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During the third quarter of 2022, the custom home building industry experienced growth. A total of 59,000 custom building projects were started during this time. This was a 5% increase compared to the third quarter of 2021. Are you thinking of building your dream home?
Building a custom home is the perfect chance to make it yours. With so many options, you may feel overwhelmed with where and how to start. Our guide will help you come up with the perfect layout and custom home designs you will love.
Discover everything you need to know about building a home. We’ll tell you how to have better flow between rooms, optimize furniture placement, and how to tailor the size of each space.
Read on and design the perfect layout for your custom home today.
Choosing the Perfect Layout for Your Custom Home
Choosing a floor plan that suits the needs of you and your family is one of the best things about building a custom home. The shape and style of the floor plan should be carefully considered as they can greatly affect your experience in your new home.
Here are our top tips to help you create the best custom home floor plans for your new abode.
Figure Out Your Wants Versus Needs
To begin, prioritize what matters most to you. Identify the features that are essential and cannot be compromised and make a list of them. Afterward, list the desirable features that you want. This will help you narrow down your options and make it easier to choose the best floor plan.
It’s worth asking yourself questions to determine if a feature is a want or a need. Here are some ideas to get you going.
- What door do I enter the home from?
- Where do people spend the most time?
- How do you unload items from the car and what do you need easy access to?
- Where do you do the laundry?
- Where do you eat your meals?
- What existing furniture needs to be accommodated?
Work Out the Right Size
When planning your house, it’s important to think about the size that would be suitable for your family. The size of your family will be a factor in determining the size of your home.
Make sure to think about your lifestyle, hobbies, and family’s ages when investing in a custom home for the future. Consider the long-term requirements that your family needs. Families grow and shrink over time as kids grow older and move out, and elderly parents move in.
Select a floor plan that matches your budget and personal situation. If you pick a floor plan that is too big, you may have empty space. If it’s too small, you may feel overcrowded if you have many possessions or family members.
Optimize Your Home’s Size
The size of your custom home can significantly affect its overall look and feel. While bigger homes offer more flexibility and options, smaller homes may be more energy efficient and require less maintenance.
Consider your budget, lifestyle, and design preferences when deciding on the size of your custom home. Look at the average square footage for homes in your area and consult with an experienced custom home builder to make sure you select the right size.
Consider the Design Style You Like
Design plays a significant role in creating a comfortable living environment, and it’s important not to ignore it.
When planning the design of your new home, consider the furniture and decoration style you prefer. For instance, would you like a modern sofa or an ornate, antique-style settee in your home?
Also, think about any large existing items you own and where you’d like to display them. It will help you determine the right floor plan for your home.
You can research inspirational custom home ideas in magazines, on Pinterest, or even visit home exhibitions.
Consider Your Lifestyle
It is important to choose a floor plan that suits your daily activities.
Consider your preferences carefully while selecting a floor plan. If you enjoy hosting guests, opt for a layout that offers ample space for food preparation, socializing, and dining. On the other hand, if cooking is your passion, make sure to prioritize the kitchen layout. Similarly, if you’re fond of spending time outdoors, choose a floor plan that provides easy access to and a good view of outdoor spaces.
Be practical. Even if you aspire to prepare elaborate meals, it’s important to acknowledge your limitations. Spending a lot of money on a kitchen when you won’t spend much time there wouldn’t be wise.
Prioritize the Main Areas
This may differ depending on your situation, but generally, the three main areas of the home are the kitchen, dining room, and living room.
The downstairs of your home probably mainly consists of three spaces. Here are some options you can consider for these areas.
L Shape
The design consists of three spaces arranged in the shape of an L. This is commonly referred to as a standard open floor plan by real estate agents. While there is room for minor adjustments, the basic layout remains unchanged.
Linear Open Plan
Placing the dining room between the kitchen and living room is a popular layout that can be tailored to fit your specific needs. This is a great way to create flow, especially if you’re keeping this as an open plan. This is a great option If you enjoy hosting as you can see everyone regardless of which room you’re in.
Segregated
You might choose to have all your spaces separated from each other with a wall. This will provide flexibility where you can turn each room into a designated space with its own purpose. For example, the living room can be for watching TV or relaxing while the dining room is great for formal dinners and family gatherings.
Think About Functional Areas
Now that you have decided on the layout for your main areas, it’s time to focus on the functional areas such as the laundry room, pantry, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
Figure out how these spaces interact with the main spaces. For example, the pantry will want to be positioned next to the kitchen, but it should also be close to an external door, or wherever you bring in your grocery shopping from. A laundry might want to be close to the yard to allow for drying line access.
Consider Flow, Efficiency, and Comfort
When considering the layout for your custom home, also consider how the different rooms will flow from one to another. You want to create a smooth transition between spaces that encourages people to move freely throughout the house.
You should also make sure that the layout is efficient. Think about the furniture placement and any essential items you need in each room. Also, consider any potential uses for each space and make sure to optimize them accordingly.
Take into account your family’s comfort level when choosing a layout. For example, if you have children, you may want to create separate areas for them to play in. Or if you have elderly relatives living with you, a single-story layout may be more suitable for them.
How Will You Incorporate Privacy?
It is important to consider the location of bathrooms and bedrooms within the floor plan for optimal privacy.
When thinking about bathroom usage, do you prefer a separate bathroom and an ensuite? How comfortable with a bathroom adjacent to your bedroom?
Would you prefer your bedroom to be separate from the other bedrooms? Also, don’t forget to think about the privacy of your outdoor areas, such as the location of your outdoor space in relation to other people’s homes. You may want to consider making an enclosed patio, porch, or deck for added privacy.
Seek Professional Help
While looking for floor plans online can help understand your home’s layout, it’s important to consult with a home design professional like the team at Ernst Brothers Custom home builder before starting construction.
They can aid in incorporating important details such as energy savings, lighting arrangements, and furniture placement into your plan. Because of their experience, they will also be able to suggest the most efficient floor plan based on your criteria.
Ready to Start Planning Your New Home?
As you’ve just read, choosing the right layout for your custom home is a big decision that requires careful consideration. It’s important to think about your personal needs and how the different spaces will interact. We suggest seeking professional help when creating or adjusting floor plans as they can offer invaluable insight.
If this article has inspired you on the journey ahead, be sure to check out our other inspiring articles on our blog.
