7 Types of Floor Plans for Your Home
Form follows function when it comes to your floor plan
If you’re planning to build a new home or are looking to buy an existing home, the floor plan might be the last thing on your mind. However, how your rooms are laid out will play a major role in how you’re able to use your home, so it’s an important aspect and should get some serious consideration. In this guide, we’ll discuss the five main types of floor plans you can choose from, and we’ll explain how each type will affect your home’s utility.
| Floor Plan Style | Stories | Defining Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Ranch | 1 | Single-story home |
| High Ranch | 2 | Three levels, two stories |
| Cape Cod | 2 | Two stories, one bedroom on first floor |
| 2 | Three levels, two stories | |
| Colonial | 2 | Bedrooms on second floor |
| Contemporary | 1–2 | Unique layout |
| Bungalow | 1–1.5 | Two bedrooms or fewer |
1. Ranch
A ranch is usually defined as a single-story home, with all bedrooms and general-use rooms at ground level. These homes typically have three or more bedrooms at one end of the house, and the kitchen, living room, dining room, and other general-use rooms at the other end.
Some ranch-style homes have basements, but below-grade rooms don’t count toward the living space, so even these examples only have one floor.
Ranch homes are ideal for homeowners with mobility issues, as there are no stairs to climb inside the home or, usually, to get into the home.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| No stairs (usually) | Less living space |
| Open floor plans | Less privacy |
Best For: Homeowners looking for convenience
2. High Ranch
A high ranch has two floors, one of which can either be partially below grade or fully above grade. You take steps up to the exterior door, enter onto a small landing, and either go up the stairs to what is usually the main portion of the house or down the stairs to what are usually auxiliary rooms, like extra bedrooms, a second bathroom, and a utility room.
High ranches can be great for separating younger and older family members while entertaining, although they require steps to get into, and might not be ideal for homeowners with mobility issues.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Bedroom privacy | Stairs to enter |
| Entertaining is easy | Less usable space |
Best For: Separating older and younger family members while entertaining
3. Cape Cod
A cape cod style home—more commonly referred to as a cape—has two stories, usually with two or more bedrooms located on the second floor and one or more bedrooms on the first floor, along with all of the general-use rooms.
Capes make better use of the interior space than high ranches, and they provide the same privacy for second-floor bedrooms.
However, the second-floor rooms typically have sloped ceilings and can feel a bit smaller. It’s possible to dormer them, but the process can be expensive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Some bedroom privacy | Sloped second-floor ceilings |
| Good use of space | Expansion is limited |
Best For: First-time homebuyers or those looking to downsize
4. Split Level
A split-level home technically has three or four levels, but it’s still considered a two-story house. You walk up steps to get to level three. From there, you can take steps up to level four or a different set of steps down to levels two and one.
Level 1: Partially below grade, usually includes a den or additional bedroom, plus utility rooms.
Level 2: A small landing between levels one and three, often with a bedroom offshoot.
Level 3: General-use rooms.
Level 4: Two or more bedrooms.
There are two types of split-level home designs: front-to-back splits and side-to-side splits, the latter of which is more common.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Some bedroom privacy | Stairs to all levels |
| Good for sloped lots | Less natural light |
| Good use of space | Outdated |
Best For: Homeowners looking for private space for an office, entertainment, or bedroom
5. Colonial
A colonial is a two-story home, with an upstairs that only includes bedrooms, and a downstairs that only includes general-use rooms. Colonials tend to be larger than ranches and capes, and they usually have less of a roof pitch, meaning the bedrooms upstairs don’t have sloped ceilings.
Colonials are ideal for homeowners who want all family members sleeping on the same floor, plus a dedicated floor for entertaining. However, since all general-use rooms are located on the first level, this style is less likely to feature an open floor plan, as the front door, hallway, and stairs will typically divide the first-floor rooms.
Since all bedrooms are located upstairs, they also aren’t ideal for homeowners with mobility issues.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Bedroom privacy | Stairs to bedrooms |
| No sloped ceilings | Less open floor plan |
| Good use of space | No raised ceilings |
Best For: Homeowners looking for maximum square footage
6. Contemporary
The contemporary style floor plan has virtually no rigid definitions and is instead defined by more unique layouts and architectural choices than the standard home floor plans.
Contemporary homes can be one or more stories, have uncommon room counts or specific-use rooms, and may feature stairs or other physical divisions between rooms. Some contemporary homes have wide-open floor plans with separation only to provide privacy in bedrooms.
Contemporary floor plans usually have less demand than other styles, so resale can be an issue in some cases.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unique appearance | Low demand |
| Often intriguing | Least common |
Best For: Homeowners looking for unique architecture or layouts
7. Bungalow
A bungalow is a single-story or 1.5-story home that has just one to two bedrooms. Bungalows tend to be much smaller than other styles, although they can still have open floor plans and decently sized general-use rooms. Due to their small size, bungalows often don’t provide much separation between living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.
The half-story above the first floor is usually an attic area, and doesn’t count toward the room count.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Low demand |
| No stairs | Few bedrooms |
Best For: Homeowners looking for small, affordable homes
Things to Consider When Choosing a Floor Plan
Deciding on a floor plan is a big step, whether you’re working on blueprints for a new home or buying an existing one. Below are some things you should think about before you make your decision.
Bedroom count: If you have a big family, or plan on having multiple people living with you, consider how many bedrooms you need and how many each floor plan does or can accommodate currently or with alterations.
Separation: If you entertain often, or have family members with different sleep schedules, consider how separate your general-use rooms are from your bedrooms. More separation means less of a chance of disturbing other residents.
Security: Although all floor plans are more or less equal in how secure they are, split-level homes often feel less secure because of how many levels there are and how separate everything is. Consider where you’ll be sleeping in relation to your main entrances and your other family members.
Privacy: Homes with two or more stories provide more privacy because bedroom windows on the upper levels don’t open out to the ground level. Some floor plans, like split-levels, also provide totally separate bedrooms on their own levels for maximum privacy.
Use of the space: The floor plan determines how your square footage feels. For example, capes tend to feel smaller than ranches because of sloped ceilings and separated first-floor rooms, even if they have the exact same square footage.
Future needs: Consider how you’ll use your home in the future. If you’ll have kids or family members with mobility issues, you might need additional bedrooms or a floor plan with no stairs throughout the home.
Cost and resale value: Some home styles are more expensive than others because of demand and prevalence. Consider the price you’re paying for your floor plan. You should also think about whether or not it will be challenging to sell your home in the future, as might be the case with less popular layouts, like contemporary homes or bungalows.
It’s a good idea to hire an architect near you to help you think about all of these factors, and to help you choose the best possible layout for your home.