2 years ago
It's time to take the fear out of floor plans. The fear of being overwhelmed by jargon, and what should be an enjoyable part of the design process. Floor planning can often be undervalued and seen as a necessary evil when in reality it has everything to do with beautiful living spaces.
Floor planning is a term you've probably heard before, but do you actually know what it means?
A floor plan is a drawing that shows the location of all interior walls, doors, windows, and other elements in a house. It helps you see how the spaces within your home will be used and also allows you to make changes before construction begins.
You can think of a floor plan as an aerial view of your home: You'll see what's above ground (the roof), what's below ground (the basement), and everything in between.
A basic floor plan will include the following elements:
A floor plan can also include any additional features such as balconies or decks. You may decide to add these elements later on once you've decided exactly where they should go.
They help you visualize how the rooms and spaces flow together and help you to decide where to place furniture, appliances, personal belongings and other items.
An easy way to think about floor plans is to think of them as blueprints for your house. When you build a house, you have an architect who draws up the plans for it. Those plans have all the dimensions of each room and where each fixture will be placed in relation to each other. This helps homeowners decide where things will go before they buy them, which saves time when it comes time to move in.
Floor plans are also used by architects and designers when building homes or remodeling existing ones . They give a detailed picture of how everything is laid out so that everything fits together nicely when the final product is completed. The same applies when remodeling an existing home; floor plans will show how much space is available for each room so that changes can be made before starting construction.
The answer to this question depends on the type of home you're building. For example, if you're building a single-family residence, it's best to begin the floor plan process before construction begins so you can work with your architect and builder to make sure that your house fits into its surroundings and gives you the most living space possible.
If you're building a multifamily building such as an apartment complex or condo development, floor plans should be completed after all of the other architectural elements have been designed and approved. This will ensure that the finished product fits within city ordinances, local covenants and restrictions, and other requirements for multifamily housing.
The first step to finding a good floor plan is to decide what you're looking for. If you're trying to save money on your energy bill, it may be a good idea to look at energy efficiency ratings. If you want more space, then the square footage may be the most important thing. And if you want a design that's going to fit your family's needs, then it's time to start looking at the master bedroom and bathroom layouts.
Once you've decided what you're looking for, it's time to start searching for floor plans that fit those specifications. You can do this by doing some research online or asking friends who are already homeowners about their experiences with different builders. If nothing else, check out local home shows or real estate listings for new construction homes in your area.
The next step is deciding what kind of builder you want to work with. This can be difficult because there are so many options available these days — from local builders who specialize in one style of home (like ranch-style) and offer limited customization, all the way up to national companies that offer hundreds of designs and numerous upgrades and amenities.
There are many types of floor plans, which can be broken down into three general categories:
Single-story homes — The simplest type of house has just one level and one story. This makes it easy to build, but it can feel cramped if there aren’t enough windows or doors.
Two-story homes — The most common type of home has two stories, with a bedroom on each floor and a stairway between them. This is the most versatile type of layout for homeowners who want to customize their space without making major changes to the structure or foundation of their home.
Multi-story homes — Homes with more than two stories require more complex construction and planning because they need stairs or elevators to get from one level to another. They also tend to have fewer windows than lower-level homes do because they don’t have as much natural light coming in through windows that are at ground level or below ground level (such as basement windows).
So there you have it, everything you need to know to hit the ground running with floor plans. It's been a rather lengthy introduction but I promise there was loads of nitty gritty detail in there. Hopefully it helps you to have a better understanding of what goes into planning and designing floor plans. And now you'll be equipped with all the knowledge needed to produce your own floor plans.