Selecting a proper floor plan is the major challenge that one is likely to meet when planning the house. It defines how one space opens into the other, circulation, and the general appearance of the space.
Everyone who is thinking about construction of a new house or remodeling of the ready one should know the most popular types of floor plans.
In this blog, you will get to know about the several types of floor plans along with its features, advantages and limitations.
Open Floor Plan
Features
An open concept of a house refers to convergence of different rooms into one single vast hall commonly including a kitchen, a dining hall and a sitting hall.
In particular, it creates an overall feeling of openness and strives to bring people together.
Benefits
- Enhanced Social Interaction: What is also appreciated is the absence of barriers between the rooms, which afford easy interaction within the family and guests.
- Improved Natural Light: Since many barriers are less likely to interrupt the natural light from passing through, there is a better chance that natural light will cycle through the house freely.
- Versatility: Flexibility is also easily seen in open space as it allows for versatility in the setting of activities based on the occasion, time or need.
Considerations
- Noise Levels: The nature of the space could be open, thus increasing the noise levels and possibly needing some soundproofing.
- Privacy: The less the separation, the less privacy for some activities.
Traditional Floor Plan
Features
Conventional floor plans encompass well demarcated and distinct spaces for different uses for instance the kitchen, the dining area, the sitting area and the bedrooms among others. Every space is surrounded with walls and is furnished with doors.
Benefits
- Privacy: Hence, each room provides one with privacy and can be used on its own.
- Noise Control: It prevents noise from diffusing to other rooms preventing; it offers a quieter environment for each room.
- Organized Layout: Adherence to space segregation is important as it keeps organized and clean especially when the nature of activities of the human body is constantly degenerating the living environment.
Considerations
- Restricted Flow: The transition from one room to the other may be somewhat limited than in the typical case of the open floor plans.
- Limited Natural Light: They limit the possibility to let the natural light into the interior spaces of the building that are located in the core of the square.
Split-Level Floor Plan
Features
Some of the distinguishing features of split-level homes are an openness of the actual living area and commonly, three levels: the main level, the upper level, and the lower level. The different levels are joined by a few steps arranged in the form of stairs.
Benefits
- Efficient Use of Space: Split level concepts may prove most useful when it comes to planning on the specific space that one has to work with depending on the terrain available whereby a sloping plot may be optimal for split -level construction.
- Separation of Spaces: As the levels progress there is a separation between members but not to the extent that they are not even aware of each other.
- Distinct Zones: They can be categorized to specific zones depending on the intended use like the living, sleeping and playing areas.
Considerations
- Stairs: In a similar manner, the Existence of stairs may not be convenient when it comes to disabled persons.
- Complex Design: Of course there are disadvantages too; due to the split-level layout, lesser construction work can be done at one time, leading to a duration of construction work and hence a probable rise in cost.
Ranch-Style Floor Plan
Features
Ranch House plans are quite simple and are usually one story with a long horizontal look.
They are relatively common and are usually characterized by a relatively open plan that would allow easy connection to the exterior.
Benefits
- Accessibility: Living in a single storey home cuts the chances of falling and having to do with stairs thus can suit the elderly and children.
- Indoor-Outdoor Connection: Ranch homes are characterized by having numerous window and sliding doors through which residents can get to access patios and garden.
- Ease of Maintenance: Since there is only one floor, doing the maintenance and cleaning is much easier.
Considerations
- Lot Size: Ranch-style homes may occupy more space to cover the extensive design of the structure as compared to the other architectural house styles.
- Energy Efficiency: It was also highlighted that heating and cooling of the single story housing can be relatively less efficient as compared to multi story ones.
Multi-Story Floor Plan
Features
Two or more floors make up the multi-story floor plans because the space inside the building is divided by different levels to perform the functions of the building.
Some of the most frequent layouts include the construction of the first story with reception zones and the second story with sleeping zones.
Benefits
- Maximized Space: Further, vertical construction incorporate the use of land profoundly hence is appropriate in the construction of small lots.
- Defined Zones: Floors are separable where you can set some of them for residence, other for sleeping, and other for entertaining, among others.
- Privacy: Rooms at higher elevation give privacy and seclusion to bed rooms from other part of the house.
Considerations
- Stairs: Some levels need the occupant to use the stairs which may be a problem to some people.
- Energy Efficiency: Mainly, heating and cooling can be a little elaborate and costly in regard to single story homes.
Contemporary Floor Plan
Features
Current house plans are more facile with smooth curves and straight lines and bigger, more unending spaces. They very often contain the focus on the usage of new materials and ecological solutions.
Benefits
- Modern Aesthetics: Modern styles provide a beautiful appearance to the homes and many people are finding them more pleasing.
- Flexible Spaces: Flexible environments are extremely versatile since they can be rearranged to accommodate specific requirements.
- Sustainability: Emerging centralized residences also boast light and particular aspects of energy saving and eco-friendly within their construction.
Considerations
- Cost: New ideas and materials improve lay out and design but at the same time they lead to extra expenses.
- Maintenance: Newer technologies may be embedded in contemporary forms of practice or in changes to the appearance of things.
Custom Floor Plan
Features
It is particularly important to know that the great majority of homes come with their own unique floor plans, which are drawn to satisfy the client’s desires. It is possible to dictate every single detail from the orientation of each individual room to the style of architecture.
Benefits
- Personalization: Because of this, owners can choose their own home design and layout because it is fully tailored to their needs.
- Unique Design: You home will have a unique design of your own with your individual or group taste and tendencies.
- Optimized Space: Even the design and organisation of the space can be maximal in terms of functionality and comfort.
Considerations
- Cost: They are always costlier to arrange in terms of both designing and construction in contrast with normal house plans.
- Time: Compared with conventional project designs and construction ways, the design and construction period may have longer time.
Conclusion
Location of rooms is a very important criterion that defines the convenience of the house and families’ comfort while living there.
Depending on whether you like the openness of an open concept, level of privacy in a closed concept, or the sleek look of a modern concept, it helps to know the features, advantages, and potential issues of each of the mentioned types.
Being able to assess your lifestyle, you can easily choose the right floor plan for your living which would be fulfilling all your requirements.
