Elegant Home Layout Tips For Newbies
Getting your home’s layout right can make a tremendous difference in how you and others perceive it, and the experience you have when inside. The flow and space can have a tremendous impact not only on how you use your property but also how it feels.
Getting to build your dream home floor plans the right way from the outset is rare. But it is something you can do if you work with a contractor. Otherwise, you can sometimes rearrange interior walls, but you’ll need to talk to many experts.
Understand Your Space
The first step is to get a proper understanding of your existing space (if you already have a home). Knowing the distance from doors to windows allows you to determine how you could potentially break up or change the space.
You could begin with a free floor plan sketch tool. These let you map out your floors and then visualize how you’d change them. You could assess the functionality of each room and then consider whether there’s a logical path that connects them based on your lifestyle requirements.
Add Furniture
Then, you’ll want to start by adding some furniture. Including large items like dining tables, beds, and wardrobes gives you a better idea of how much adjusting you can really do. Obviously, the more floor space you have overall, the more you can knock through or adjust interior walls to your requirements.
Just remember that if you have a large piece of furniture in a small space, it can feel cramped. Therefore, always ensure you have at least two feet of space around each piece of furniture for breathing room.
Create Multiple Zones
Next, you’ll want to create multiple zones and define the area of the home. For example, you’ll need to consider which parts you want to be open-plan, where you want lighting and furniture, and whether you need separate spaces for the lounge and dining areas.
You should also think about vertical space, an element a lot of people miss out on in their rush to create something quickly. Adding tall bookcases and dividers can adjust the feel of the room substantially and, often, unexpectedly.
If you want to add flexible furniture to your home, that’s also beneficial. Ottomans and foldable tables are ideal for places where you don’t have much space or that could become pinch points.
Maximize Natural Light
You also want to maximize natural light as much as possible. Placing windows around in the right areas and adding mirrors in more cramped spaces, like hallways, is essential. Light curtains are also useful. These soften the incoming light without making the spaces inside feel dark, making them suitable for most areas in the home, particularly the bedrooms where privacy is needed.
Insert Hidden Storage
Lastly, you’ll want to make storage an architectural feature of the home, not something you just add on later. Therefore, insert it where possible, including into the walls or the fabric of the building whenever there is an opportunity to do so.
