Some floor plan decisions don't seem important until you've lived with them for a while. Then, years later, homeowners find themselves calling a designer to fix something that should have never been designed in the first place.

These details appear in more floor plans than they should, and while you can live with them, the better question is: why should you have to?

Here are 3 of those numerous floor plan faux pas to avoid for your home project.

1. A Visible Throne

Apart from castles, this is not a throne you want to see. It might seem obvious, but if you look at most stock plans, including some custom plans, you will notice that bathrooms are in close proximity to high traffic areas—the dining room, the living room, the kitchen or the front entry.

Even worse, the toilets are directly inline with the door. Should the door be left open (or worse get opened when it’s occupado) the toilet is directly in view.

This seemingly small faux pas has prompted very expensive renovations. Usually it’s getting creative with the layout, hiding or completely closing off the toilet, but other times it’s the overall bathroom location and access. 

For new homes, this is always taken into consideration.

2. A Forgotten Foyer / Entry

Another common design flaw with most stock house plans is the foyer / entry, or lack thereof.

In all of new homes and renovations, there should be a dedicated space for a handful of people to enter and discard their coats and shoes. There should be enough space for everyone to do so including some type of storage, whether it's a closet or wall hooks, and seating for 2 people to put on their shoes.

This doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. It could be as small as 5’ x 5’ plus a closet and bench, however it really depends on the size of the home.

But that’s not all. The key to a well functioning and enjoyable foyer is a level of privacy to that space. Most front doors include some sort of glazing so you want to be mindful of the view from the front door into your living space. 

3. A Shortage Of Storage

This one is self-explanatory because it is so commonly said throughout homes in North America. As a society we may consume more than necessary, but there is a level of accessible storage a home should require, even for minimalistic homes.

For anyone who has had a crawlspace, it's not enjoyable to access. Crawlspaces are great for seasonal items and those pieces you need a handful times in the year.

The storage I'm talking about is pantry, cold storage, linen closet, broom closet (for cleaning supplies), boot / coat closet, bike storage, etc. They're functional and serve a purpose for specific items. This could even be a deeper garage for a wall of hooks to hold tools, bikes and bins of outdoor activity items.

It's not sporadic and closets placed haphazardly. It's thoughtfully curated with everything you own (and will own) put in their place.

The Takeaway

The best floor plans are often the ones you stop noticing because they simply work. You have a place for everything you own, visitors are able to comfortably enter your home and take off their shoes, and you have privacy from spaces that need them, like looky loos at the front door or a bathroom adjacent to the kitchen.

These details may seem minor while you're reviewing drawings, but they become very noticeable when you live with them every day. Before construction begins, take the time to look beyond how the floor plan looks and consider how it will actually function. A few thoughtful questions now can save you from living with (and eventually paying to fix) an avoidable mistake later.