A home’s layout can either increase or decrease the quality of life it offers its residents. As such, it’s an important aspect to bear in mind when house hunting or planning renovations.
In your opinion, and based on your experience, what factors contribute to a comfortable or convenient house or condo?
A Bathroom Right Next to the Dining Room
A bathroom situated right by the dining room can also cause discomfort. Noises and odours may prove especially embarrassing when someone is using the bathroom during a meal or when guests are present.
Frustrating Flow
The layout of rooms can significantly impact daily life. This is especially true where the corridors linking them are too narrow. A disconnected floor plan often forces the occupants to walk around the house more than necessary to reach a room or complete a task.
Poorly Planned Door Clearance
Does the dishwasher door only open halfway because it’s hitting the opposite cabinet? Does the bedroom closet door, when open, stick out into the main doorway?
These are just some examples of situations where designers failed to plan for adequate door clearance!
Insufficient Storage
A home that lacks storage space doesn’t only compel its occupants to be resourceful. They might find themselves buying additional furniture, cabinets, or storage systems, reducing their living space.
- They might have to convert the garage into a storeroom.
- They might have to fill their basement with boxes.
- They might have to turn a room into a catch-all storage area for miscellaneous items, losing its original function.
In some properties, poorly laid-out rooms could have easily accommodated a closet simply by moving a wall.
A Problematic Entryway
The entryway is one of those places where design flaws tend to really stand out.
If it’s too small or offers little storage space, coats, shoes, bags, and accessories can quickly pile up.
It’s also a source of visual clutter when no partition separates it from the adjoining room.
Windows That Make Life Difficult
Having lots of windows can let in plenty of light, but it also has a few drawbacks:
- You have more surfaces to keep spotless.
- The intense summer sunlight leads to a suffocating greenhouse effect.
- The hard-to-reach windows may require special equipment or professional assistance to clean.
Not Enough Electrical Outlets
The number and placement of electrical outlets may seem like a minor detail during a viewing, but this factor soon begins to impact day-to-day life.
An outlet in the wrong place may mean having to run an extension cord across a room or move a piece of furniture to plug in an appliance.
In a kitchen or home office, where there are many electrical devices, the problem becomes even more apparent. When buying an older house, it may be worth checking that there are enough conveniently located outlets to meet your current requirements.
An Unpleasant Laundry Room
A washer and dryer tucked away in a dark corner of the basement usually means a longer laundry day. If the laundry room is difficult to get to, too small, or poorly organized, every load will require multiple unnecessary trips back and forth.
The laundry room’s location therefore warrants careful consideration. It’s much more convenient to have it near the bedrooms or the main living areas, rather than in a distant part of the home.
A Tricky Yard
A sloping, or heavily wooded plot of land, or one comprising several hard-to-reach areas, can make mowing and maintenance more difficult. Some yards also require more seasonal chores: long driveways to shovel, lots of hedges to trim, trees to prune, or difficult-to-clean sections.
Before viewing a large plot of land as an undeniable advantage, you might want to consider how much time and money you will need to spend on yard work each year.
Thinking Beyond the First Impression
A property’s flawed layout may not be immediately apparent during a first visit. Its occupants may only notice design mistakes that negatively impact their quality of life after buying the home and living in it for a few years. It may then be worth exploring moving or remodeling.