A floor plan, in architecture and civil engineering, is a drawing that shows the layout of a building — home or property from above. It illustrates the location of each part of the building such as windows, walls, stairs, doors and other fixed installations like bathroom fixtures, kitchen cabinet and appliances. A floor plan should also indicate room types, sizes and lengths of walls, as well as furniture layouts and outdoor areas.
Types of Floor Plans
There are 2D, 3D and Live 3D Floor Plans.
This is a diagram that shows the layout of a space from above, including the walls and rooms. The floor plan in this type is a flat drawing that has no perspective or depth. It can be a sketch, a blueprint or computer drawing.
It is a diagram that shows the layout of a home or any property in 3D. It shows both the perspective and height; it also has more detail that makes the space understandable and easier to visualize as close to reality.
Importance of Floor Plans
Floor plans are known to be an essential real estate marketing tool. They simplify the attributes of the property and give the buyer a sense of space which photos are unable to communicate.
Floor plans transform your ideas into real visuals, so that you will see and be clear on what you need to do and the outcome in the end.
They are hassle-free and ensure successful completion of the project.
When you have an accurate floor plan with the right measurements, you can decide what furniture you want to use, and how each one will fit into position.
Floor plans give room for effective planning of the house.
They help you relate your ideas to the decorators.
They aid decision-making process on the choice and purchase of materials.
Important Tips for Drawing a Perfect Floor Plan
You have to first select an area you want to draw. For an existing building, decide the rooms, floor and the entire building you want to draw. If it is a building you just want to build, think of designs based on the size and shape of the location you prefer.
- Measure the selected area or space
Get someone to help you hold the take firmly and measure across long expanses in order to get accurate measurements. You can do rough measurement of the space, including the doorways and fenestration, before taking the actual measurement. After that, jot down the feet and inches on your rough floor plan.
- Transfer measurements to a graph paper and draw walls
With a ¼ graph paper, transform your notes into a to-scale floor plan. Make a quarter-scale floor plan by using the boxes of the graph paper as a guide. Each box equals 1 foot in reality. Hence, half of a box equals 6 inches and half of that is 3 inches. Count out the boxes, according to your measurements by using the lines of the grid to draw your walls.
- Add architectural features
Add features such as doors, windows, refrigerators, dishwater, dryer, and other important appliances to be placed in specific location.
- Fill your space with furniture
Start adding furniture and cabinetry. In case you have not yet purchased furniture, use the measurements written in the details of the products you want. Check the website of the furniture company or use a catalogue to get the details and draw the scale version. If you already have furniture, just take measurements and transfer them to the graph paper. Once you have drawn your furniture and fixtures, cut them out carefully but ensure you do not cut the black outlines.
- Arrange your furniture and fixtures
Now that you have drawn and cut out your furniture and fixtures, arrange and rearrange them in your space. If it does not work out, maybe the furniture does not fit for your home or maybe the space is not right for your needs. When arranging your furniture, you should adhere to the spacing standards for major and minor pathways. For major pathways, you should allow 30–48 inches where two people can occupy the same pathway while for minor pathways, allow 24–36 inches for areas where only one person can take.
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