What Makes a Great House Plan?

Building a new home is a dream for so many of you, especially if it is the first home that you will build from the ground up. If you’ve recently acquired land and you are in search mode for the perfect house plans to build your dream, well get really to manage your needs and wants. In your mind you’re thinking of the greatest floor plan design, but understand that there are so many things to consider on what makes a great house plan.

Deciding on the perfect house plan is not easy, but figuring out how to select the right house plans can be determined by asking yourself a few questions. Some examples include, what housing style do you prefer? How much house square footage do you need? How many people will be living in the home? The list goes on and on, but you have to limit yourself to the essentials of being practical and appealing. We have a few suggestions that will help you select home plans that are functional and aesthetically pleasing for you.

3 Design Points On What Makes A Great House Plan

1. Integrate the Indoors and Outdoors

A problem for many homes is the lack of indoor-outdoor living spaces. It almost feels like they are two separate partitions of the property, instead of being different parts of the same home. Convenient doors that open out to a covered porch or patio, along with easy access to the backyard, will help a lot. If the home is located in a pleasant year-round climate, integrating an outdoor living space to the rest of the house is even more important.

Anderson house plan rendering

The Anderson house plan is a design that has a great layout for indoor-outdoor integration. The family room has a 9′-0″ patio door that opens onto a covered porch for indoor and outdoor entertaining. The porch can even be equipped with a retractable screen to keep bug out and the fun in.

2. Avoid Dead End Rooms

Dead-end rooms that have a single use, such as a secluded living room or dining room, can disrupt the flow of a home for some people. They are a hindrance when entertaining, and they result in people feeling detached from each other while being in the same home. Having large, open doorways, or passages between the walls ensures the whole floor feels like a connected space, instead of separate parts.

Andy house plans picture

The Andy house plan has a design that avoids the dead-end rooms with its open flowing concept. The absence of walls between the family and dining rooms allow for a wonderful entertaining space, yet it still has a cozy comfort to it. To keep on the open vibe, the large opening between the family, breakfast, and keeping rooms complete the connection of all spaces on this beautiful floor plan

3. Properly Proportioned Kitchen Island

It is tempting to go with a kitchen island, especially if you are connecting the living room and kitchen area. However, a massive kitchen island can make the space feel cramped. Don’t force an island in a design if it doesn’t work, especially if your want if for pure vanity. Only go with an appropriately sized kitchen island that suits your family’s needs and avoid wasting valuable square footage that can be put to better use.

Braylon house plan front elevation rendering

The Braylon house plan fills the kitchen space with an island that is scaled to complement the space. It’s big enough to be useful, yet it doesn’t crowd the area, allowing it plenty of room to have multiple people working in the kitchen at once.

Conclusion

When you are determining how to select the right house plan for your family, keep in mind your building lot and the home’s surrounding nature. Integrating as much of the natural beauty of the outdoors is often an overlooked simple pleasure. Doing so is just as important as finding a flexible floor plan design.

Making certain that the flow of your home is fluid is important. This includes the kitchen because this is where everyone usually migrate to at some point. In part, these design points mentioned above illustrate qualities of good house designs and are a few pieces of the puzzle in what makes a great house plan.

Last Updated on July 11, 2024