by reference to said one or more geometrical features. By these means it becomes easy for users that are not experts in robot programming to program and use the robot. The geometrical features can according to the invention be stored in storage means and used subsequently also in other settings than the specific setting in which the programming took place.