How to Pick a Floor Plan

Floor plans range from simple box shapes to open-air studio designs. The most important aspect is to pick a floor plan that fits your needs and the needs of anyone living with you. Make thoughtful decisions to maximize functionality as you pick a floor plan.

Instructions

1. Figure out how many rooms you need. Three kids usually means three bedrooms, plus one larger master suite for the parents. Keep in mind any rooms you want to use for office space, a workout area, art studio, meditation chamber or a den and playroom.

2. Map out closets and bathrooms. These two essential items cannot be ignored. Decide how many bathrooms you want, if they are full or half baths and how big each closet should be. You may even want to devote a full room to closet space if you happen to be a pack rat.

3. Pick the rooms’ functionality. Decide how much time is spent in each room. If you never eat in the kitchen, don’t devote a lot of space to a dining area. If your last den went unused, don’t create one.

4. Decide on privacy. You can position the master suite down the hall and far away from the kids’ rooms, or you can put them close together for younger tots. Likewise, with the meditation chamber and office, you may want these far from the central activity of the house. You also probably don't want a bathroom adjacent to the front door.

5. Size it up. Smaller bedrooms for smaller kids is usually a good rule, but remember kids will grow. Office spaces need not be massively large, just organized. Rooms used as playrooms or workout rooms should be fairly large so people can move around in them.

6. Think layout. Decide how much open space you want. You can combine the kitchen and family room, with a bank of counters instead of a wall in between, to give a home an open and airy feel.

7. Add the fine details. Doors and windows can also help decide the layout. A bathroom can be crammed in the middle of the house without a window, while you most likely want some kind of view from the kitchen, family room or wherever you spend a lot of time. Bay windows, sliding glass doors, picture windows and other openings to the great outdoors should be included in your floor plan.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have your choices down, draw a rough sketch of the layout just to get a feel of if it will work. Then bring your ideas and sketch to the builder.

• If you have more than one level, sketch in room for staircases.

• Don’t forget a garage if you want one, and attach it to the house for convenience.