Floor Plan

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Design Floor Plan

A. What Is the Design Purpose of a home Floor Plan?

 

There are many good explanations to illustrate floor plans before starting a remodeling project:

1. Ideas into tangible form. Floor plans are architectural illustrations that give you the dimension lines, measurements, and spatial relationships between objects and fixtures. The plans provide the decorator/contractor with a physical for your design project.
2. Planning is easier to modify. Floor plan techniques let you see what’s achievable in your space. Suppose the primary suite’s design in your ideal home isn’t going to perform. In that case, a floor plan can assist you in realizing the issue before the design process, permitting you to make the required adjustments.
3. Use fewer resources. Assembling a floor plan expresses your design concepts clearly, and can assist you in saving time and finances when purchasing materials or hiring workers. The more details you contain in your plans, the more valuable and efficient the remodeling procedure will be.
4. Can help specify the big vision. A floor plan can assist you in imagining a potential space and how it can evolve.

 

B. What Should be Contained in Floor Plans?

If you are assembling a remodeling floor plan, drawings should contain more than simply the room size. Floor plans commonly feature:

1. Living and working spaces. Your home remodeling plans should show the location of bedrooms, hallways, all bathrooms, the kitchen, and the garage or basement.
2. All of your space configurations. Floor plans should display all room configurations and dimensions per floor, such as the breakfast niche’s location in your kitchen or the method the hallways and staircases will use to connect separate rooms. Space layout can assist you in getting a more reasonable idea of the “flow” of the home.
3. Doors and windows. The floor plan should display the location of openings and other entries, where significant furniture like couches will be located, the size of your windows and the directions they’ll view, and the size of your doors.
4. Room characteristics. In complement to the configuration of the rooms and areas, a floor plan can also assist you in planning out the space you’ll require for built-in devices like ovens and some refrigerators and where the clothes washer and dryer will locate in the laundry space. If you intend to include interior elements like a fireplace or rear entry mudroom, you’ll require to show it on the floor plan layout. A floor plan should illustrate the usage of each space and any item that assist it.

 

C. 4 Kinds of Floor Plans

 

1. Ranch-style. The floor plan for a ranch-style is typically for one-story homes, and the bedrooms are usually on one side of the house, separate from the public living spaces like the dining area, kitchen, and living area.
2. Cape cod. This style of floor plan is for one-and-a-half-story houses. This home plan design differs from the ranch style as its characteristic is the primary bedroom on the top/main floor and the rest of the bedrooms on its upper floor. The upper floor isn’t technically an accurate second level because the half-story has few height walls and less space than the second level of a conventional two-story house.
3. Two-story. Most bedrooms are featured on the second floor of a two-story home, with all the living areas on the first floor. Floor plans employing two stories deliver more design options like taller ceilings and more effective separation between sleeping and living/entertaining spaces.
4. Multi-level. House designs for split levels deliver more architectural choices, like adding an area for a grandiose foyer or a finished lower level. Multi-level home floor plans are characteristics of a short flight of stairs on each floor. The plan can deliver a more economic benefit to your home by piling the floors rather than extending them.

 

D. 10 Key Features of a Great Home Floor Plan

Remodeling a home delivers the perfect possibility for your creativity to succeed, starting with the floor plan. Welcome the option to create a plan that functions with your lifestyle to evolve the basis for your ideal home.

What is a DSSM Design Floor Plan?

A floor plan is a view or design of your home’s configuration, illustrated to scale. It permits you to describe precisely how you want the walls and spaces positioned and to see how decor and appliances will fit into the area in which you are functioning. A well-planned floor plan distinguishes between a congested home and a relaxed one.

What are the key features of a practical floor plan?

Consider the following ten items:

1. Maximize the room.

Evaluate views and placement when arranging rooms and windows.

2. Use space effectively.

Examine into building built-in cabinets, bookshelves, or perhaps a tiny playhouse beneath the stairs.

3. Space Accessibility.

Spaces should be effortless to access and not so unusual that they provoke frustration. Areas should flow simply from room to room.

4. Flexibility.

Each space has a purpose but should be easily substitutable. For example, try not to conceive a bedroom so it could never be a work space or vice versa. Not only will this enhance flexibility, but it resolves the home more accessible to sell should you ever desire to do so.

5. Functionality.

It is essential to think ahead and believe in the purpose and function of each space. For example, it might be helpful if the dining room and kitchen are next.

6. Maximize the benefit of light.

Installing additional windows and skylights improves your home’s natural light, which is advantageous to your fitness and well-being and can save finances on your electric bill.

