5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Floor Plan

When it comes to designing a home, one of the most important decisions to make is choosing the perfect floor plan for your lifestyle. Not only does the floor plan layout affect the function and flow of your home, but it also impacts the overall flow of your daily tasks. With so many factors to consider when building a new home, it can be difficult to decide which floor plan is actually best for your needs. To highlight some important design considerations, here are five key factors to consider when choosing a floor plan.

1. Your Space Requirements

The first and most important factor to consider when choosing a floor plan is the size and layout of your required spaces. Make sure to measure your existing space and consider the number of rooms you might need and what activities you plan on doing in each room. For example, if you plan on having a separate dining room, consider how much time you will spend in that space and weigh its importance to you.

2. Natural Light

Aside from deciding how much space you need, you'll want to consider natural light as well. Natural light is an important factor when choosing a floor plan. Consider the amount of natural light that each room will receive, as well as the direction the windows face. This will help you determine which floor plan is best for your home location. Natural lighting is an important consideration given to all of our designs, but not all designers are created equally.

If you are looking for a home with plenty of natural light, you will want to choose a floor plan that has large windows, and preferably with windows on multiple sides of a room (cross lighting). Windows that face the south will receive the most amount of sunlight during the day. If you want a home that is filled with natural light, you will want to avoid floor plans with few windows or windows that face the north.

3. Traffic Flow

Another key consideration is the traffic flow of your home. Think about the placement of doors and hallways, and accessibility of things like coat and shoe storage at the entries to your home, flow of shop[ping to your pantry, how much space is wasted in corridors, things like that. Typical traffic patterns and use of space is an element our designers spend a HUGE amount of time considering - and a livable design should just feel "right", none of your daily tasks should feel like effort to accomplish.

4. Storage

When choosing a floor plan, it’s important to consider the amount of storage you need. Make sure to take into account any built-in storage you may need, such as closets or pantries, as well as the type of storage you want (attic vs garage, or cubby vs walk-in).

5. Style

Lastly, it’s important to consider the overall style of your home. Think about the type of furniture and decor you want to include, as well as the color palette you want to use. This will help you determine which floor plan design will best suit your style and provide the perfect backdrop for your lifestyle. A home feels more natural if the exterior and interior match in style.

Conclusion

We hope this article helps you figure out how to choose the right floor plan for your lifestyle. Choosing the right floor plan can be a daunting task, but with careful consideration of the above factors, you can select the perfect space for your family. Keep in mind that the floor plan is just the first step in creating the perfect home – make sure to take your time and explore all the options available.

With that in mind, are you looking for help choosing the best home floor plans? At Alan Mascord Design Associates Inc., we pride ourselves on creating unique, custom-designed homes that perfectly meet the needs of our clients. Contact us today to get started on your journey to building a home you'll be happy to call your own!