The right floor plan depends on how your family actually lives, not just what looks good on paper. With the right questions upfront, it doesn’t need to be a difficult or drawn-out decision.
What do your family's needs and priorities look like?
Think about what’s missing in your current home. More space, multiple living zones, a rumpus room, a bigger kitchen. There’s plenty to consider, but stick to what’s genuinely necessary to make the home functional as well as comfortable.
How long are you planning to stay?
Whether you’re planning for more children, or your children are close to moving out, changes what you should be building for. Getting this wrong means either under or overcapitalising on the project.
What are you allowed to build?
A good architect or town planner will tell you how big you can go, which determines what will actually fit in the design. Planning legislation is their area of expertise, not yours to guess at.
Will you be entertaining?
How much entertaining you do affects the size and function of your kitchen and outdoor areas. Decide whether you want a direct connection between indoor and outdoor living, or whether a separate outdoor kitchen makes more sense for larger gatherings.
Have a dream board
Collect images of kitchens, floor plans and finishes you’re drawn to. Sitting down with an architect and a clear visual reference, alongside your list of needs, gives them far more to work with than a verbal brief alone.
