How much space do you really need in a house?

If you are thinking about building your own home, it’s worth spending time early on thinking about how much space do you really need in a house. This will hugely depend on your individual lifestyle and what lifestage you are at. It is also worth considering how do you future proof your house.

There is no one size fits all when it comes to designing your home. It’s essential to focus on a layout that works for your individual situation. Of course, circumstances can change so it always helps to plan ahead and be mindful of future proofing your house when designing a home.

A helpful starting point when thinking about how much space do you really need n a house is to measure up the house you currently live in. Use these dimensions to decide which rooms need to be larger or where you can afford to lose space if downsizing. Think about how much time you will spend in each room, who will use it and when – not forgetting any pets.

Here we look at what different households might want to consider when thinking about how big of a house do you need.

Growing families

For growing families – or potentially growing families, how much space you need in a house could vary over time. For a young household, flexibility is key when it comes to planning the layout to allow for growing children and changing lifestyles.

Open plan layouts are perfect for people with very young families, with a direct link to the garden. The children can happily play while always under the watchful eye of a parent. It’s important to remember that these spaces need to be able to cope with various uses so incorporating plenty of worktop areas and space to move around the kitchen will be important. Multiple uses will mean you need to factor in plenty of storage space too.

Along with open plan living areas you may want to consider a separate living area to relax or chat with friends in peace. You may want to factor in a dedicated playroom to accommodate children’s toys, let alone a space where the door can be shut to hide the carnage!

With growing needs

What might start life as a nursery will probably turn into a teenager’s bedroom later on. As your children grow, so will their space requirements. They may wish to have room for a desk and computer, plenty of storage and wardrobe space. Their bedroom will be a private space where they meet up with friends. If there is more than one child in the household, it may be worth considering bedrooms of similar sizes. This will avoid the decision of which child gets the biggest bedroom. If space is a problem, you might think about making allowances for converting the attic or garage space later on to a place where teenagers can retreat.

Little things like adding on a porch where dirty wellies can be removed could be a real blessing. Especially for those who do not want mud traipsed all over their home. And a spacious hallway works well when children come home from school and need to dump their coats and bags. A separate utility and laundry area could be a saving grace when it comes to mountains of washing.

As families grow, how much space you need in a house will increase.

How much space do older couples need in a house?

As people grow older and their children fly the nest, many find that the space you need in a house is less. Houses end up being too large resulting in the need to downsize.

Low maintenance living is often top of the priority list when it comes to designing a smaller home, reducing the need for frequent upkeep.

Unless you plan on getting rid of many of your possessions, incorporate plenty of accessible storage space.

We can’t predict what the future holds, so its worth considering at design stage how you future proof your house. Adaptability is worth thinking about, should you or your friends have limited mobility. Incorporating plenty of space to manoeuvre around tables and chairs would allow for any potential walking aids. Open plan layouts would avoid the need for narrow hallways and corridors. You may want to incorporate a wet room. This could combine a shower with a floor drain should mobility become an issue. A downstairs room large enough to convert into a bedroom if the stairs end up too challenging is also an idea. There are numerous ways to future proof your house.

How much space do you need in a first house?

For many young people, building their own home is a way of getting on the housing ladder. Affordability is often key which can impact on how much space you can have in a house.

For those not looking to build a home for life, but one that serves a purpose for this stage in life, are more likely to accept some limitations. The amount of space needed in a house isn’t such an important factor. They are more likely to build a smaller property therefore it’s important to consider furniture layouts at the design stage.

Being young, can often mean you own comparatively fewer possessions. This is just as well as often separate storage space has to be sacrificed in favour of room area. It’s worth researching the wide range of new technologies out there. This will reduce the need for the likes of book shelves and DVD/CDs storage. There is so much choice today when it comes to space saving storage.

Having an active work and social life will mean being in the house less often than older generations. Space in the house is less of an issue. The kitchen is likely to be a functional space rather than the hub of the home. Incorporating a functional kitchen that enables tasks to be done efficiency will be key.

One master bedroom is essential with one or two smaller ones for use by guests or a home office.