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Think About Your Daily Routine When Designing Your New Home

October 25, 2018

Thinking about moving in the near future? As you search online for “new homes near me,” you might be wondering what the ideal layout would look like. But rather than relying on an existing model, perhaps your best option is to design your own! This gives you the ability to create your space exactly as you want it. When deciding on the floor plan of your new home, it’s important to consider how the layout will complement your regular day-to-day routines and lifestyle. Keep in mind elements such as function, aesthetic, and flow, which essentially means a house that has a logical layout with good connections between spaces. In the end, you’ll be glad that you put time into creating a well-thought-out home that works exactly how you want it to. For starters, you might analyze your current home and think about how each member of the household uses the space. What are the best features and how could they be improved upon? Are there rooms that are used significantly more often than others, and if so, why? Pay attention to how you move around and throughout your house over the course of a single day and identify where there are any areas that feel obstructed. Next, think about how you want your new home to flow with your daily activities since it will serve as the backdrop for many of them. Consider some of the following: What’s your ideal overall layout? Do you like a single story or multi-story home? Think about accessibility and daily time spent in each part of the house. How many times a day do you see yourself going up and down the stairs? What about any family members with mobility issues? On the other hand, maybe you want to maximize the amount of outdoor space available because you need a big yard for the dog or kids to get their energy out. In this case, saving space by building up could be the best way to go. Floor Plan When choosing an open vs. closed floor plan, note the pros and cons of each based on your lifestyle and routines. An open floor plan encourages more social interaction with family and friends since a person cooking dinner or cleaning in the kitchen can still talk with people in the dining area and living room. If you’re a parent with younger children, it also helps you keep an eye on the kids while going about other chores. Alternatively, many households have people contending with different ages and schedules, from babies to teenagers and grandparents that all live in the same home. Enclosed spaces may work better in a house where everyone needs their space. Similarly, if you prefer to keep messier areas contained based on your housekeeping style, separate rooms will make this easier. Natural Light Do you like to wake up each morning to the sun, or do you prefer afternoon light streaming in? When thinking about natural light within your home, consider the orientation of the house, as well as the placement and size of the windows. Natural light is an important mood and productivity booster; it can also reduce the cost of utilities by decreasing the amount of electricity you use. In higher density settings, strategic window placement allows for natural light without compromising privacy. Specialty and Hobby Spaces If you work from home, remember to factor in a home office. Keep in mind the importance of utility spaces and access to them, the location of the washer and dryer, for example. Maybe you’re trying out new hobbies and want a room dedicated specifically to that, like an art studio or a workshop. If you spend a lot of time in the outdoors or have other interest that require gear, plan to have ample storage space that you can access quickly and easily. Health-Focused Features If you like to exercise first thing in the morning, a dedicated home workout area mere steps from the bedroom could make this much easier than heading to the gym. You could also consider a home yoga studio or meditation space to promote daily relaxation time. If you love to cook healthy meals in the kitchen, think about adding in convenient features that make this even easier such as easy access shelves and adding more counter space with the addition of an island. Easy Interaction If you have younger children or plan to start a family in the future, you may want to place the master bedroom closer to the other bedrooms in the house, while families with teenagers may choose to have more separation. Guest room placement should also be considered in terms of privacy for those who might be staying with you. Entertaining If you’re someone who enjoys hosting guests, are you including features that will make this easier? For example, the kitchen should be easily accessible from the dining room or living room, especially if you’re choosing a less-open floor plan. Another element to keep in mind is the separation of public and private spaces. If friends and other guests often frequent your home, will they be in areas directly adjacent to other quiet and private parts of the house such as bedrooms? Outdoor Spaces Perhaps you’re an avid gardener or maybe you simply enjoy sitting on a patio at the end of the day with a cup of tea. How much connectivity to the outdoors would you like to have? This is also an important one to keep in mind with children as an easily-accessible backyard can serve as a play area for kids, especially if there are strategically-placed windows that allow you to check on them while in the kitchen or another part of the house. If you’re a pet owner, a fenced yard might be the perfect addition to include for your dog or other furry friends. As you finalize the decision to move into a new residence, make sure that your search for “new homes near me” offers results where you can have a say in the layout and design. Thinking ahead about your daily routines, habits, and needs is an excellent way to make sure you plan out your space in a way that works best for you. When you’re at home, things should be easy!