Considering the floor plan of your dream log home
Finding a floor plan for your log home is the first step into turning that dream into a reality. It's easy to imagine yourself in a new home, but it can be hard to actually put those visions down on paper. Before you dig in too much though, there are a few things to consider.
Think of the natural lighting patterns
You'll want your home to be as energy efficient and complementary to the natural sunlight as possible. Make sure you pay attention to the views too! If you like to entertain or spend a lot of time in your living room, then you'll want to make sure that you aren't exposed to extreme sunlight during the hours you occupy that space. A spare room that isn't often used will be your best option to place in the direct sunlight. You can strategically place windows and curtains to protect the room from the heat. Plus, it's easier to compromise the look of a room you won't be using a lot, versus one you do.
Think beyond today
When you are designing your log home floor plan, don't just think about your family today. You need to think about how you plan on living in the home down the road. The rooms that you design for your kids might be your future home office or craft room, and second floor bedrooms may prove difficult to reach as the years go by. Think about how you plan on living later in life and factor that into the floor plan.
Be practical
It can be easy to let your imagination run wild when you are designing a floor plan, but every now and then you'll want to reel that in. There are a lot of practical design concepts that you can consider. For instance, do you want people to be able to walk through rooms to get to other places in the home, or do you want to eliminate that? Have you worked out your budget yet so you know exactly what you can and can't afford? Before you get your heart set on something, make sure you have thought it through and made sure it will work without breaking your budget.
Prepare for more
Once you have your budget set, you might find that there are a few little additions you can't afford now, but could be possible for the future. Leave room to expand certain areas of your home for just that occasion. You can also build your home in stages if needed. Start with the basic elements, and leave room to expand for a guest room or larger living area in the future.
Look at other homes
One of the best ways to know what you like in a home is to take tours of other homes. Look at magazines and ask friends and family about their favorite, and least favorite, parts of their house. Sometimes you don't realize what is convenient, or disruptive in an area of your home until you have lived with it for some time. Talk to a professional in the industry about what plans are available. Many people find the easiest way to design a home is to start with a basic floor plan, and then tweak it to their needs.