UNDERSTANDING FLOOR PLANS It costs no more to build a house with a good plan, than one with a poor plan…….in fact, it may cost

less.

A FLOOR PLAN IS―Two-dimensional diagram of one or more rooms as if

seen from above.

Where are the living zones?

A Floor Plan is Used to: Judge space dimensions in a room Determine architectural detail placement in a

room Study suitability to lifestyles of the family

Shows basic living zones Putting together a decorating plan for the

home

A Floor Plan Shows Exterior and interior walls Size and location of walls, windows, and

doors Built-in cabinets and appliances Permanent fixtures Stairs and fireplaces – if included in the

plan. Porches, patios, and decks Room names, closets, and approximate

sizes

Elevation Shows a vertical view of the room, wall,

or house as if being seen by someone standing on the ground or floor and looking at it.

Drawing a Floor Plan 1/4” = 1’ is the

most common scale used in architectural and interior design drawings 1 square= ¼ inch= 1 foot

Templates are drawings, symbols, cutouts etc., used to easily duplicate “too scale” items.

11’ x 10’ Room

8 x 3 1/2 foot couch

Blue Print Symbols

Windows=

Doors=

Closets=

Blue Print Symbols

Windows=

Doors=

Closets=

Blue Print Symbols

Floor Plan OptionsPro’s and Con’s

One level Two level Split-Level Split Entry

Open Floor PlanFewer interior separating walls

(bathroom is the exception) Benefits: saves cost of

building material, home tends to appear more spacious

Drawbacks: no privacy, high noise levels

Closed floor plansSeparate rooms

enclosed by walls with an entry door.

Benefits: noise reduction, privacy

Drawbacks: costly, breaks up space to make it appear smaller

EVALUATING FLOOR PLAN Well defined 3 basic Areas/zones Efficient Traffic and circulation patterns Use and function of rooms relationships Plenty of Storage Space Consideration Sizes and shapes of rooms Useable wall space that is not broken up with

windows and doors

A Review, but also consider….

Also consider: Plumbing Lines located near one

another Indoor and outdoor space Street noise and traffic Privacy inside and outside the house Housing Orientation = Placement of the

house in respect to: Compass Directions (North, South, East, West) View Sun exposure Wind Other Surroundings

And remember to properly Evaluate for Needs vs. Wants

Make a list of your NEEDS and your WANTS. Needs MUST be filled You may not have

enough money to fulfill all your wants.

4 Housing Needs: Enough

bedrooms Enough

bathrooms Storage and

closets Room for

furniture and appliances

What shape of home is least expensive to build?

A Rectangle Jogs or irregularities in shape increase the

cost of the house and should be carefully judged for convenience and aesthetics.

Also consider the COST OF A HOME

A conservative estimate for the amount of money to be spent on a home is 2 ½ times the yearly income of the family. ($75,000 per year x 2.5 = $187,500 home)

Cost of the home is determined by: Cubic foot (size) Location of lot, size, and placement, compass

direction Type of construction Exterior and Interior finishes and fixtures Floor Plan

Blue Print AssignmentsKnow your bedroom measurements for next time

(walls and furniture) 4. Interpret Blue Print Symbols Use the blue print key to decipher the blue prints on this

floor plan

5. Practice Room Using ¼” graph paper and a pencil, measure and draw the following

dimensions. Remember… walls are six inches thick (1/8” scale).  

North Wall- 15 feet with one 6 foot window, 2 outlets South Wall- 15 feet with two 3 foot window, 1 outlet East Wall- 20 feet with one 3 foot door that swings into the room, one outlet,

1 light switch West Wall- 20 feet, a wall light, a closet with bifold doors. Place a ceiling

light in the center room.

Now trace everything with a black marker and a ruler, using very straight lines. Write the dimensions of each wall and label the north wall.