Common Floor Plan Mistakes and What You Can Do to Avoid Them

January 19, 2022

The last thing you want out of a new home build is to walk in for the first time and suddenly realize the floor plan doesn’t actually work for your needs. The good news is that by working with a professional architect or designer, you explore different quality floor plans to find one that fits your lifestyle—and you can avoid some of the most common floor plan mistakes.

Here are a few of the most common mistakes to be aware of and how you can avoid them with professional floor plans:

  • High long-term costs in certain architectural features: It can be very tempting to implement luxury features like floor-to-ceiling windows, skylights, tall ceilings and various other architectural features, but these could have some significant impacts on your energy bill in the long run that could add some financial stress to your life. Consider long-term costs and sustainable initiatives as part of your home design.
  • Not considering your lifestyle: Far too many people get hung up on aesthetics in designing their floor plans without thinking about how they’ll actually use the space. Carefully assess your lifestyle before choosing a floor plan. Do you prefer single or multiple stories? Do you want an open floor plan, or do you prefer clearly defined rooms? What do you like or dislike about your existing home and why? Think carefully about functionality as well as aesthetics.
  • Not asking questions about drawings: Not every person is capable of visualizing what a home will look or feel like based on architectural drawings or floor plan drawings. You are likely not a design professional, so it’s completely understandable to not be able to translate what’s on paper to a vision in your mind. Always feel free to ask questions. In fact, asking a lot of questions during design is critical to ensure you get exactly what you want in construction.
  • Not considering room sizes: Are the rooms big enough for your needs? Will you be able to fit your furniture in the room in the configuration you want? You should measure your existing furniture to know the minimum dimensions you need and the amount of space that would be best suited for your needs.
  • Not considering your current budget: Never overspend for the sake of the future. Instead, plan for the present and your current needs (and budget). You can always make some upgrades down the road, including adding amenities and new finishes. For now, think about what you currently need and what you’re willing to pay. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you’re overly stressed financially because you were trying to implement features you won’t actually need for years to come.
  • Not getting the family involved: Consider your entire family’s needs when planning for a home. Where will your children play, sleep or study? Where will you host guests? Getting the family involved ensures everyone will be happy with the outcome, and it also adds some fresh perspectives that can help you avoid missing crucial details.

For more tips about developing professional floor plans, contact us at Perry House Plans with your questions.

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