Are you new to creating floor plans or house plans while studying or improving your homes? If yes, then you are at the right place because we’ll offer you a quick rundown of the concept. Usually, architects or drafters produce floor plans. First, however, let’s discover how to draw a house plan.
Introduction to House Plan
A house plan is an architectural drawing that depicts all the dimensions and specifications needed to construct a house. It is also called a blueprint. A house plan outlines every part of your home, from its layout and walls to its electrical wiring and plumbing.
In the words of Frank Gehry, a floor plan is a 2D graph drawing that shows the basic layout of a property in scale from an aerial view. The illustration shows the relationship between rooms and how people will move through them. In addition, floor plans offer how different design elements may look in a space or point to any potential flaws in the design, ultimately serving as the starting point before drafting the actual blueprints for the building.
There are two different types of plans: those designed by architects or qualified interior designers and those developed by general contractors. Both are important because they each have a unique set of professional jargon that might be perplexing if you’re unfamiliar with them. If you are constructing or improving your home, but you’re not sure where to start, then look for your house plan. The process of drawing a house plan can seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. As long as you start with the right inputs and requirements, you’ll find that drawing a house plan isn’t too tricky and can make all the difference in your project.
In this guide, we’ll go through the fundamental steps you need to follow to create your own house plan, whether you want to remodel your current home or build from the ground up. By following these simple instructions, you’ll be able to draw up a new plan from scratch in just 7 steps!
Why Do We Need A House Plan?
A house plan is one of those items you always hear about but might not really know why it’s essential.
A well-designed house plan can be a major factor in making sure that your new home is one you’ll love for years to come. Ideally, if you’re building from scratch, you should work with an architect and completely design your own home.
In addition to the benefits of a house plan, it can tell you where every room and appliance is located within your home. A house plan also guides all parties involved (the homeowner, builder and architect) on how all rooms are supposed to be arranged and gives you an idea of how much everything will cost. It’s like an agreement for everyone who is going to be working on your house – it states everything that needs to happen so that everyone knows what their job responsibilities are.
A house plan can help with material and resource planning during construction. It also serves as the foundation for intricate design.
Last but not least, a house plan provides a vivid picture of the home without a visit when purchasing or renting a home. A house plan provides a detailed description of the area and its intended use.
Features of a Good House Plan Design
01. Flexible House Plan Design
A good house plan must have enough scope for changing the functionality of a room. For example, an office space must be designed in such a way that it can easily be converted into a kid’s bedroom in the future.
02. Get the Fundamentals right to Design a Home
Every home must be constructed in such a way that it addresses a number of essentials. For example, the private spaces are far away from the public areas, toilets do not open into living rooms or entertainment spaces and the dining area is close to the kitchen.
03. Size Matters while Drawing a House Plan
A home should always be designed with space or size issues in mind. The house should not be too large or too small, it must be sufficiently comfortable for both the occupants and guests.
04. Scope for Expansion in a House Plan
The house plan must always keep in mind the factor of expansion. The family may grow over the years, or the occupants may simply feel the need to make some additions. These factors must be considered alongside local by-laws.
05. Taste and Lifestyle in a House Plan
A house plan must reflect the personalities of the people living in the house. It must be planned as per the preferences and lifestyle of the family that will occupy the house.
06. Beyond Normal
Always consider spaces that will slip your mind. The utility area, space to dry clothes, a storeroom, an attic, a children’s study or playroom etc., have become a must in a house. Spend a moment discussing these requirements with your architect.
Beginners’ Guide to Drawing a House Plan
The complete process of drawing a house plan is listed in the below-mentioned 7 steps:
01. Collect the Requirement while Drawing a House Plan
Every house owner has certain expectations and requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to first understand them all before starting the drawing process. The requirements may be in the shape, size or amenity categories. For example, the number of storeys, garden, parking, bedrooms, separate bathrooms, etc., the family may want to have in the home.
In addition, building usage is another important aspect. One should be clear if the proposed building is a condo, an apartment, a bungalow, or avilla. Generally, a building designed for apartments has more floors than a building constructed for private use.
Firstly, list the number of master bedrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, parking, garden, store, etc. By doing this, you shall not miss out on the key requirements.