7. Awareness of size.

While there are numerous methods to maximize the area, the truth is, occasionally, you need a more significant place. Evaluate the size of your family and how and where you enjoy spending your day. How much area do you require? Change room sizes to adjust.

8. Fitting to your lifestyle.

If you plan on including a lot of /company, pay attention to your entertaining rooms. If multi-generational living is a chance for your family, consider main-floor bedrooms. Think and prepare ahead so you don’t mourn any decisions.

9. Use of storage.

It would help if you prepared for closets, storage areas, etc., so you won’t be pushed /to keep large or seasonal items (such as holiday decor) in public places.

10. The balance between architecture and practicality.

Custom home building is about finding creative ways to design the perfect space, but don’t let the details overshadow suitability. Consider costs, safety protection, etc.

 

E. Space Planning Considerations

1. Function and Zoning

Arguably the most significant area of allocation concern is functional analysis. The practical use of the space can be graphically illustrated.

Typically, homes have four zones:

• Social zones
• Work zones (kitchen, utility, office)
• Private zones (bedrooms, bathrooms)
• Storage zones (cupboards, closets, and cabinets)

There are ordinarily functional interrelationships between zones – specific zones have an adjacency connection to one another – a kitchen is traditionally sited near the dining area, and bedrooms are usually grouped near a shared bathroom. The space-planning approach determines which areas and functions are interrelated. In a well-designed space, activities should move smoothly and actually from one zoned area into another.

2. Dimensions and Shape of the Space

The analysis phase of the Design Process concerns ascertaining the sufficient floor space for each activity space within the structure. Typically, around 80 percent of the functional area is assigned to living space, 10 percent for walkways, and 10 percent for item storage.

Another essential consideration is the number of users who will use the space.

The interior space shape has horizontal and vertical proportions, and rectangular areas are the most effortless to build and decorate. Still, they are not as architecturally intriguing as spaces with curved or angled walls and ceilings, which may produce the impression of more significant space and benefit from visually expanding the actual interior measurements.

3. Site, Orientation, and Climate

The dimensions and shape of the space may be defined by the site’s limitations, such as the home plot’s size, the site’s slope, the location of nearby buildings, or the style of neighboring architecture.

The site’s orientation (the direction the home faces) will influence window placement and sound design to take full benefit of the solar aspects (the path of sunshine).

Designing for the climate is an essential consideration of design.

4. Economic Decisions

The economy is a critical consideration in space decisions.

5. Expanding the Space

Several structural elements can be utilized to ‘expand’ the space:

• Open plans using beams instead of several structural walls
• Creating half-walls or translucent walls
• Expansive use of windows and doors with glass
• Vertical space, achieved with vaulted ceilings, extra-tall walls, or using skylights

Several decorative elements can create small spaces to materialize larger:

• Light colors seem to recede, causing light-colored walls to appear further out.
• Expand space with smooth textures.
• Floor coverings Wall-to-wall make the floor area seem more significant.
• Vertical solid lines lead the eye upwards, causing ceilings to seem higher.
• Window treatments floor-length can cause walls to appear taller
• The use of horizontal beams can provide the appearance of greater width
• Furnishings on a small scale cause the space to seem larger
• Mirrors can be arranged (to reflect an image from a window) to extend space
• Pattern using of small-scale, or with little or no pattern
• Tables with of glass and other translucent items or materials
• Furnishings with legs, instead of upholstered covering

Contrarily, an oversized space can be as big a predicament as an undersized space. Rooms that are more considerable than human scale in height or space can boost and reflect noise, furnish minimal possibility for privacy, and appear unwelcoming.

Several decorative elements can also create large spaces seem smaller:

• Dark colors make space appear smaller
• Rough textures diminish space
• Furniture can be positioned into several practical or conversational groupings
• Area rugs can separate the room into different areas or accentuate furniture groupings
• Usage of weighty or large-scale furnishings
• Patterns with large-scale motifs
• Furniture that sits flush to the floor, or upholstered skirts on soft furniture

6. Circulation Patterns

Circulation practices are called ‘walkways.’ space develops careful evaluation of traffic flow between spaces, areas, and rooms. Traffic practices on a bubble graph may be shown as lines and pointers, and direct pathways shouldn’t be hindered.

Some surprises to avoid in working traffic patterns:

• Spaces that serve as hallways, supplying the only access to other spaces
• Rooms too small to use furniture with circulation
• Door places that cause circulation via conversation furniture areas
• Walking near private areas or cluttered workspaces is unrestricted to view

Serious traffic locations in homes, such as hallways and stairways, must be adequately wide to adapt to two-way traffic, typically 40 inches in width. Doors should be positioned towards the corner of the space to avoid separating the wall space and help furniture placement.

