If you’re not a professional architect, it’s easy to make mistakes when choosing the best floor plan for your home. Some mistakes are made because you choose a design that would fit you at that moment without thinking about the future, and some mistakes are made simply because of the lack of knowledge. And no, spending hours building your perfect home in The Sims does not count as knowledge. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to build a perfect home that’ll suit you for years to come, here are some tips that should help you.
Think about your lifestyle
First thing’s first, you need to take into consideration your own lifestyle. Not every floor plan can fit your needs no matter how interesting or attractive it might look. So, imagine your life in your new dream home; do you want to have an open floor plan or do you prefer more privacy? Do you work from home and need your home office to be as quiet as possible? Determine what it is that makes a home perfect for you, and go from there.
Be realistic when touring a model home
If you’re shopping for a home or simply looking at example models for inspiration, try to be realistic. The thing is, there will always be some renovation made purely for the purpose of making the house look more attractive. However, they don’t come with the layout. So, ignore the gorgeous carpets, wallpapers, finishes, and all the other accessories, and focus on the flow of the rooms and the floor plan itself. It’s the only way to know exactly what you’d be getting.
You don’t need to understand everything
If you’re not a professional architect, it’s completely normal not to understand architectural drawings. There are many symbols and numbers, and there’s no reason an average person should have to understand them. You don’t need to know how every door and window should look like on a floor plan drawing. After all, that’s one of the reasons for hiring an architect in the first place – and don’t hesitate to ask them everything you don’t know.
Use what you have
If you already own the property where you plan to build your home, make use of what you have. For example, if it overlooks a gorgeous landscape, face the living room and the backyard patio that way so you can enjoy the view while entertaining your guests. Or, if there is a water stream or a lake nearby, plan your bedroom or study near it so you can enjoy the soothing sounds of birds and water while you rest or work. Also, if the land on your property is sloped, make sure to mention it to your architects, since the floor plan for sloped land is not the same as one for flat land.
Don’t overlook the future
There are many amazing architectural features that look great on a floor plan, but once you actually create them, they may turn out to be quite costly. For example, floor to ceiling windows are a great way to let in plenty of natural light, but they are also a great way to break the bank on your heating and cooling bills. This is why you should think in advance before choosing any features that can indirectly affect your energy use.
Measure everything
In order to avoid realizing that your existing furniture is too big for the already finished room, make sure to measure everything before you decide on the dimensions of the rooms. If you’re not sure how big a certain room should be, it’s always better to add a bit more space than to not have enough of it afterwards. After all, extra space can be filled in many ways, but you can’t exactly expand a wall once the room is finished.
If you want your home to be perfect for you and your family, there are some things you need to take into consideration. If you design it according to your lifestyle, plot features, and future plans, you’re less likely to make any unrepairable mistakes and more likely to enjoy it for a long time.