02. Collect Site Data
Field data is essential before drawing the house plan if you are constructing the house from scratch. When you next visit the plot, carry a pen, paper, compass, and measuring tape. Determine the north direction of the plot using a compass. It is necessary to correctly set the rooms and amenities as per Vastu. Additionally, a rectangular or square house is Vastu-compliant and costs less to build.
The plot side that faces the road should be your primary focus. You must design the home’s entrance such that it faces the street. You might choose to provide two entrances on each crossing road for corner plots.
The plot’s open sides should be taken into account as well. Balconies, windows, and ventilators are therefore found on the open sides of the home.
Calculate the plot area and, last but not least, measure the plot sides.
03. Draw the Boundary in Floor Plan Design
Start with a basic shape based on what you saw on the site visit. The shape drawn on the paper should be similar to the actual plot. Don’t worry about making it appear too perfect – your goal is just to get everything drawn on paper. Try sketching out your floor plan, including windows and doors, with a pencil and eraser.
In order to plan the entry and front of the house, mark the north direction and road on the paper.
It is advisable to carry out this step on the actual field because you can correctly include the important details and cross-check if needed.
04. Draw Partitions in Floor Plan Design
The third step has made the plot outline ready. Now is the time to start detailing the house layout with internal partitions for rooms, and amenities.
You should keep in mind that the house should function properly. To explain further, the movement through the house, starting from the main gate, should pass through the logical sequence of rooms.
Refer to the requirement list that we made in the first step. Cross-check if your plan includes all the listed requirements.
Draw the balconies, windows and ventilators towards the open sides of the plot.
05. Adjust Room Sizes in House Plan Design
It’s possible that the partitions created in the preceding step don’t meet the requirements.The rooms might be ill-proportioned. Therefore, it is necessary to further detail the layout.
Decide on the wall thickness and calculate the room size. Adjust the walls to make the room the appropriate size if the planned rooms are too large or too tiny.
This stage is more likely to involve trial and error. Repeat this process until you have all the room sizes correct.
06. Detail the Floor Plan
After proportioning the rooms to their required sizes, detail the house plan with the furniture position and other amenities. The placement of the toilet, kitchen sink, washbasin, etc., is included in this step.
Lastly, finalize the electrical and plumbing layout. For this, you may seek an expert’s help.
Be cautious because adding more features to your home will increase costs and possibly push you over your budget. So, watch out.
07. Make a Schedule of Items Needed in House Plan
The house plan will be created once the plan has been thoroughly developed. The list of all the components you included in your ideal house layout is now all that is left.
List all the amenities, furniture, electrical sockets, doors, windows, ventilators, washbasins, kitchen sink, drains and other features. Mention the quantity and/or specs against each line item.
Standard Room Sizes To Be Considered in a Floor Plan Design
All across the world, people utilize rooms that are the same size. These measurements aid in determining a room’s ideal size.
01. Bedroom
| Master Bedroom Size | Dimension (ft) |
| Large | 16 x 24 |
| Medium | 14 x 20 |
| Small | 12 x 14 |
| Bedroom Size | Dimension (ft) |
| Large | 14 x 16 |
| Medium | 12 x 12 |
| Small | 10 x 10 |
02. Bathroom
| Bathroom Size | Dimension (ft) |
| Large | 8 x 12 |
| Medium | 7 x 10 |
| Small | 6 x 9 |
03. Living Room
| Living Room Size | Dimension (ft) |
| Large | 22 x 28 |
| Medium | 16 x 20 |
| Small | 12 x 18 |
04. Kitchen
| Kitchen Size | Dimension (ft) |
| Large | 12 x 20 |
| Medium | 10 x 16 |
| Small | 5 x 10 |
Final Takeaway
On a final note, understanding and learning how to draw a house plan is crucial when it comes to improvising a home or remodeling an existing one. Therefore, we hope that the features of a good house plan, the guide to drawing a house plan, and the standard room sizes for the house will be helpful to you.
This article focused on a beginner’s tutorial for drawing a house floor plan; however, if you’re interested in learning more, check out this extensive guide:
This was all about a beginner’s guide for drawing a house floor plan. However, if you’re interested in learning more, check out this extensive guide:
And before you go, here are the floor plan blunders you must prevent while developing a house plan:
19 Common Floor Plan Mistakes and Tips to Avoid Them in Your Home!
Author Bio
Shazeb Ali –