Floor plan Considerations

When designing your home there are many considerations that should be thoroughly thought through before construction. Reviewing your floor plans is an excellent way to work out the kinks in the design of your project. By trying to consider everything, no matter how insignificant, you’ll come closer to actually getting your dream project. Here are some questions that can help you in your analysis.

What about those areas that receive heavy traffic? Are they well placed and organized? The flow of people should not be concentrated anymore than necessary. Are the doorways placed in a convenient location? When considering doorways, fire exits should also be considered. What kind of a heating system is in place? How is the wiring planed- faulty and carelessly installed systems are a common cause of fires. Examine the placement of staircases, closets and other storage spaces, bathroom and kitchen fixtures and appliances.

Pay attention to size and proportion. One method that helps to visualize the size of a home or a bedroom is to cut out pieces of paper with the appropriately scaled size and shape of your furnishings or appliances. Put these shapes in their designated areas and look at their relationship to what’s around them. For example, maybe you’ll find that you want a double-decker washer/dryer unit instead of a side-by-side arrangement. Consider where the hook-ups for your washer/dryer are located. Are they convenient for where you want to do your wash? That extra space you can gain by the double-decker placement can free an area, which might be used by a freezer unit, an important cost consideration if you have a large family or are planning one.

It is important to consider the intended function of building. If the building is a home maybe you want an island-type butcher block for your ideal kitchen. Will there be room for it, or will you have to sacrifice the space for the kitchen table?

The size of rooms should also match intended purpose of the building as a whole. If the project is a family oriented home, there will naturally be a need for extra space in the den or family room. Those who entertain will want a large living room or perhaps even a formal dining room.

It is important to consider all different aspects of building from the plans. Changes can be made in this phase that will ensure that the actual building optimizes the builders desires and vision for the project.