Developing a well thought out floor plan design is something that takes years of practice. Even after years of training, a seasoned pro will still devote a significant amount of time refining a floor plan because they understand what makes a good house design. Sure, most of us can come up with plenty of design ideas with thumbnail sketches or back of the napkin drawings. However, there is a difference between abstract concepts and actual measured drawings. You should not underestimate taking those abstract ideas and arranging them into workable house floor plans with appropriate scale and consistency.
What Makes A Good House Design?
A good house design makes every inch of a floor plan useful to those who reside in it. The design generally take on the personality of the homeowner. In other words, the house design is crafted to function in the way the homeowner lives and not the other way around. House plan styles also reflect the essence of who the homeowner is. Ultimately, what makes a great house plan basically comes down to the way the overall design conforms to its occupants.
What Makes A Good Floor Plan?
Flexibility makes a good floor plan, but for some people recognizing a flexible floor plan is not always easy to do. Beyond that one major factor, it’s sort of hard to pen down what makes a good floor plan in specific terms because that can mean so many things to so many different people. However, the idea of a good floor plan is based around three principles. The first of these principles is a solid design philosophy. Here we establish the purpose of the design and how to approach the project. The second principle is raw ideas. A home designer should have the ability and motivation be different and think outside of the box. The third principle is designer skill. This is effectively being able to put these raw ideas and design philosophy together in a floor plan layout with design consistency throughout the process.
The merging of these three principles are the qualities indicative of good house designs. Whether or not you abide by these principles is the difference in an unacceptable home plan and the perfect house plans for a homeowner. Below we take a closer look into each principle.
Three Principles To Designing A Good Floor Plan
1. Design Philosophy: Form Follows Function
For anyone designing a home, the first thing you should know is that form follows function. In a nutshell, this means that the shape of a building (floor plan and elevations) should primarily relate to its intended function or purpose. This is design class 101 for Building Designers and Architects. It is my personal design philosophy and weight heavily on decisions made when I take on a custom home design or even stock house plans. A very well conceived home design starts with how the home will function from day to day. This is accomplished when you design a home from the inside-out based on the future occupants. The flow of the floor plans should present easy traffic navigation and comfortably sized rooms.
The form does follow the function; however, it is at the forefront of the design program. The end result is without doubt the form of the home, yet it helps to shape the floor plan. The architectural style set the stage for how the home will function in relation to its form. Without a structured philosophy to get you from point A to point Z, you may find yourself lacking one or both aspects of this philosophy in the design process. There is nothing worse than a home with a horrible form and flawed function. The “form follows function” philosophy governs good house designs.
2. Raw Ideas: The Nerve To Be Innovative
A house plan designer should stretch the normal design acceptance while staying within the confines of acceptable design. It sounds conflicting, but the crux of the statement is to push the envelope and be different. A good house design has this quality. Nothing is more boring than a typical and predictable design solution for a particularly concept. It’s safe and you know how it will turn out because you’ve seen it countless times. But where is the innovation in that? The house design industry is a fluid market. Home products, building materials, building codes, and human lifestyles change often. While that can be difficult to deal with, it also open up possibilities to experiment with the floor plan design and see things in exciting new ways. This type of mindset is what makes a good floor plan become something great.
3. Designer Skill: The Ability To Bring It All Together
The aforementioned qualities will mean nothing if you are unable to bring the two together when developing the entire house floor plan design. Starting with a concept and incorporating unconventional ideas requires a degree of know-how and bucking the trend. Having a knack for doing this with residential design can not be overstated. It takes a special skill to be able to develop a three-dimensional structure (what you envision) in a two-dimensional medium (construction documents). It is easy to take for granted or lack appreciation for the effort put into the final outcome of a good house and floor plan design. Reverse designing can falsely give you the impression that something so simple was a natural result, when in fact, it may have taken several rounds of design changes to achieve.
A house plan designer with the skill set to infuse new methods or ideas with a defined method is paramount in the home design business. That skill set is the difference between having a run-of-the-mill house or residing in a home with character and charm. This is why I began this article by stating that it takes years of practice to design a home. Some design professionals get it rather quickly having the natural gift, while others may take a bit longer working consistently and honing their craft to perfection.
Conclusion
Notwithstanding everything that you have just read, the essence of good house designs begin with you knowing how to select the right house plans. With stock home plans, you should look for floor plans the closely functions in the way you live your life. Finding something that’s 80 percent or more designed in a way that you feel comfortable with is a great starting point. It lays the ground work for designing a quality home from the inside out at an reasonable cost. Making modifications to such plans usually get it just the way you need it to function for your needs and wants.
Last Updated on July 22, 2024