When conjuring images of a perfect home, there are so many moving parts that play a role. Among them, the floor plan certainly stands out. It profoundly shapes your experience of the home, as well as its usability and appeal. When trying to navigate the maze of decisions here, things can get rather stressful, but you should not fret. Take a deep breath and think long and hard about what you are looking for. Here are some crucial elements that need to fall together seamlessly.
Size matters
Size is the first aspect to consider. You do not want to feel lost in a sprawling estate or be confined to a tiny household you will outgrow quickly. Your home should fit your lifestyle and financial means like a glove. So, take your time figuring out the optimal number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as how big they should be and total square footage. Take into account not only your current but also future needs. Measure twice and cut once.
Pondering floor plan design
There are two basic options when it comes to design style. The first one is traditional, compartmentalized layout with walls separating the rooms. A modern trend disrupting this entrenched order is an open floor plan. It features large open spaces that flow uninterrupted by physical barriers. Both options have their pros and cons you would be wise to weigh after factoring in the size of the family and personal preferences. One alternative is to go for a hybrid blend of two concepts.
Functionality comes first
This brings us to a key point. Namely, you should prioritize how the layout flows and feels, not how it looks and what kind of finishes it has. In other words, try to observe everything stripped down of bells and whistles. Evaluate the home’s functionality before anything else and make sure it supports your daily household activities. For example, if you have small children, you might really want a master bedroom alongside other bedrooms and an extra-wide hallway for little ones to run around.
Summon pros to your aid
Note that it always pays off to work with professionals. Interior designers and realtors, for instance, are adept at shedding light on some interior aspects that most homeowners tend to overlook. They can tour different homes with you and offer their invaluable expert opinion. Feel free to also do some of the homework online. Browse various home designs, like the ones offered by this Melbourne-based home builder, which cater to most styles and suit different lot sizes and budgets.
Gauge the potential for modifications
Speaking of builders, bear in mind that you can make some modifications to the floor plan in order to adjust it to your needs. Removing a spare closet, for example, could free up more space for a children’s bedroom. You may also choose to tear down a wall to open up a certain area of the home. Of course, most of the alternations of this kind must be made to non-load bearing walls. Messing with the load bearing counterparts would undermine the structural integrity of the whole home.
Choose between multi-story or single-story
Location of your new nest often dictates the type of dwelling you can pick and what kind of floor plan makes the most sense. Single-family homes allow you to have the luxury of an outdoor space and spare you the overhead foot traffic noise. On the other hand, an attached home divides the (single-family) space into multiple stories. It also gives you a much better view from the upper stories. On top of all that, family members have more space and privacy for themselves.
Moving to a new home should be a dream come true, not something that turns into a nightmare before you know it. To avoid the latter scenario, keep your options open and do not rush the vital decision. Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect floor plan that suits everyone. You need to assess your needs and wants. Ask seasoned pros for guidance, but trust your instinct on what feels right. Reach an educated decision and maximize your enjoyment for years to come.
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