Pro tips on designing your perfect floor plan

Everyone who’s building a house has a dream home in mind. But taking that idea and making it a reality isn’t an easy task. There are a lot of considerations involved – the most important of which is designing a floor plan that properly represents what you’re after.

A floor plan is a great opportunity to discover what’s possible. It gives your imagination a few parameters to work within – making you consider various factors, such as budget, space and surroundings. 

Luckily, we have plenty of experience and expertise in turning big dreams into beautiful houses. And while no two homebuilding projects are alike, there are a few rules of thumbs and key factors that are worth bearing in mind.

Are there any site requirements?

If you already have a plot ready, it’s best to start by knowing what you can’t do. This is a good way to size up your ambitions. Find out what the building restrictions are – how close you can get to the edge of your section or if there are any limitations on height. Slope and soil type also influence what floor plan options you have available.

It’s best to figure this stuff out ahead of time, so you don’t waste too much time and energy planning for something that isn’t possible.

If you don’t have a section, thinking about a floor plan will help you select one that best aligns with your aspirations. Our team at Golstruct Homes are excellent at this step – once we know a bit about you and what you’re after, we source the perfect plot and put it on hold until the design and paperwork are sorted.

Scope out your surroundings

When it comes to designing your floor plan, it pays to keep your environment in mind. Things like optimising daylight and ventilation are crucial to ensuring your home is comfortable – and also help solidify a few key aspects of your floor plan.

For example, north-facing windows will maximise sunlight. If you’re on a busy street, make sure the bedrooms are on the opposite side of the section. Think about privacy – where your neighbours’ windows are in relation to your plot. Your surrounding area might even influence your style, as how your home looks relative to the rest of the neighbourhood will impact its street appeal – and style will, in turn, influence things like roof pitch, and window and entrance placement.

Take a look at your lifestyle

Now that you’re armed with all the necessities, you know what you have to work with. But before you start pencilling your floor plan, take the time to think about your lifestyle. 

This might seem a bit obvious, but sometimes ideas are more attractive than they are practical. For example, someone who uses outdoor space a lot to entertain guests wouldn’t get the most out of a big house that takes up most of their section. If you work from home a lot, then it’s worth thinking about office space. And anyone with kids would need to think about potential hazards in their floor plan.

When you work with Golstruct Homes, we get to know you first, then translate what we’ve learnt into practical designs that perfectly suit your way of life.