A home is a place where we stay most of our lives. That’s the place where we eat, sleep, study, and gather around for the most important moments. When people look for an ideal home, many times they say “the floor plan is not a fit for us”. Homeowners often make mistakes when creating a house layout with an architect or when designing it with a floor plan maker. In this list, we will present the most common mistakes to avoid when creating a floor plan.

1. Not every floor plan is for you

When people buy a house, they often forget their lifestyle. Every floor plan should be planned according to the lifestyle of the client and the people who are going to use it. Some people like extra spaces between corridors, some want spiral staircases, and so on. And when you choose a floor plan, choose it based on your lifestyle.

2. Don’t make a plan that exceeds your budget

When you make a plan for the design of your floor plan, consider future expenses. Each extra square foot costs not only extra material costs but also extra utility expenses. So, when you are designing your floor plan, consider also present and future costs so you won’t exceed your budget.

3. Don’t settle only for square footage

Most of the time when people buy or design house, they just ask about square footage. Do not just stick on that! When you consider buying or designing a house, you should consider requesting a floor plan with room dimensions.

4. Insufficient room sizes

Most of the time, people refrain reading the actual dimensions of the room in a floor plan and after moving in their furniture won’t fit into the desired space. Measure your old furniture and then decide your floor plan based on it. When you measure your existing furniture, tables, and walking area, it will help you to determine the correct room dimension. Consider adding some extra space if you want more room.

5. Windows facing South/ South-West

Windows should be faced south/south-west direction. It is the most preferred direction for getting the maximum amount of natural light especially in the evening time when you are at home. When deciding on your floor plan, keep in mind to place windows in the south/southwest direction.

6. Poorly allocated space

Aim to find a balance between too full and too empty space To save space, every room should be designed with the required amount of space so that it can be used creatively for other functions and activities. For example, a kitchen can be associated with a dining area that makes it more functional than a kitchen with extra space. Do plan accordingly so that you can make every space more functional.

7. No storage spaces

When people design a floor plan for their house, they often forget to make a plan for the needed storage. They might think to make space for garage workspace or large linen closet or putting extra things but most of the time, they overlook the proper storage space. As everyone needs storage, it is necessary to allocate space for storage. The storage space should be based on those items which you want to put in that space. This is one the most common mistakes in floor plan examples we have seen.

8. Ignore to plan for furniture

Maybe your living room looks perfect in the floor plan drawing, but you still need to think if there is enough space between the TV and the couch? Are there enough spaces between the couches and the coffee table? You should allow space for the bulk of your furniture. According to domain.com.au, “In the early stages of designing a floor plan it’s important to consider your furniture and how you move around the house,” Pickett-Heaps explains. “Consider the placement of the sofa and the television in relation to windows, doors, the outlook, and the sun.”

9. Go as you plan

People often do not follow the floor plan that they made earlier. It happens when they involve an architect before knowing their preferences and take a risk to go over their budget. A harmonious layout of a house needs careful planning which only a professional can design. If you are confused to hire an architect or save your budget from the fees of an architect, there are some other easy-to-use alternatives. You can try a specific software for measuring the dimensions or get advice from a cheaper floor plan expert online.

10. Consider Eco-friendly design

Eco-friendly design is considered a smart design. If you avoid integrating green features such as daylighting into your floor plan, it may cost you more in the long run. Choose to design your home with Eco-friendly products which helps you to make your home beautiful, functional, affordable and responsively designed. Such as, reclaimed wood can be used as wood flooring or recycled rubber can be used as flooring in either in a home gym or kids playroom. Do research when you choose any Eco-friendly home products for your floor plan.

11. Think about exterior spaces

Exterior spaces play a crucial role in the overall design and functionality of a building, which is why considering them in the floor plan planning process is essential. Outdoor areas, such as balconies, patios, and decks, can provide additional living and entertaining space, while also increasing the value and aesthetic appeal of the property. If you are focusing on designing your outdoor landscape for a specific purpose, then you need to make sure you put a portion of your budget into that design. One way to do this is to use Joist’s efficient landscaping invoicing software to make sure you are creating a beautiful landscaping floor plan. Then you can get back to focusing on how your exterior can benefit your interior space.

Outdoor areas also have the potential to improve air circulation, provide access to natural light and views, and enhance the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Additionally, considering exterior spaces in the floor plan planning process can help optimize site usage, prioritize outdoor amenities, and ensure a smooth flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. Overall, taking exterior spaces into consideration during floor plan planning can result in a more livable, functional, and enjoyable built environment.

12. Try a floor plan software

To sum up, floorplans are more than simple architectural tools for capturing the layout of the home, they can tell the true story of the place of living. And probably you’ve also heard that creating a floor plan may take time and be costly, but not anymore. CubiCasa has developed an easy to use floor plan maker app which is used for creating and branding real estate floor plans. It just only takes 5 minutes to scan the indoor space and either 24 hours or 6 hours (depending on the selected SLA) to receive a professional, digital floor plan and Gross Living Area. Watch how to create flawless floor plans: 

To sum up, we collected a list with the most common floor plan mistakes we all often do. Now that you know about them, you can count that your next floor plans will be closer to match your expectations.

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