How to Decide on the Layout of Your Custom Home

A comfortable, functional and stylish home must have a good flow, and that means you need a great floor plan for your new custom home. Thoughtful planning is the best way to avoid near-future renovations and years of frustration, needlessly running from one end of the house to the other, due to an illogical home layout. Here are some home layout tips to keep in mind.

  • Wide open living area: A grand main living space is impressive for visitors and comfortable for most families. Soaring ceilings and lots of natural light are crucial. With an open layout, you can create spectacular sight lines from the main entrance, entryway, or front porch–all the way through to your lovely back deck and landscaping. Your awesome, well-appointed kitchen (with shining appliances and large island with its beautiful countertop) may also be seen, depending upon your preference and home layout choices.
  • Open kitchen: If you prefer some separation of spaces, make your kitchen open only to the dining nook and the slider exit to the patio.
  • Separate rooms: You can have an open living area and a separate formal dining room, den, family room, etc. Remember, you can get the best of both worlds in your new custom home layout, if you like.
  • Mother-in-law suite on main: Many homeowners prefer this arrangement for future accessibility options and convenience. Alternatively, you could build a mom-in-law suite over the garage, or as part of a finished basement and/or add one later. The area could also serve as your guest or master suite, if you prefer. Speaking of the master…
  • Master suite retreat: No matter where you place your master bedroom, it should be away from kids and guest rooms for ultimate privacy and welcome quiet. This is sometimes referred to as a divided bedroom layout. The master can be at the back of the home if there’s street traffic in front. However, if you’re on a large lot, set well back from the road, or in a low-traffic neighborhood, the back might be bad for your bedroom. The back yard may be your entertaining area or kids play yard. In which case, place your master in front, or to one side of the house. Consider where you’ll get the best view of the surrounding area and your landscaping, and think about which you most like to watch: the sunrise or sunset. These factors will help you decide where your master bedroom should go.
  • Home office with private bath or half-bath: This is another space where solitude and convenience are important. Will you be seeing clients or business associates in your office at home? Then you may want it hear a front or side entry door. If you’re a creative working alone, you might value an upstairs, attic-like work retreat. No matter where your home office is located, it must have with large window(s) for natural light and a lovely outdoor view to contemplate.
  • Laundry rooms: One on each floor is ideal, and you’ll really appreciate this convenience as years go by. Future buyers will love it too, should you decide to sell. One laundry room and combo utility room could sit nicely near the garage entry to the home. The other in a far flung area of your ranch home, or upstairs—centrally located between bedrooms.
  • Mud room: This is often combined with a laundry room and utility space, or extra storage, all of which makes good sense. Place it near the back door, side door and/or just inside the home’s garage entry. This space is ideal for keeping your home organized and clean. (Imagine all the mud that won’t get tracked throughout the house!)
  • Closets and storage, bathrooms: These should be everywhere possible, throughout the home.

How to Get the Perfect Home Layout

Creating a custom home with an expert builder is the best way to get your ideal home layout. Let us help you create a well thought-out floor plan for your new custom home in WV. You can get started by making a list. Mentally walk through all the ways you’ll use your new house, when bringing home groceries, going to/from work or school, when sleeping, when entertaining, eating with family and more. Think about all the things that were wrong with every other home or apartment you’ve ever lived in. Make a list of your custom home must-haves (and must-avoids) and go over it with your custom home builder.

At Miller’s Residential Creations, we have more than 15 years’ experience with attractive, functional and comfortable home layouts for a variety of family needs. We’ll help you avoid any mistakes and won’t let you forget what’s crucial for a terrific custom home. Tell us about your needs and desires–and we’ll help you think of everything. Then, we’ll build it for you. Contact Miller’s Residential Creations today.

Brian Miller is the owner of Miller's Residential Creations, a custom home builder and remodeling company servicing Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan Counties of West Virginia since 2004.
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