There is definitely a lot to keep in mind when trying to choose the right floor plan for your new construction home.
When my husband and I first heard about the owner builder program that we’re participating in to build our new construction home, looking at floor plans was one of the first things we did.
Choosing the floor plan and the design selections for your new home are two of the most exciting parts! You’ll start to see your new home come together and get excited for what the future holds.
On the other hand, the choices you make during this stage of the home-building process will have major impacts in the long run so make sure you take your time while making these decisions so you don’t have any home regrets.
We spent countless weeks comparing and contrasting floor plans just to reach our top three and completely change up the order just a day or two later.
Luckily, we learned a few things in the process, and today I’m sharing them with you! Here are my top 6 tips to pick the right floor plan for you.
The ‘Perfect’ Floor Plan
Throughout the process of choosing your floor plan, remember that no single floor plan will be 100% perfect.
Even if you’re not participating in an owner-builder program like my husband and I are and have a little more design flexibility with your floor plan, you still won’t be able to make every change that you want.
You will likely be limited by available materials, square footage, and, most likely, funds. Customizations aren’t cheap, and with the price of homes these days you’re very lucky to be able to afford a new construction home, especially one that you can customize. I certainly feel that way!
All in all, just keep in mind that the ‘perfect’ floor plan doesn’t exist, what you’re really looking for is the best floor plan for you and your family’s needs.
Think Long-Term
When picking a floor plan for your future home make sure you consider long-term needs.
If you’re hoping this home will be your forever home, think about opting for a single-level home that will allow for easier living as you get older and lose mobility. In a two-story home or house with a basement, make sure your laundry and other frequently used areas are on the main floor.
Planning on kids or any other additions to your family while living in your new home? Make sure there are additional bedrooms and adequate space to expand into. Maybe opt for an unfinished basement so you have plenty of space on the main level to live in initially and additional room to expand at a later time.
Before choosing your plan make sure to take some time to reflect on long-term goals and estimate how long you’d like to live in the home so you know what to prioritize. You can’t predict all of your needs, but you’ll thank yourself for considering the future in your decision.
Decide What’s the Most Important
In any home, there will be areas or features that are a must, and others that would be nice but are lower priority. In order to maximize the functional space in your home you need to prioritize these things.
Start by thinking about the rooms you spend the most time in. For us, we wanted an open floor plan with a nice living space (which will eventually move to the basement when we finish it), a large kitchen, and a spacious master closet. We spend the majority of our time in the living room and kitchen so having additional space there makes sense.
The closet is a childhood dream of mine, I’ve always wanted a beautiful walk-in closet, so finding a home that could accommodate that with our desired central living space was our hope.
No matter what elements are most important to you, keep those at the front of your mind while evaluating floor plans.
Find the Right Flow
After thinking long-term and finding floor plans that fit your top priorities in a home, decide on your top 3-4 and then move on to flow. In any home, it’s important that the space flows well to fit your lifestyle.
Walk through your daily routines while looking at the floor plan. Are there any hiccups or weird areas that don’t seem to mesh well with your routine? Note those and keep them in mind while making your final decision.
Envision Living There
After checking your top floor plan choices to make sure they flow well, take a few moments and envision yourself living in that home.
If you can see yourself living there, there’s a good chance that the floor plan is a great choice! If you can’t quite picture it, try to figure out what about the plan doesn’t resonate with you.
Pick a Plan That Fits As-Is
It’s incredibly easy to look at a floor plan and see the potential it would have ‘if it only had x, y, and z‘ or ‘if we do this one semi-major project’.
While that may be the case, you need to be completely honest with yourself and ask if you will actually get that project done. Many people say they will but years later that project is still left undone.
In order to avoid the never-completed-project regret, choose a floor plan that checks most of the boxes as-is, without any major renovations. This will save you a lot of time and stress down the road because you can focus your energy on decorating and organizing the home instead of ripping out a wall or renovating your kitchen.
There you have it! My top 6 tips to choose a floor plan you’ll love for your new construction home. I hope you found the tips helpful!
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