By: Ethan

A floor plan is a diagram (blueprint) of an entire building, a floor, or a room drawn to scale based on an aerial view of the structure. The plan may also include measurements and other essential features, fixtures, and installations such as appliances and furniture.

Building contractors determine the best wiring system, furniture layout design, and many other issues based on the floor plans. As a tool, floor plan sketchers help real estate leasing companies and property management agencies to create a floor plan for marketing and thus, sell or rent out buildings or vacant spaces.

Why Are the Floor Plans Important?

Every building is done based on a diagram that depicts the design and other details to be followed during its construction. The plans help to come up with a nice flow between rooms or spaces making the home or office comfortable and enjoyable space while also determined its resale value.

Any good floor plan should have the following key characteristics:

  • Versatile & flexible

For instance, if the plans for the home include an office room, they also should accommodate changes in future such as when the family grows, and an extra bedroom is necessary. Think about this when thinking about future buyers.

  • Ideal Room Layout

The bathrooms should face away from the living room or the dining room. The same applies to the bedrooms which should be furthest from these entertainment spaces. The kitchen should be next to the dining room or the living room, and an open kitchen plan is an excellent idea that allows for direct interaction with family and guests while cooking.

  • Size Matters

Taking into account the number of people will be in a room is essential when determining the dimensions of the space. And this should also include considerations of the purpose of the room, the furniture and fixtures so that people can have enough room to move around.

  • Fits Your Priorities and Lifestyle

The floor plans should fit your lifestyle and priorities. Are you more about cooking outdoor or into indoor entertainment? Do you work from home or frequently carry some work to complete at home? When do you do laundry and how accessible would you want it to be? These are just some of the questions to consider that will guide you when drawing the floor plans.

  • Architectural Details Vs. Practical Considerations

The architecture should be functional enough to support the daily activities in the house. It should provide ample safety for the kids, make it easy to clean and do maintenance. It also should be energy efficient; consider the heating and cooling distribution or even the natural lighting in the house?

Real Estate Marketing Based on the Floor Plans

According to a study done in 2013 by Rightmove, more and more real estate buyers are basing their decision to purchase a home on not only its overall structural aesthetics but also its floor plans. As such, the floor blueprints have become an integral part of the marketing of homes and buildings in both the residential and commercial sectors.

The plans are considered to be of greater importance than the description and photos used when marketing a property because they communicate the flow of the building, room to room, to the tenants or buyers. Moreover, the study also showed that 42% of buyers did not hire real estate agents that downplayed the significance of floor plans.

It is possible to increase the click-throughs for a listed property by nearly 52% by adding a floor plan when listing the home or building. Also, the floor plan can also make it easier to communicate any planned remodelling project to the vendors or contractors.

How to Draw a Floor Plan

Drawing a valid floor plan follows these basic steps:

i). Choose An Area

Determine the size of the area to know how many floors and rooms to include in the whole building. You need to brainstorm design ideas for the layout based on the dimensions of the available location to build. If a building is in place, base the new plans on its previous blueprint.

ii). Take Measurements

For an existing structure, take precise measurements of the doors, walls, and furniture layout design so that you can make accurate floor plans. If you are starting from scratch, ensure what you draw will be a perfect fit based on the available areas. You can take some tips on what to come up with by examining the neighbouring buildings.

iii). Draw Walls

Walls will segment the building, and they should be drawn to scale before you start adding architectural features. You can then throw in unchangeable features such as the location of the doors, windows, dryer, dishwasher, fridge, the wash sinks, and bathroom.