How to Design Your Own House Plans

By eHow Personal Finance Editor

There are no rules, just tools There are no rules, just tools

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Though you'll need to have final blueprints drawn up, designing your own home is the best way to ensure that you get exactly what you want. Follow these steps to get a head start on building the house you’ve always wanted.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Make a listing of your family's requirements: how many bedrooms you need, how large the rooms should be, what floor plan you want in your kitchen, if you want a formal living room and dining room, and so forth.
Step2
Look around at houses you like in your neighborhood. Take note of details you like on houses you see; for example, you may not like your neighbor's entire house, but you love the porch.
Step3
Read home design magazines for ideas.
Step4
Read books on home design as well as those with collections of plans.
Step5
Draw your floor plan in pencil on blank paper or on graph paper. Draw to scale; make a block or an inch equal a specific distance. Common scales are 1 inch = 4 feet and 1 inch = 8 feet.
Step6
Consider using some helpful home design software- you'll probably find this easier than drawing. Most packages come with templates so you can easily insert appliances, fixtures and even furniture into your plan.
Step7
Bring your plans to a architect so he or she can draw up building plans. The architect can also catch any problems or suggest changes.

Tips & Warnings

  • Look at as many houses, plans and articles as you can. Nothing gives you more design ideas than seeing a lot of houses. Particularly useful are articles with color photos of the homes finished (and furnished).
  • Don't let the architect overwhelm you and change your plan needlessly. Listen to suggestions, but make your own decisions.

Comments

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on 4/1/2008 My wife and I are using the www.homebuildingprojectplan.com softeware to build our home. It is going great so far, but wanted to know your thoughts. Thanks for any help that you can provide.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 4/3/2006 When building, always plan for the future. Put outlets, cable and phone jacks in all rooms. Even if you never use them, they will always be there if you ever sell the house. Converting rooms into offices works so much better when the necessary wiring is there (home networking and Internet access).

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 3/21/2006 Lots of new houses have Jack & Jill Bathrooms, but if you have a boy and a girl, this isn't very practical. The part they share is the part that is in the most demand - the tub and toilet. For very little extra cost, you can give them both their own full bathrooms and avoid lots of fighting in the future! Add a hot-water heater just for those two baths and save yourself lots of aggravation in the future! My builder said the cost difference is minimal - especially if the bathrooms share a wall.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 When planning a room layout, do not place a door behind a door. This is especially true for small rooms. For example, placing a pantry inside a small laundry room or a closet in a bathroom. You would need to step inside the room, close the door, open the closet or pantry, close that door, then open the original door to step out.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 My husband and I have real problems sharing the bathroom. In our plan for our new house, we will share a toilet closet (a door on both sides) but other than that - we will have separate bathrooms. My side will have a jacuzzi tub, sink, vanity and linen closet. His will have a large shower, sink and his linen closet. At the back of each bathroom a door will lead to individual closets as well.

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eHow Article:  How to Design Your Own House Plans

eHow Personal Finance Editor

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