When faced with the thousands of amazing new home designs that are offered by quality builders, it is easy be attracted to the homes that promote style (such as an amazing facade or outdoor entertaining area) over substance and functionality. Considering the way your family will interact with your new house plans on a day to day basis should be a critical factor in your decision to go forward with and build a specific house plan.
There was a statistic reported a number of years back that the average Australian family had 2.4 children. While this may be true on average, it does not really show the large diversity in Australian families which include blended families and multigenerational families living under one roof.
If you need to accommodate for family with small children, or a large family, then choosing the right layout is a key factor in the enjoyment of your new home for all family members.
Many builders now include 4 and 5 bedroom home designs for families as part of their range, with a few even having 6 bedroom options to accommodate not only for growing families, but also families with adult children still at home, or elderly relatives.
There are also some great inclusions for homes with young children that will help make the lives of everyone more relaxed, encouraging both quality time together and a feeling of space so people aren’t “on top of each other”.
Comparing house plans
As well as the number of bedrooms that a large family require, there are many other considerations that good designs have accommodated for, such as:
Multiple living spaces
The home plan needs to include communal spaces for people to get together as a family, but also space to have some separation when family members need some time out, or when someone wants to watch the news and everyone else wants to watch the Wiggles! A good design for large families accommodates for this, with a number of living areas separated through the house.
Many bathrooms
This one goes without saying, but having bathrooms to accommodate the household in the morning and evening peak periods when everyone is getting ready for the day or coming home are crucial for the smooth running of the house and everyone’s wellbeing. A good design will incorporate a mix of communal bathrooms as well as ensuites in key bedrooms to ensure everyone is well accommodated for.
Parents retreat
For people living in a home with young children, sometimes it feels like the kids toys and belongings take up the majority of communal living space, leaving no space that parents can call their own and unwind. The solution for this is to ensure your new home design incorporates a parents retreat, where you can go to unwind and relax away from the rest of the house. A place where a couple can get ready for the day as well as wind down, sleep and take time out together. Most parents retreats are part of a second story, but there are design options with retreats on the first floor.
Outdoor area
While the size of the home is important to give everyone enough room to live comfortably, it is also important to consider the amount of room left on your block for a backyard that young kids can play in. The ability to let the kids play outside in your own backyard, with a nice lawn or cubby house will actually give you more overall living space and a chance for them to burn off additional energy.
These are just some considerations when looking at house plans for a large family, or a growing family with young children. There is one other very important consideration, and that is that things do not remain as they are for very long. Kids of all ages are always growing, and your toddlers and infants will be teenagers before you know it.
When looking at a house plans, it is good to put some thought to the future and how long you are planning to stay in the location. If it is your “forever home”, then having a flexible plan that can grow and adapt with the ever changing needs of a modern family.
Let us do the legwork for you.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing
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