The perfect floor plan isn’t about having the most square footage—it’s about making that space work for your life. Before you build, consider these 20 things that can make the difference between a home you like and one you’ll love living in for years to come.
Choosing a floor plan is one of the most exciting parts of building a new home—but it can also be surprisingly overwhelming. Three bedrooms or four? Rambler or two-story? Bigger kitchen or bigger family room?
The best floor plan isn't necessarily the biggest or most impressive. It's the one that makes everyday life easier.
Before you fall in love with a home design, consider these 20 things.
1. How Many Bedrooms Do You Really Need?
Think beyond today. Children, guests, adult kids returning home, or aging parents could change what you need in the years ahead.
2. How Many Bathrooms Make Sense?
Consider busy mornings, overnight guests, and whether sharing bathrooms will still work as your family changes.
3. One Level or Two?
Do you love the separation of a two-story home, or would you prefer the convenience of main-floor living (opens in new tab)? Think about stairs not just today, but 10 or 20 years from now.
4. Where Should the Owner's Suite Be?
Some homeowners want the owner's suite close to children's rooms. Others prefer privacy. Decide whether a main-floor, upstairs, or split-bedroom design fits you best.
5. How Much Gathering Space Do You Need?
Picture Thanksgiving dinner, birthdays, movie nights, and Sunday afternoons. How many people are usually in your home?
6. How Open Do You Want Your Home?
Open-concept floor plans (opens in new tab) can make a home feel larger and keep the kitchen, dining, and living areas connected—but make sure the layout still provides the separation you want.
7. Do You Need a Home Office or Flex Space?
Today's office could eventually become a playroom, hobby room, homework area, guest room, or quiet retreat. Flexible spaces can help a home (opens in new tab) evolve with you.
8. What Does Your Kitchen Need to Do?
Think about how you actually cook. Consider island size, pantry storage, countertop space, seating, appliance placement, and traffic flow.
9. How Much Storage Do You Need?
Don't just count bedroom closets. Look for pantry space, linen closets, garage storage, basement storage, and places for all those things you don't want sitting out.
10. What Kind of Garage Fits Your Life?
Two-car? Three-car? Tandem? Oversized? Think about vehicles, tools, bikes, outdoor gear, freezers, hobbies, and storage.
11. Do You Want a Basement?
Even an unfinished basement can provide valuable future possibilities (opens in new tab)—additional bedrooms, a family room, home gym, theater, storage, or additional living space.
12. Could a Future ADU Make Sense?
An ADU-ready basement (opens in new tab)can create options for multigenerational living, independent space for adult children, or potential rental income. It's much easier to plan for these possibilities while building.
13. How Important Is Bedroom Privacy?
Look at where bedrooms sit in relation to the kitchen, family room, bathrooms, and one another. A few feet of separation can make a surprisingly big difference.
14. Where Do You Actually Spend Your Time?
Don't pay for square footage you'll rarely use. If your family lives in the kitchen and great room, prioritize those spaces over rooms that simply look impressive on a floor plan.
15. Does the Everyday Traffic Flow Make Sense?
Imagine coming home with groceries. Where are the pantry and kitchen? Where do backpacks, shoes, and coats land? Good floor plans make everyday routines feel natural.
16. Where Should the Laundry Room Be?
Upstairs near bedrooms? On the main floor? Near the owner's suite? Laundry placement may seem minor—until you've carried your 500th basket across the house.
17. How Do You Want to Use Your Backyard?
If outdoor living matters, consider how easily the kitchen and gathering areas connect to the patio, deck, or backyard.
18. Will Your Furniture Actually Fit?
Don't rely only on room dimensions. Imagine your king-size bed, sectional, dining table, entertainment center, and other large furniture in the space—and consider where doors and windows are located.
19. What Is Difficult to Change Later?
Prioritize structural decisions while building: garage size, basement configuration, windows, ceiling heights, plumbing locations, electrical needs, and room layouts. Paint and light fixtures are much easier to change later.
20. Can This Floor Plan Grow With You?
Perhaps the most important question is: Will this home still work when your life looks different?
Your family may grow. You may start working from home. Parents may need somewhere to stay. Kids may move out. You may retire.
A thoughtfully chosen floor plan gives you options.
Don't Choose Square Footage. Choose How You Want to Live.
It's easy to compare new construction homes by bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage. But those numbers don't tell you how a home will feel.
At UpDwell Homes, we believe a great floor plan should make everyday life simpler—from open gathering spaces and thoughtful storage to flexible rooms, main-floor living options, and basements that can be designed with the future in mind (opens in new tab).
Before choosing your new home, don't just ask, "How big is it?"
Ask, "How well will we live in it? (opens in new tab)"
Ready to find the floor plan that fits your life? Explore UpDwell Homes' available home designs (opens in new tab) and discover which layout feels like home before you ever start building.
Key Takeaway
Whether you're building your first home or upgrading to a forever home, choosing a builder with a proven track record of quality, transparency, and energy efficiency makes all the difference. UpDwell Homes has helped hundreds of Utah families find their perfect home — and we'd love to help you too.
