Floor Plan Review: Why It Could Be the Smartest Step You Take
“Interior designers look beyond the floor plan. We think about light, storage, furniture flow and daily life.”
Your builder will build it. Your designer will ensure it works seamlessly with your lifestyle.
That is the key difference. A builder focuses on construction, making sure your home is built safely and to code. An interior designer looks beyond the lines on a floor plan. We think about light, storage, furniture, flow, and the details of daily life that will determine whether your home feels comfortable, practical, and truly yours.
Once your plans are approved, making changes becomes expensive, stressful, and time consuming. One overlooked detail in a floor plan can cost thousands to fix later, or worse, it might be something you have to live with for years. A floor plan review gives you peace of mind, ensuring that you have considered the best options for your home and lifestyle before it is too late.
So, if you are planning a renovation, extension, or new build, here are some essential things to consider:
Natural Light
If you do not plan your windows carefully, you may find yourself turning on the lights during the day or retrofitting skylights later to brighten dark areas. Think about the direction of the sun and how light moves through your home. Can windows be moved to capture more northern light? Would shifting a wall or door allow natural light to reach further into your living spaces? The right light can completely change how a home feels; it can make it feel warm, inviting, and energy efficient.
Window Placement
Windows are not just about light; they are also about ventilation, comfort, and connection. Think about:
Do your window locations allow fresh air to flow easily through your home?
Are they placed to maximise heating and cooling efficiency?
What do you see when you look out, an unsightly fence, or the garden you have been dreaming of?
Do you need privacy from the street or neighbours?
Are your windows an unusual shape or size? Unusual shaped windows and sizing can mean more expensive window treatments.
Even something as simple as the side a window opens on can make a difference, especially if you want to place furniture nearby.
Furniture & Flow
Have you thought about where your furniture will go? It is surprising how often furniture placement is not thought about. A room that looks spacious on paper can feel cramped once a sofa or dining table is in place. Or worse, you may end up needing to buy custom furniture just to make the room work.
Think about:
Do I have enough wall space for a bed, or do doors and windows break up every wall?
Will I be able to rearrange the room as my family's lifestyle changes?
Is there enough space to move comfortably around key areas, like the kitchen or living room?
Good design ensures your furniture fits naturally, without making the space feel awkward or cluttered.
Lifestyle Needs
A home should support how you live. Think about how you will actually use your spaces day to day:
Do you want to see the backyard from your kitchen to keep an eye on the kids?
Is your laundry located in a practical spot, or situated in the middle of the house?
Are your wardrobes big enough to store your clothing? Do you need extra storage for camping gear, Christmas trees, etc?
Do you need to consider the birth of new family members or the ageing of household members?
Do you need a better office space to work from home in the future? Or a homework area for the kids as they go through high school?
These details may seem small, but they make the difference between a house that "works" and one that feels awkward and frustrating.
Real-Life Examples
Believe me, I have seen it all:
Bedrooms with no wall space for the placement of a double bed.
Kitchens with no room to fit a dishwasher.
Laundries that are located in the middle of the house, with no easy access to the clothesline or room for a dryer
Wardrobes that can not even fit hangers properly.
Toilets opening onto living areas.
Often, clients come to me with plans that just don't feel right, or they can't get a space in their home to work correctly. They can't always explain why, but they know something is off. I understand that the perfect house plan doesn't exist and often compromises may need to be made due to budget restraints, timing, or limited choices. But I do believe there is always a solution to maximise what you can. That is where a floor plan review comes in.
The Value of a Floor Plan Review
A floor plan review could be the smartest step you take before building or renovating, whether you go through the information above on your own, with a builder, or with an Interior Designer. Just stop and take a moment to think about why you are buying, extending or renovating. What lifestyle choices may you need to consider, and how to adjust them if possible, to make your floor plan work the most effectively for you?
Recently, I worked with clients who had just bought their first home. They loved it, but wanted to use the space more effectively to suit their lifestyle. I developed several concept solutions, giving them the chance to explore different layouts. Now, together, we are refining the one that works best for them.
By taking the time to review their floor plan early, they have avoided costly mistakes and gained confidence that their home will genuinely work for them. I will write a blog about the development of this client's plans, so you can see a real-life example of how the Floor Plan Service helped my lovely clients.
The bottom line: Your builder will build it. Your designer will make sure it works for your life. Please don't leave it to chance; review your plans before you build.