One of the most exciting times in your life can be choosing
a home! From what city you will live in to what neighbourhood you decide to
raise your family – the right home is a major decision. Even more importantly
is how you and your family will use your home and ensure it fits with your
lifestyle and the right floor plan can shape how you experience your home. From
the size and shape, to where the rooms are located in adjacent to each other can
make or break your home experience. Before you get overwhelmed, look at these
10 effective ways to choose the right floor plan for your home.
1. Decide what size of home will best suit your family
Every family doesn’t need a sprawling estate and every
family won’t feel comfortable in a small two bedroom home. Choosing a floor
plan first should start with how large a home will fit your lifestyle. Assess
how many bedrooms you will require for your children and how many bathrooms are
enough for you and visiting guests. The size of your home should be the first
consideration.
2. Choose a floor plan based on your design style
Everyone homeowner has their own design style and choosing a
floor plan that meets your needs is essential. Are you more traditional and
prefer a compartmentalized floor plan where walls separate rooms or do you have
a more modern style where an open floor plan concept would suit your needs
better? Think of your furnishings and how you will decorate your home when
choosing a floor plan. Flowing and coordinated colours are most important when
designing an open floor plan – so keep this in mind when choosing a floor plan
style.
3. Decide what type of dwelling type fits your location
Depending on where you live could dictate what type of floor
plan will best suit your family. Dwellings such as single-family homes give the
ability to have outdoor space for a yard and backyard and provide more space to
spread out in. An attached home similar to brownstones or condos in an urban
area could also meet your “single family home” needs but divided amongst a
multi-level floor plan. Split-level floor plans means your entire floors are
split to separate levels and don’t consume the entire footprint of your home.
Decide which of these types are found in your city.
4. Understand what the pros and cons are of your floor
plan
There isn’t a perfect floor plan. There will always be pros
and cons and you will need to decide what are your priorities and what can you
learn to live with or without. A large living room window wall that lets
in gorgeous natural light may also make your energy cooling and heating bills
higher. A floor plan that is open and spacious could make it hard to
concentrate in your adjacent home office as your kids are watching TV in the
living room. Weigh the pros and cons when looking for the right floor plan.
5. Make your decision based on the layout not the
finishes
When choosing a floor plan ensure you are basing your
decision on how the home flows and feels functional for your daily activities.
Don’t get wowed by the upgraded floors, countertops and appliances in the model
home, imagine the home in a “stripped down” state and form your opinion from there.
A floor plan shouldn’t feel good because of the nice carpet that could go in
the living room; it should feel right because the living room is a welcoming
room off of the kitchen and foyer area for guests and family members.
6. Ask a design professional for guidance
While you may know what you want in your future home, a design professional could help you consider factors that aren’t tangible to the eye and touch.
Factors such as energy savings/costs, possible affordability of mortgage
payments, location to local resources like schools, churches and stores, and
maintenance experience are all factors that a professional can give their
guidance on.
7. Trust your instincts on what “feels” right when
choosing a floor plan
All of us have the ability to “feel” when a space feels
comfortable and able to fit their needs. Take these instincts into
consideration when touring different floor plans. You will be surprised how
many styles of plans there are to choose from. A family with small children may
love the ability for the master bedroom to be housed amongst the other
bedrooms. On the other hand, a family with teenagers could prefer for the
master bedroom to be separated by public spaces such as the living room and #kitchen
instead. Listen to what speaks to you when choosing a plan.
8. Determine if you will need to use existing or
buy new furniture
While you may only be thinking about the rooms and layout of
your floor plan, choosing furniture is a major investment and emotional
challenge if you aren’t careful. If you decide to use your current furniture in
your next home, ensure you measure it and take this into account when reviewing
floor plans. If you will buy new furniture you will still need to have an idea
when shopping on what pieces will fit into what rooms. Be careful of “space
eating” over-sized furniture that will make your rooms feels smaller than they
are.
9. Know your budgetary limits before choosing a floor plan
Let’s face it; there is always the fantasy side of us that
wants to go bigger and better than our wildest dreams. Before getting your
heart set on one type of floor plan – know what the costs are associated with
the layout. Ask your contractor Sentric
Design to help you determine costs as you narrow down to the floor plan
that fits within your budget.
10. Understand that floor plan modifications could be an
option
While it would be nice to have the right floor plan appear
before your eyes, remodelling and modifying a floor plan can be a viable
option. Removing a spare closet to make more room in your kids’ bathroom area
or opening up a wall to let in natural light could make your floor plan even
better. Keep this in mind when looking for a floor plan that is right for you.
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