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5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Floor Plan

November 8, 2015

We have all had frustrations with our current home or apartment. How many times have you walked around your house and said, “I don’t have any space in the kitchen!” or “I hate that I don’t have more storage!” or “Why don’t I have a real laundry room?” Wouldn’t it be nice to have things exactly where you want? When you choose to build your own home, you have the opportunity of a lifetime to design your home precisely your way. Choose from countless floor plan designs to cater your home to your family’s needs. You’ve had experience in the past with what you don’t like, but how do you know what you will like in a new home? These five points will help you to pick the right floor plan for your new home. 1. Size You must first determine the size you are looking for in a home. Every family is different, so there is no “one size fits all” option. How many bedrooms will you need to accommodate everyone in your family, plus any additional guests that may visit? Will any of the bedrooms function as a playroom? An office? A crafting space? How many bathrooms does your family need? Is it important for every bedroom to have a bathroom, or just the master bedroom? Once you start with the basics, move on to other aspects of the home. Do you need a formal living room and a family room? What about space in the kitchen for a kitchen table, or will a kitchen island with bar stools suffice? If you are able to make these decisions, the overall size of your home will begin to form a shape. You must also consider the size of each room and which rooms are more important to the function of your family. You may value a larger kitchen to work and socialize in over a big, formal dining room that may get used once or twice a year for holidays. 2. Function Think about the way you use your home. If you have small children, it may be important to have an open floor plan where you can see the kids playing in the living room while you are working in the kitchen. Or, if you work from home, it might be important to have a separated office space where you can close yourself off for some quiet time to concentrate. If you entertain a lot, an open floor plan that flows well from one room to the next may suit your lifestyle better. Or, if you love to be outdoors, a house with an awesome outdoor deck and patio might be a better fit. Also determine how many steps you want in your house. A three-story home may seem ideal until you remember that the laundry room is at the bottom of those three flights of stairs. Perhaps a ranch-style home with living space all on one floor is preferred for easy mobility through the home, or perhaps you prefer the options a split-level home can provide. The point is, each family is different and each family will use their space differently. Decide what is key based on how your family works and find a floor plan that meets those needs. 3. Budget Determine your budget. While you may be attracted to the bigger floor plan with bells and whistles and the added library and media room, there may not be room in the budget to accommodate such luxuries. Also remember that many floor plans can be modified. If you find a flow that you like and that will fit well with your family’s lifestyle, there may be a smaller version or scaled down version of the plan that is affordable. Keep in mind that rooms can be modified to serve a different function. You may want a four-bedroom home, but that home office in the three-bedroom floor plan may easily convert to an additional bedroom. Or, that breakfast nook that might never get used could become a sun porch to dine outside. A contractor or builder can help you narrow down which floor plans meet your budget. 4. Necessities, Pros, and Cons You know what you like and what you don’t, so it doesn’t make sense to settle for things that you know you don’t want. If you’ve had a galley kitchen before, and hated it, then move on to a different kitchen style. Conversely, if you had a fireplace in your first house, and have missed one since your last move, it makes sense to find a floor plan that includes a fireplace. You may need to sacrifice features, so be sure to prioritize your wish list. The big garden tub in the master bath may have to be sacrificed in favor of that big walk in closet. Also, make sure you consider the pros and cons of adding additional features. A big picture window would be nice for adding more natural sunlight to the living room, but it could end up costing more to heat the house once all your hot air escapes through the window. The big cathedral ceilings make the room feel more open and airy, but can be a nightmare to heat. 5. Furnishings  Keep in mind what your current furniture looks like and where everything will need to fit in your new home. If you have a king sized bed, make sure your new master bedroom is large enough to accommodate your bed. Try to visualize where your current furniture is going to go. Remember that over-sized furniture can quickly eat up space in rooms you otherwise thought were quite large. There is a lot to think about, even if you know exactly how you want your new space to function. The best recommendation for selecting a floor plan for your new home is to talk to the experts. Seek out designers or real estate agents who see homes every day and can make suggestions on what they’ve seen in the past, or what they think may work for you. Plus, they have been witness to all the intangibles that you may overlook in your excitement. Also, talk to an agent about financing and mortgage options. They can help you determine exactly how much home you are able to afford, while giving you some insight on the area and taxes you can expect to pay.