Building a home for your family will be an exciting endeavor. Your floor plan will be personal for your own needs and it’s more than counting your ideal number of kids and planning on that bedroom plus one for mom and dad. Gerard Construction will help you from the start, first in having a conversation about your needs, continuing that conversation with your family, and then putting pen to paper to make a floor plan.
Number of Bedrooms
The number of bedrooms you are needing to build into your floor plan will be very personal for each family. These needs will also be dependent on your immediate needs and future needs. A family with children will already want to count how many bedrooms those children need. A family that is expanding may have to make future plans, a family that is about to be empty nesters may consider what their long term needs are for those bedrooms. You may also want to look at the likelihood that college age children may come back for a summer internship, for a landing place before they get their first paycheck, or for needs for aging parents that may lead to them moving in. In regards to wanting to hold a potential place for aging parents, their needs may involve having a room on the bottom floor that is accessible despite mobility concerns.
Location of Rooms
The location of the rooms in your home is important to consider as well. If you have small children, some parents want to be located on the same floor to make the treks for tucking in and nighttime checks on the little ones easier without stairs. Other parents want the kids tucked away for all the rambunctious noise, crashes, and clutter of toys that might spill out from their rooms. If there is a game room or media room, the same considerations apply. Homes that have all of the bedrooms on the second floor may want the washer and dryer where most of the laundry will be produced. A home office may be located near the front door, but it’s just as likely that some families will want this space tucked away by the primary bedroom.
Amount of Space
By thinking about your priorities for your home, you will be able to think about the overall amount of space you want to give to each room. A family that rarely cooks and likes to eat out most nights won’t want a large amount of square footage devoted to an open floor plan with chef’s kitchen and dining area. A family who has several kids in extracurriculars and sports may want additional space devoted to a laundry room for their equipment and bags they need for each day. Families that have everyone getting ready at the same time on busy school and workdays will need to allocate extra space to bathroom counters to avoid early morning fights for the sinks and mirrors. Don’t forget to include storage in your floor plan, every family needs a fair amount.
Orientation
Families will want to think about the layout of their home, positionally, for a number of reasons. By considering where windows are placed, you can maximize sunlight and avoid the heat of the day. You can also increase your privacy by looking at potential neighbors and how your backyard landscaping may help avoid peeping eyes in your direction. Orientation will also take into account how doors open, where light switches are, and other little details.
Gerard Construction knows there are a lot of plans to make for your future home, including your floor plan, but it will end up being much more than that. Our team will help you with every step of the home building process, from acquiring land, advising on funding, making a floor plan, and choosing the best design. To learn more about our team, contact us today.