All you need to know about house plans

Sunita Vellapally Sunita Vellapally
residential colony , Vinyaasa Architecture & Design Vinyaasa Architecture & Design Paredes y pisos de estilo asiático
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The process of designing one’s own home can be an exciting experience, but it also involves difficult decisions, one of which is choosing the right house plans. Besides deciding on the ideal house size to accommodate the entire family, house floor plans should suit the homeowner’s lifestyle. While one can browse through hundreds of house plans online to pick one that one likes, it’s essential to ensure that it is easy to execute and suits the shape of the plot on which the home will be constructed. Additionally, every homeowner will have his or her preference regarding the floor plan, especially which rooms should be adjacent to each other.

A house should be neither too big nor too small. Some homeowners prefer modern house floor plans with an open layout, whereas others are more comfortable with traditional designs. Instead of focusing on design and finishes, one should consider practical aspects such as the suitability of split-level layouts for a family with very young children or elderly persons. House plans can vary significantly from one arrangement to another, and each one has its share of pros and cons, which is not easy for a layperson to assess. That’s why it’s advisable to hire an architect to design your house as per your requirements to ensure that it suits your lifestyle and design needs.

It’s always helpful to have an idea of a layout or plan to make it easy to explain your preferences or requirements to an architect. In this article, we present a few house plans and designs to help you get ideas and tips on how to decide on a suitable one for your home.  

Choose a house plan that is perfect for your family

For a large family, a two-storey house may be more suitable than an apartment or a single-floor house. When looking at house plans ensure that it has enough rooms for each member of the family. Additionally, if you have elderly parents or grandparents living with you, then the project should provide a bedroom on the ground floor. For a joint family, it may make sense to have a separate level for each branch of the family or for each generation, in addition to common social spaces to ensure that everyone gets their fair share of privacy without compromising on bonding.  

Will the house plan blend with the surroundings?

Some neighbourhoods have single storey bungalows, whereas others have high-rise apartments. When deciding on a house plan, consider the location of your home. While a bungalow may be your idea of a dream home, it could be pointless if a tall building next to it blocks the sunlight and restricts privacy. Similarly, a multi-storey house might be ill-suited for a house on the hills as it will obstruct the views of neighbours. Country house plans are better suited for mountain or beach homes.  

Pick house plans that match the shape of the plot

While one may prefer square or rectangular layouts, it’s essential that the plan is a perfect fit for the land of which the house will be built. One storey square house plans will be ideal for a small square plot instead of a rectangular one that leaves no room for a front garden or a back yard. Similarly, a square plan might not make optimal use of space in a rectangular plot.  

Decide on house plans that suit your budget

Ensure that the design and style of the house plan are right for your budget. For example, irregular or narrow layouts might not allow you to use your old furniture, thereby adding to the overall cost of building your home. Similarly, small house plans often require customised or built-in furniture as regular-size furniture doesn’t fit into the tiny rooms. With each floor, the required strength of the foundation rises, thereby increasing the costs. It’s another significant point to keep in mind when choosing between single-floor and two-storey layouts.  

House plans should match the preferred design style

Small-house open floor plans may not work for a homeowner who prefers a traditional home with separate living and dining rooms and a closed kitchen. While one could try to modify an open floor plan by adding a wall or two, it might make the rooms look cramped. We recommend consulting an architect before copying a house plan. Otherwise, the layout may not turn out the way one expects, and additional funds will need to be spent to rectify the mistake.  

Get professional advice before modifying floor plans

FLOOR PLANS BY ART JAIL, ART JAIL ART JAIL

While the process of changing a layout in existing house plans might seem like it only involves removing or building a wall, there might be some technical aspects that get overlooked, causing the house structure to become unstable. Whether it’s for knocking down a bedroom wall to build a walk-in wardrobe or removing a barrier between the living and dining areas to make the room more spacious, it’s advisable to get proper advice. An architect knows what modifications are possible and those that aren’t suitable. By consulting a professional, one can be sure that the changes don’t affect the design and strength of the house.

  

Understand the advantages and disadvantages of various house plans before choosing one

As we mentioned earlier, rarely does one come across a perfect house plan, especially given constraints such as the budget, size of the land and the various requirements that need to be incorporated. For example, modern home plans with large windows may not work in a tropical region as it would add to the energy costs in the long-term. Similarly, a large bungalow with small windows could result in dark interiors that detract from the home’s charm. Instead of trying to find a house plan that ticks all the boxes, one can work with an architect to adapt an existing plan to ensure that it matches at least ninety per cent of what one desires from one’s home.

While one can envision one’s dream home, to make sure that the design and construction meets one’s expectations once it is completed, it’s essential that one looks through several house plans before deciding on the best one. When searching online, one can come across thousands of 2D and 3D house plans but finding the right one is not easy. By making a list of essential features or elements in the layout, the process of shortlisting plans becomes much more manageable. Additionally, consulting a professional architect and explaining one’s preferences and requirements will ease the process of zeroing in on the most suitable option.   

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