How to Design Your Own Home Floor Plan
Designing your own home floor plan can be both satisfying and cost-efficient. Without the expertise of an architect, you can produce a set of professional floor plans suitable for development into construction-ready blueprints. The task can be challenging, and will require much research and diligence to ensure that your vision of a dream home is both practical and affordable.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Scratch paper
- Drawing paper
- Graph paper
- Pencils, pens and erasers
- Ruler
- Floor plan design software (optional)
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Design Process
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1
Decide on a general concept for your floor plans, considering the approximate size and style of the home you want to design. Make a list of all the features you want to incorporate into your designs, including permanent fixtures and fittings.
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2
Group together all the individual elements by drawing simple diagrams or bubble shapes, to determine an effective and harmonious relationship between rooms and spaces. The floor plans should illustrate the layout of each separate level, and the links between sections.
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3
Sketch a preliminary layout on scratch paper, drawing and labeling rooms and spaces to define all the aspects of your plans. Start with something simple, and gradually develop and modify your ideas. The exterior of the home and views are also important considerations.
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4
Apply the comprehensive layout onto graph paper using a pencil and ruler to measure and draw detailed specifications to scale. Draw symbols for features like stairs, doors, windows, closets, and bathrooms. You can also include directions and a reference key. Trace the finished layout with permanent ink.
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5
Using computer software for floor plan design, you can produce intricate and detailed floor plans with exact specifications. These programs have the tools to create three-dimensional diagrams of every element of your floor plans, including a model of the finished structure.
Planning and Execution
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1
Investigate whether your plans are suitable for the proposed lot of land. Contact the city government to research building codes and standards. Building restrictions vary widely depending on location, due to climate, soil type and terrain. Consider the logistics of accessing electricity, gas, telephone, sewer and water supply.
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2
Prepare a cost analysis so that you can determine whether all the features of your floor plan fit your budget. Make a thorough assessment of the projected costs of materials, labor, and furnishings, plus additional costs, such as blueprints, building permits, construction insurance, sales and residential taxes. Add at least 10% to the total budget to account for any unexpected costs that may arise.
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3
Enlist a draftsman/designer to create a complete set of two-dimensional blueprints that provide the builder with the specific guidelines on how to build the home. This will include elements such as cross-sections, roof and foundation plans, elevations, electrical layout, plumbing and mechanical systems. You will need a structural engineer in your area to approve the plans for construction.
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Tips & Warnings
It is useful to view home designs on the web for ideas on styles and features. You can also find free downloads of floor plan design software that will allow you to test different applications for user-friendliness.
Related Searches
References
Resources
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