How to Choose a Floor Plan

Submitted by Capstone Homes on Tue, 10/01/2019 - 4:16pm
Modern Farmhouse exterior home rendering
floor plan
custom home rendering modern farmhouse wraparound porch
floor plan of modern farmhouse main floor
floor plan modern farmhouse second floor

How to Pick a Floor Plan

Overwhelmed by the idea of picking a home plan? Here are 10 questions to ask yourself to be sure your new home has everything you want and nothing you don’t. We suggest deciding your floor plan before choosing the exterior facade or interior design elements like lighting, flooring, and paint colors.

   1. Will this home be the right size now and in the future?

One of the most appealing aspects of building your own home is ensuring it can grow with your family. What number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and what size basement space, living areas, outdoor living spaces, and yard area will benefit your family’s needs now, and five, ten, or even twenty years from now? 

   2. Do the home’s dimensions work for the lot size and shape?

You may want to consider bringing your builder on site to conduct a lot inspection to ensure your home will fit on your lot, including which direction it will face, how much yard you desire, etc. Capstone offers free, no-obligation lot inspections.

   3. Is the home suited for the type of homes surrounding it?

While you may want your home to stand out in its beauty and curb appeal, it’s important your home serves as a welcome complement to the neighborhood. Consider the relationship you’ll have with your neighbors and how you want your home to fit into the community. More importantly, many communities have building restrictions concerning the size and style of homes built there, so do your research first. Ask your builder if you are unsure.

       4. Does the kitchen have the layout and amenities you want?

    This is a good time to make a list of your Must-Have kitchen amenities in their order of importance. For instance, your list may include some of these items:

    • Large island
    • Extra counter space
    • Walk-in pantry
    • Space for a large dining table
    • Kitchen sink view to the front of the home (or backyard)
    • Extra cabinets for storage
    • Double oven
    • Open to the dining area and great room

       5. What do you want in a Master Suite?

    A functional and spacious master can make all the difference in your day. Because it’s the place you’ll typically begin and end each day, it’s important to make sure it aligns with your lifestyle and helps simplify your daily routines. Some areas I want to highlight for you are:

    1. Where would you like the master to be located in relation to other rooms in the house? (Aka: Master on main if a two-story or split-bedrooms if a ranch)
    2. How large your bed is will help determine how large you would need for your bedroom.
    3. Finally, the size and layout of your closet, like shelving, hanging rods, a bench, etc. all add up to requiring a larger space.

    Next, think about the four main areas of concern for your master bathroom: number of sinks, location of the toilet (private or out in the open), amount of storage, and whether you want a tub, a shower, or both.

       6. Are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms right for your family?

    How many bedrooms will work for your family members depends on several factors, including if and when siblings will share a room, how often you entertain guests and the level of privacy you’d like to give them, and whether an in-law suite will fit your family’s needs. When it comes to bathrooms, your specific needs and preferences will dictate the right number. Half-baths are also an option that require less space but still provide an extra toilet and sink.

       7. How will you use your home for work, recreation and leisure?

    There are countless ways to make your home plan work for your family. Bonus room Maybe your teenagers need a space to hang out without too much privacy. An open loft above the great room may be just the solution. Playroom Do you want a play space for your little ones within earshot of where you’ll spend a lot of the time? Place the extra room just off the kitchen or laundry room. Home Office Perhaps you work from home or spend a lot of your time at a desk. A home office can make all the difference. And if you welcome clients to your home, consider adding a separate entrance or situating the office close to the front door or in a walkout basement. Home Gym A dedicated workout space can be within reach, and the best time to create this space is when you’re building a new home. Tell your builder if you’d like a room with a floor built for weightlifting, floor to ceiling mirrors, or a barre, for instance. 

       8. Where should you situate the laundry room?

    Organization experts tell us time and again that the best way to make sure cleaning gets done is to create strategies to simplify decluttering and make your areas dedicated to household chores more accessible. So where your laundry room is located can make all the difference. You may want it to be just off the Master, connected to a drop zone, or near the kitchen to simplify daily routines. Consider connecting your master walk-in suite to the laundry room with a laundry chute or separate door.

       9. Is the exterior something you’ll love coming home to?

    One of the reasons we suggest waiting to decide on the exterior facade of the home is because with Capstone, your home can be personalized to fit your needs. So we can tailor the outside of the home to your personal style. That said, the exterior qualities certainly play an important role in your home as a whole. Things to consider: the size of your front porch and back deck or porch, the roofline of your home, the number of windows, and the placement of the front door and garage. Your draftsman or builder will be able to guide you in these areas.

       10. Will the floor plan design complement your decorating style?

    As I said above, choosing the right home plan should come before you decide your paint colors, however tempting it may be to jump right in to interior design choices! Your investment in your home is worth putting the structure of the home at the forefront. However, a home plan can welcome your style or compete with it, and to avoid the latter, consider your design preferences with these three facets of the home:

    • Openness versus defined spaces
    • Traditional versus modern layout
    • Ceiling height

     

    We want to be a part of your story. Check out our floor plans page to see some of our available plans. All can be fully personalized. If you don’t see something you love, our in-house draftsman can create a custom home from scratch just for you. Give us a call or stop in, no matter where you are in the planning process.