7. Storage

Possessions are hard to part with the area fills up quickly. Storage places should be found for first or most routine use. Storage areas are required in or near distinct locations in the home:

• The entrance foyer for coats, jackets, shoes, sandals, scarfs, hats, and gloves
• The kitchen for food, frozen items, cookware, coffee maker, crockery, appliances, dessert pans, and cleaning items
• The utility area or laundry area for washing machine, clothes dryer, dust mops, brooms, vacuum machine
• Linen closet for towels, washer clothes, bed linen, blankets
• Bedroom closets for clothing, shirts, pants, and dresses
• Bathroom closet for toiletries, hair products
• Study area or workspace for books, shelving, paper, copier/printer, stationery supplies, telephone, and computer
• Family room for books, DVDs, CDs, pictures, and toys
• Outside storage for tools, garden supplies, lawn equipment, and shovels

8.Permanent Fixtures

Spaces that include built-in fixtures need meticulous planning. Permanent fixtures are considered structural elements specified by the architect, decorator/contractor, then added to the floor plan. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry spaces include permanent fixtures, and other areas may also have built-in cabinets.

The kitchen is typically the family residence’s epicenter for food storage, preparation, cleaning service, and serving food. Kitchens include an essential place for entertaining – a location for hosting dinner and conversing with guests. With cabinets, appliances, and plumbing fixtures, the economic cost for a kitchen is more to equip than any other space in residence.

Kitchen and bathroom design are specialized fields of interior design. The decorator/contracts spend considerable time with all characteristics of lifestyle when developing a kitchen for clients, including:

-household traffic patterns,

-the number of dinners to prepare the food,

-the correct food proportions,

-and any particular needs.

When two or more family members cook together, concepts such as the standard working triangle are less applicable.

Planning an efficient kitchen layout involves assigning work zones to the different activities involved in food preparation. The three main activity zones, and the traffic flow between them, are commonly cited to form a so-called ‘working triangle’:

• Refrigerator zone
• Cooking zone
• Sink/cleanup zone

An essential part of kitchen planning is to decide where the refrigerator, sink, and cooker will be sited concerning one another. Walking distance among these three areas should be at least 36 inches wide to avoid activities becoming too congested and not more than 72 inches long to prevent exhaustion.

9. Special Needs for Elderly or Disabled users

People over 65 who maintain a more extended period of independent living require adaptations in traditional kitchen design. Safety concerns are paramount, as well as ease and convenience for users who may have impaired movement. The kitchen must be planned for accessibility, with no excessively high or low shelving to avoid bending and work surfaces at a comfortable height.

10. Emotion and Psychology

Interior designs that are planned to be visually or emotionally attractive, or to produce a confident attitude, can be achieved by the form, dimensions, and scale of the interior, as well as by using specific materials, colors, patterns, and textures.

Dividing interior space into different sizes addresses different human needs. Small spaces provide a sense of security, comfort, and intimacy, as well as an opportunity for occupants to feel a sense of privilege and belonging. Conversely, large spaces fulfill the need to feel free of confinement, and tall areas can cause us to feel exhilarated by their immensity.

11. Application of the Principles of Design

Effective space planning necessitates careful consideration of design principles – harmony, emphasis, rhythm, balance, and scale – to create practical and aesthetically pleasing interiors. The scale and proportion of interiors should usually be related to the scale and proportions of the human frame.

12. Skillful use of the Elements of Design

The objective of achieving a balance between functionality and aesthetics in space planning is accomplished by manipulating design elements – shape, mass, light, line, pattern, color, and texture.

 

F. 9 Floor Plan Oversights And How To Evade Them In Your Residence

Every person or homeowner has had these thoughts – you select a residence that you believe will be perfect for you and your household, and once you take possession, you think, “Why doesn’t this floor plan accomplishes our needs?”

1. Don’t think every floor plan suits your lifestyle
2. It’s hard to understand floor plan drawings
3. Confirm architectural features won’t command you more in the future
4. Don’t think the sizes of spaces on a floor plan are acceptable
5. Suppose your entertaining areas are fully occupied when determining a floor plan
6. Believe in safety for children when selecting a floor plan
7. Location, Location, Location; Transforming your floor plan choices
8. Select a floor plan that functions with your funding now
9. Get your family to go with you when selecting a floor plan