home today isn’t just a few main rooms like the living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen. The latest housing developments are practically incomplete without functional and convenient spaces, such as a pantry, a laundry room, a storage room, etc. According to the latest What Home Buyers Really Want survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, a garage, a walk-in pantry, and a storage area are must-have features in today’s homes. And organizing these features while ensuring optimal space utilization and placement is almost impossible without a house floor plan.
What is a house floor plan, and why is it important?
A house floor plan design offers a bird’s-eye view of a property, which a layperson can easily understand. Here’s why it is important:
- It helps you understand the sizing and the spatial arrangement of a house.
- It helps you understand how different spaces inside a property connect and flow.
- It helps in renovation and adding extensions while maintaining optimal space distribution.
There are two types of floor plans – 2D floor plans and 3D floor plans.
While a 2D floor plan consists of space labeling, measurements, and connectivity details, a 3D floor plan covers even the minute details, such as flooring, cabinets, door swings, furniture placement, fixtures, etc.
Related Article: Should You Choose A 2D Or 3D House Floor Plan For Your Listing
Creating a house floor plan that fits your lifestyle and your family’s requirements, while being sustainable and practical is a difficult task. There are several areas where you can falter, so take a look at these common mistakes and make a plan to avoid them when creating your house floor plan.
- Overlooking Your Lifestyle – When working with a new floor plan, you might be tempted to dedicate some space to a library. But would you really spend so much time reading? Be sure to consider your needs; for example, if you love cooking, you might as well use that extra space to accommodate a kitchen island. Similarly, real estate agents and home builders must analyze their target buyers and decide if they should go for that fancy theater room or a bath with a large Jacuzzi space.
- Overlooking Hidden Costs – Who would say no to a skylight or floor-to-ceiling windows? But what people tend to overlook is the costs that come with these luxuries, such as added heating and cooling costs. Other common floor plan mistakes include windows facing the wrong direction, leading to too much or too little light. Ask your floor plan designer to work according to your budget. For example, instead of going for a skylight for bright interiors (which would add heating and cooling costs), you may go for a solar tube.
- Making Incorrect Placements – Bathrooms in regularly used areas of the house may look like an excellent idea on paper, but would you really want it to be placed near the kitchen? Similarly, would you like a master bedroom near a busy entrance or corridor? Make sure to take such elements into consideration when creating a house floor plan design.
- Not Considering the Furniture – On the paper, it may look like you have plenty of space for that entertainment center. But do not play the guessing game. Instead, make sure to measure each piece of furniture that you are planning to add to the house and see if the space division works well. A 3D floor plan may come in handy when you’re looking to avoid such mistakes.
- Not Considering the Location – It may seem obvious to have the bedroom window overlooking the beautiful view outside. But if the bedroom is too close to the busy street, it may defy the entire purpose. So, make sure to analyze how the location factors when creating a floor plan.
- Not Considering Garage Placement – Some people make the mistake of having a fancy garage opening on the main façade. But would you ever invite people to the garage unless it also doubles as a chill-out zone? If not, kick that thought aside. Also, consider ‘ease’ when deciding the garage placement. For example, it would be helpful to keep it close to the kitchen since people carry heavy groceries all the way to the kitchen space or pantry near it.
- Disregarding Storage Spaces – Storage spaces aren’t meant to be planned only when you have some extra space left. For example, think of where you would keep the broom, the ironing board, or the seasonal items in a household. Then, make sure to assign a storage space so you can avoid unnecessary clutter.
Creating a house floor plan design is a stressful job that can easily go wrong. So, make sure to hire a professional and seek help where needed to help you avoid all the possible floor plan mistakes. Once you have revised and finalized what you want in your house, then start constructing the floor plan working closely with your architect and contractor. To get your plan into proper drawings, get in touch with us at Property Snaps. We will create high-quality 2D and/or 3D floor plans so you get the perfect home design. Place your order today!