Designing Your Home; Factors to Consider
Ensuring your home has the best layout possible is very important and can be quite challenging as it is the foundation on which all the other features of your home will be determined.
The average homeowner puts things like location and room capacity first into consideration. You, however, also want a layout that will fit into your daily life, and be a perfect match for now and the possibilities that lie ahead in the future like a bigger family.
In the rest of this article, we look at three considerations to make when scouting for the ideal home layout for you and your family.
Number of Floors
Perhaps the most important consideration to make when deciding on your home layout is the number of stories you want. Not everyone is a fan of stair-climbing, and it’s unlikely you may want to install an elevator for a few stories.
Thus, the single-story is great for people with small housing needs and people who want to move around easily, like the elderly. It also makes a great choice in case of emergencies. Getting out is easy. Building costs are, however, more expensive than double-story houses.
Other options include split level homes, which are great to accommodate households engaged in various activities simultaneously. One and a half stories, two stories, and multiple stories are great to create more room space in the home. One must, however, be willing to install protective measures for homes with infants and be willing to climb stairs often.
Your Home’s Footprint
Your home’s footprint defines the general shape of the home. Some common shapes include:
The Basic Rectangle
The most common home layout is the rectangle or square, and most units like bungalows, ranch houses, and two-story homes are designed this way.
In general, while most houses are designed as rectangles, tweaks are made to the basic shape creatively to create extensions as required by the homeowner.
The U-shaped Unit
The U-shaped home does share the same from view as the basic rectangular-shaped home. It, however, allows for a more enclosed area at the rear and provides extra space for the installation of private luxury items like swimming pools and relaxation courts.
The L-shaped Unit
The L-shaped unit is a great choice for the homeowner in need of more parking and driveway space. It is an extension of the basic rectangular shaped unit with garage space most times, being the shorter area of the L-outline.
Note that whichever layout you go for, it should enable easy modifications for home improvement to be made.
The Interior Design
Last to decide on is exactly how the inside of your home will be structured. There are three basic options available on the market:
An Open Floor Unit
This is probably the most common choice of homeowners. This floor plan looks to minimize the number of walled-off rooms and allows for easy interaction between occupants in the home. It is great for the homeowner who wants to keep a close eye on activities going on, easily.
The Bedroom Suites
This plan is becoming more and more popular among homeowners and is no longer considered as luxury. It basically features a master bedroom suite, with as many bedrooms in the home equipped with their own private bathrooms as well.
The Separated Room Unit
For homeowners that prefer privacy, this floor plan is ideal. ‘‘Many homeowners are placing priority on making their kitchens enclosed and separate from the rest of the house’’ stated New York real estate broker, Owen Boller.
With the above guidelines, choosing the right home layout that suits your needs will come easier.