Common Floor Plan Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Floor plans are the blueprints for any home. These plans give you a detailed virtual idea of the design and architecture of the complete property. These floor plans not only provide you with an overview of the different areas in your soon-to-be home, but they also give you all the visual information on what size every room is going to be, giving you ample time to ponder over the decor and the interiors you want. The best part is that they are built to scale and are open to any kind of customization. If you succeed in perfecting your floor plan, you are guaranteed to lead a more functional and effective lifestyle when you move into your new home.

Now, we understand the excitement and the eagerness of every buyer to move into their new home as quickly as possible. In this rush, you may end up neglecting the floor plan and having an attitude where you think you can go over the important details later on. However, this may cause you trouble in the years to come. With this mindset, there will come a time when you would be sitting in your newly bought home and wondering - “Why is this floor plan not working for me?” 

To ensure you do not have such thoughts or regret anything, later on, we want to make sure you are prepared to settle only for the best floor plan and nothing less. Quite often, there are minute mistakes in the floor plan that go unnoticed. While understanding common mistakes is essential, knowing what makes a good floor plan is equally important. We want to make sure you are aware of all the different mistakes that can be made while preparing and finalizing a floor plan so that you do not end up being part of one. 

Also Read: Buyers Guide

Making the Floor Plan too Large/Small

It is true that a piece of paper cannot do justice in conveying the exact size of the house. However, a floor plan serves this exact purpose and so it needs to be perfect. If you love the property but it is not satisfying you in terms of size, do not settle for less. Consider these factors and then decide the course of action for the final floor plan.

When do you need a smaller floor plan? 

• Your budget is tight 

• Not many people are going to be moving in 

• You want a house that can afford easy and occasional clean-ups

When do you need a larger floor plan?

• Joint Family 

• You require ample storage space 

• Parties or entertaining people is a daily affair 

Insufficient Room Sizes

People most of the time forget to take into account the actual dimensions of the rooms that are mentioned in the floor plan. Either the floor plan is not created to scale or the dimensions are not mentioned anywhere. When in excitement you forget to notice the room dimensions, it can create a problem in the future. The biggest problem that can arise is that your furniture might not fit into the size of your room. You will ultimately end up spending money in unexpected areas.

Underestimating Washroom Privacy

Who does not need some privacy when it comes to using the bathroom? All of us do. For this reason, use strategic thinking while deciding the location and size of your bathrooms in the floor plan. Reflect on how many bathrooms you need and if you have a multi-story home, do you need bathrooms on each floor? Do you want the bathrooms situated in such a way that they are accessible from every part of your house? The ideal location for washrooms is when they are right outside the bedroom for the sake of convenience and privacy.

Also check: Indian real estate simplified

Future Reselling Value

When it comes to a floor plan, you need to think about the future too. Amidst the overwhelming feeling of getting over with the process, we often forget our housing plans for the future. Once you have decided on the final layout for your home, figure out what the value for your house is. Sometimes, you end up making a few changes to the design which may reduce the future reselling value of your home. Have clarity on what you are getting yourself into and make sure you know the true value of your property.

Assuming You Should Understand Every Element of a Floor Plan

Don’t beat yourself up or feel embarrassed if you do not understand most things in a floor plan. You are the future owner of the house and you must make sure you clearly understand the kind of home you are going to receive as the end product. Ask as many questions as you can and if you feel confused, don’t hesitate to ask the same question more than a few times. A floor plan includes a lot of geometry and design concepts, and can sometimes be difficult to comprehend. Indeed,

Not Sticking to the Budget

Even though you set out with a mindset to not go overboard with your budget, a floor plan can ruin your financial plans! It is so aesthetically pleasing that you might want to add in a little theatre, a bigger garden, or even a personal pool! A solution to this is to go prepared with a checklist of your requirements and things that you can avoid including in your home. If there are elements that you want but it is exceeding your budget, make a note to add them to your house in the future when the time is right.

No Storage

There are times when we get so indulged in the design concept and visual appearance of the floor plan that we miss out on a few practical things that need to be included too. Think about spaces like a storeroom, basement, or even a garage. Reflect on your current condition and determine how much storage space you may need. Remember that storage space is designed to keep things that you do not use in your daily routine life. 

Not Doing Your Research

This point is for the ones who have friends, family, or roommates moving in with them. Now you might be clear on what your priorities are, but do you know what your roommates have in mind? You need to research in a way that you take everyone’s inputs and opinions before you finalize a floor plan. After all, you need to make sure that the house fits the needs of everyone living in it. Moreover, also keep your planning for the future in mind. Ask yourself questions like - Would there be a need for expansion? Are you planning to have children? Is anyone going to move out soon, leaving room for extra space?

Also Read: Complete Guide To Home Staging

Forgetting about Corner Spaces

Most floor plans become faulty the moment they forget to take into account any corner spaces that may exist in maybe the living room or between different rooms. If you decide to neglect these or not notice them at all, it will be impossible to make a change after construction is done. Either it will cost too much or will not be architecturally practical. These corner spaces will then ultimately collect dust and mosquitoes, creating an unhygienic environment in the house. 

Indeed, a house is not just a property or building. It is much more. It is a place where you spend most of your time and a place where you make memories for a lifetime. Whether it is with your friends or family, some of your best moments are created in your house. In a way, we owe it to ourselves to make sure that the property is built according to our needs and requirements. The first step to ensure this is by creating a floor plan that is professional, architecturally accurate, and visually appealing. 

This is a lot to take in, isn’t it? But think of it this way - now that you are aware of all possible mistakes that can be found in a floor plan, you will naturally be more vigilant and careful. The good news is that whenever you come across a floor plan for your dream property in the future, you will consciously ensure that it is error-free! 

So, are you ready to see your floor plan design transition into reality in the form of your very own dream property?