Common Features for Floor Plans for 1,200 Square Foot Homes
While you might be worried that a 1,200 square foot space might be too small, downsizing does not mean youhave to give up well-designed spaces and luxuries like upgrades or a kitchen welcoming enough to entertain.
With a high-quality house plan from Monster House Plans, you can make the space you have feel larger thanlife. Here’s what you should look for in a 1,200 square foot plan.
Feature #1: Multiple Bedrooms
One of the best ways to adjust smaller floor plans is to include multiple bedrooms. This allows everyone tohave their own private and personal space.
1,200 square foot homes can easily accommodate two or three bedrooms. Additionally, bedrooms can be usedand changed over the years. What might initially start as a bedroom can quickly transform into a home office orgym.
Having multiple bedrooms gives you a plethora of options for using your space and having it adapt to yourlifestyle.
Feature #2: Efficient Bathrooms
If you have multiple people living in a house, you should include the right number of bathrooms in your homeplans. However, certain “special” layouts, like a home plan featuring a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, can help. SinceJack-and-Jill bathrooms connect two bedrooms with two separate entrances, you’ll need less space. However,it will still feel as though everyone has their own ensuite bathroom.
Having multiple bedrooms gives you a plethora of options for using your space and having it adapt to yourlifestyle.
Feature #3: Multiple Stories
Even with 1,200 square feet, you can add a second story to distribute the space in your home more effectively.Some homeowners decide to separate their homes by function when adding a second story. So, for example,the main floor is designed for social activities and community living, while the upstairs area would be solely forsleeping or accessing the bathroom.
If you’d like to maximize the smaller space you have but give a more open feeling to the house’s overall layout,consider incorporating an “open to below” feature. This house plan type is the perfect example of a layout thatincludes three bedrooms, a jack-and-jill bathroom, while remaining within the 1,000 square-foot range.
It’s able to do this because it makes smart use of the elevation from a second floor addition to create an “opento below” area. This makes the home feel airy and spacious, while easily accommodating a family of four.
And, finally, the great thing about building upwards instead of outwards is that you can find floor plans designedfor a narrow lot and save on lot costs as well.
Four Benefits of Owning a 1,200 Square Foot Home
1200 sq ft house plans offer a unique set of benefits. Because you own a smaller home, you can focus onincluding only the necessities within the layout, easily maintain the space, save on upkeep costs, and invest ina unique design.
By choosing which features are important to you, you can create home plans that work for you.
1) Focus on Necessities
When you downsize, you must focus on the things you need versus what you want. Given your limited room,you must think through all possible scenarios. You may even find that you settle on an open concept designthat lets you use open spaces for various purposes or you emphasize outdoor seating and entertainment.
Whatever you decide as you develop your house plans, design the area to be conducive to you. Consider theneeds of your family and what that might look like five to 10 years from now.
For example, the floor plan below is a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom floor plan with just under 1,200 square feet withwhich to design.
Yet, this smart and strategic floor plan uses an open concept layout to easily blend the living and dining roomsand kitchen together. This, coupled with the inclusion of all the other “essentials” that a family might need —multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, outdoor seating, and a two-car garage — help potential homeowners usethe rooms as they are right now.
In the future, however, they can easily convert these into a den, office, or guest bedroom. They could even optto install a home gym in the garage, once the kids have left and there aren’t as many cars.
So, as you design your home, opt for floor plans that will adapt with your family’s needs over time. It’s easy todo when you ensure that all the necessary spaces are a standard part of the layout.
2) Easy Maintenance
While regular maintenance is necessary, having a smaller area to clean can make tidying up less of a hassle.For example, consider that, on average, it takes about one hour of cleaning time per bedroom in the home. So,if you had two bedrooms, it would take you approximately two and half hours to clean the entire home.
And this time does not account for a midweek deep cleaning that would be necessary for larger homes. Asmaller amount of square footage helps you keep things simple.
Similarly, living in smaller areas means a greater need for organization — because clutter can becomeimmediately obvious and disruptive.
To keep your belongings organized, you can rely on solutions like using compartmentalized drawers to providea clean space and easy access to any tools or appliances you may need. Or you can look for nifty “hacks,” likedoubling up on hangers to eliminate the stress of finding a place for all your clothing.
The fact is that having a smaller home forces you to address “mess” right away. You cannot leave things lyingaround for days and weeks on end.
3) Save Money
Downsizing automatically means saving money on property taxes because you could opt for a smaller lot.Additionally, the cost-to-build is much lower than a larger house. So not only are you saving money every yearwith property taxes, but you don’t have to invest nearly as much into the house.
Couple this with lower upfront costs, and you can take this saved money and spend it on other things for thehome. It is important to note that building costs follow the national average of $100-$155 per square foot, andbuilding materials will be equally priced.
4) Unique Design
With unique, customized home plans, your home can stand out from the rest as a true testament to your vision.Because you are downsizing, you can focus on the upgrades that won’t break the bank. And since you havelimited square footage, you don’t have to worry about overspending on large fixtures.
Conclusion
When looking to downsize your home, 1200 sq ft house plans are an excellent option. They are large enoughto provide you all the space and rooms you need but small enough to limit maintenance and the cost of thebuilding.
Before you start building your new home, you will need to choose a floor plan that works for you and yourlifestyle. Monster House Plans has plenty of plan options for any size home available for you to browse. If youneed to adjust something about a plan, you can Ask an Architect to help you make your dream a reality. Don’tlet downsizing stress you out. Get in touch with us today.
