Evaluate The Size And Function Of Each Room Before Deciding On A Layout

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Before setting off on what could very well become a monumental journey, your first step ought to be considering the size, space, and function of each of your rooms. Most luxury home builders consider the use of available space to be one of the more fundamental components of creating spaces that are most appealing when done correctly. In order to achieve this, it's best to walk around your home and really think about how you currently use the space and what you might do to improve it. This isn't always as straightforward as you might think, which is why you really need to spend enough time on the process, and if you live with others, discuss things with them. For instance, if you have a dining room that you rarely use for that purpose, it could be a better option to reconstitute it into something else that you actually need and will use. Conversely, if you do have a dining room but never seem to have enough space, changing the size of your existing furniture to something a little smaller may allow you to add in more guests without creating a claustrophobic feeling. If you also happen to live in a tiny home with limited space, you can use this opportunity to completely rearrange things to better match each room's intended purpose. 

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Think About How You Live And Entertain To Guide Your Layout Choices Effectively

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While you're performing your walkaround, think of how you use each space. Is your home geared towards family usage? Do you live alone or perhaps with a partner and no children? Do you entertain regularly? Asking yourself these sorts of questions will help to guide your choices and ensure that any layout design you end up with perfectly matches your lifestyle choices. If you have young children, you might opt to create an entire room dedicated to arts and crafts so that if they produce any mess, it will be relatively contained to a single room (wishful thinking for sure, but we can live in hope). On the other hand, if you are a social butterfly and regularly have friends around for drinks and meals, it could be a better option to put most of your effort into developing your kitchen as a space where you can cook and entertain simultaneously (or turn your yard into an entertainment haven replete with awnings and fire pits galore).

Decide Between Open Spaces For Socializing Or Defined Rooms For Privacy And Comfort

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Even the most extroverted individuals in the world still require some time to sit back, away from the requirements of social activity, and reflect on life and other such things. As such, you can divide the various spaces you have available into those that are set up for a more social atmosphere and those to which you retreat in order to unwind after a long day at work and relax with a glass of wine. How you choose to go about this will vary significantly based on your personality and available space, but dedicating your entire home to only one or the other will only end up causing you issues down the line. 

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Ensure Easy Movement Between Rooms To Create A Comfortable Living Environment

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It doesn't really matter whether you follow the principles of Feng Shui; we can all agree that a house or building with a particular flow is often a far more pleasant place to be. So it stands to reason that by exploring ways in which you can generate a better flow throughout your home, the more likely it will be that you will end up with a place that simply feels right. Now, that all sounds great in theory, but how does one actually go about creating this mythical concept of "flow"? 

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• Walk through your home and find any bottlenecks: A bottleneck can be defined as any area where you have to change your movement into something less natural in order to move about. It could be that you have to take additional steps to reach an area because you have to move around things, or maybe there are odd spaces scattered about that feel wrong. Once you have discovered these bottlenecks, you will be better prepared to come up with a plan to rectify them if at all possible.
• Consider ways that you can remove or replace items: If there are things that are taking up space in a way that isn't conducive to the overall layout of a room, then consider if you're able to remove or replace them. You can go as extreme as you like with this if you are able to. For example, if you have a kitchen island that takes up an inordinate amount of space, you may choose to remove it to free up more space or replace it with a smaller option that makes more sense within the existing limitations. 
• Think about changing the door swing direction if possible: The direction in which your door swings isn't something that many people give much thought to, but it can have a massive impact on the way a room functions and feels. In many ways, this could be thought of as a bottleneck if the door swings the "wrong" way, as it can severely limit space or create awkward spaces that are unable to be used for much of anything. The best part is that changing the direction of the swing isn't as tricky as you might think, and an experienced contractor can do this within a couple of hours, if not less. 
• Look at ways to place furniture to help facilitate a more pleasant movement: Your furniture will have an outsized influence on how you can flow through a space, and because it is primarily movable, it's pretty easy to move things about and test how different layouts work.

Position Rooms To Maximize Natural Light, Improving Mood And Energy Efficiency

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Natural light is something that is always discussed in this kind of post, but the simple fact of the matter is that by utilizing more natural lighting, you can turn almost any space from a dark, dingy, artificially lit room into one that feels roomy and airy. Yes, all those words are slightly hyperbolic, but when you experience the correct usage of natural light for the first time, you will never want to go back to any other option. This task is slightly more challenging than the other options we are discussing, but with a few tricks, you might not have to do too much. For instance, by placing mirrors near windows and other areas where natural light flows in, you can reflect more of it around your home. Another option that those who suffer from windows placed in the direction of the sunset or sunrise can use is placing slightly tinted film over them. This might appear counterintuitive, but if too much light streams through, most folks simply keep their curtains or blinds closed. By using tinted film, you can enjoy the light without having to squint every time you walk by the window. 

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Consider How Your Layout Can Adapt To Future Needs, Like Family Growth Or Lifestyle Changes

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One often overlooked point is how you might use your home in the future. While you might live on your own or with a partner right now, if you fail to plan for a future with children or if you will have family members living with you for extended periods, then you will limit yourself and only end up performing this same job again in the future. While it might not be possible or desirable to plan your life around what might be, it is a good idea to consider at least how you might utilize your various rooms down the line. 

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Seek Expert Advice To Explore Layout Options Tailored To Your Specific Home

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If all else fails and you're struggling to figure out ways to better use your space, then it could be time to enlist the help of those who have trained in the art of design. An interior designer will have the tools and knowledge to come up with various ideas on how you can mix things up to generate the kind of home that feels just so. They are particularly beneficial if you have a tiny house and are simply unable to visualize the best layouts for the limited space. These experts will use various tools, like 3D modeling software, to help you picture different scenarios that work with your preferences and available space. 

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Choosing a new layout might seem like a relatively straightforward task, but most people soon find that it's not quite as easy as they first thought. By using the ideas in this post and/ or hiring a professional to assist you with the process, you ought to end up with a design that matches what you had in your head and makes the best use of the available area.