The Best Interior Designs for Houses
Foot traffic should flow well in a properly designed house. With a choppy floor plan, your home will seem like a series of rooms that are disjointed. It's important to remove walls or rearrange hallways that will prevent this seamless flow of traffic. Keep in mind, too, that hallways need to be wide enough. Moving furniture in and out of rooms can become a problem with a poor design. Does this Spark an idea?
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Create an Inviting Entry
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Begin the design at the front entry. Ideally, you want to create a foyer space, even if it's small, to separate the front door from the living room. A coat closet or space for setting aside groceries or a wet umbrella are ideal. Having a window panel on each side of the door to add more natural light will add visual beauty to the foyer, too.
Open the Living Room
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Envision the main living space first. Build this area with a vaulted or tray ceiling, if possible. Plan to install a 9-foot ceiling if the living room will be located under a second story. Devote lots of detailing to the main living space that will include large windows and a fireplace, for example. Although the kitchen is considered to be the heart of any home, the living space should be a natural extension of the kitchen.
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Design an Appropriate Kitchen
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A kitchen and living space should flow in harmony. You might decide to open a wall or partial wall between them. Another alternative is to create a large doorway between them, in case you want privacy while cooking in the kitchen. Keep in mind that a living room and kitchen space must work for your family's needs. If the home will be large enough, create a small family room on the other side of the kitchen. This way, the main living room can stay more formal.
Plan Ample Hallways and Stairs
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Make all hallways and staircases wide enough. A cramped hallway or narrow staircase leading to a second floor will hurt the traffic flow of the house. Many homeowners building a new house get tempted to skimp on this type of space to make bedrooms bigger. But, over time, they will often regret the decision. Two people should be able to pass each other easily on the stairs or in the hallway. Build the house a couple of feet wider to accommodate this kind of interior space.
Build Well-Placed Bathrooms
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A good interior design includes bathroom areas with enough space. You might construct a couple of half baths versus complete baths in certain areas, but make sure anyone can reach a bathroom without having to go upstairs or too far down the hallway. Envision how guests will see the home's living space and how they can utilize bath space in privacy. Visit the homes of friends to make notes about their floor layouts you find appealing. There's nothing like seeing a home close up to help you plan your own design.
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