2 Home Design Mistakes You Should Avoid

When you sit down with your homebuilder to start tweaking those floor plans, you might be ready to customize your space for your unique preferences. Unfortunately, what looks great on paper might not translate well in real-life, and your quirky customized floor plan might become the bane of your existence. Here are two home design mistakes you should avoid and why: 

1: Creating Large, Open-Concept Spaces

That open-concept floor plan might make your space seem large and airy, but how functional will it be for your busy family? If you have little children running around, your large, open-concept space might make it feel like you never have a minute to yourself—especially if your great room contains your kitchen and your living area.

Open-concept floor plans also create another problem. If your entryway opens up to your great room, you might find yourself running through the entire space and tidying things up the second someone rings your doorbell. Because there are a limited number of walls, visitors might be able to evaluate the entirety of your space in an instant.

To keep noise levels down, consider partitioning your space appropriately. Instead of creating giant great rooms, carefully consider how different living areas will be used, and whether or not it makes sense to combine them. For example, you might opt for a floor plan that has a wall that separates your kitchen from the entryway, or a plan where the playroom is upstairs instead of near the television area. 

2: Assigning Too Much Space For Closets

You don't like cramming your shoes into a small organizer, which is why you might be tempted to create a large, opulent walk-in closet off of your master bedroom. However, assigning too much space for the closets of your home might waste a significant amount of floor space, while creating space that will collect loads clutter.

Before you start widening the closets of your home, keep in mind that a standard walk-in closet is usually about 6 ½ feet wide, while a normal reach-in closet is between 3 to 8 feet wide and up to 30 inches deep. If you are thinking about making your home closets much larger than this, think carefully about whether or not you have the space to give up. Also, keep in mind that while large closets are a luxury, future homebuyers might not appreciate the waste of space.

By avoiding home layout mistakes when you are still in the planning stages, you might be able to enjoy your new place and protect your home value. Talk to a professional like Thurber Home Plans home builder for more information.


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