á Optimizing the Floor Plan with Numerous Detailed Considerations
Created on: 12 Jan 2026 21:12
N
NMarieKH
Hello everyone,
We are currently planning the construction of our house in Lower Austria, and I would really appreciate your feedback on our floor plan. Iâm 22, my partner is 26 â he is financing the house. Because of that, itâs particularly important to me that the floor plan fits perfectly and that we donât build in any costly âmistakes.â Iâm in the process of optimizing it, but the longer you look at it, the more you get blind to it.
I welcome any comments, criticism, and suggestions for improvements â whether itâs about circulation paths, storage, lighting, furnishing possibilities, or just âthis feels impracticalâ â these are exactly the things Iâm trying to fix right now.
In addition, I have a few specific questions where Iâm particularly unsure (list follows):
If anyone could answer or comment on even 1 or 2 of these points, I would be extremely grateful. Many thanks in advance!
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 625 m2 (30% of this may be built on)
Site coverage ratio: 1
Floor area ratio: 2
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: modern, cozy
Orientation: terrace faces north
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern but not too cubic, hipped roof
Levels: basement, ground floor, first floor
Number of people, age: currently W22 and M26
Space requirements ground floor, upper floor: office on ground floor possibly as a future bedroom
Office use: family use or home office? home office
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: 2, at least 6-8 guests
Fireplace: maybe for the future
Music/sound system wall: sound system at TV wall
Balcony, roof terrace: small balcony at bedroom
Garage, carport: 37 m2 (400 ft2) garage, which will be built later as an extension
Currently, we do not have children but plan to have them in the future
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself
What do we like? The size of the floor plan, the distribution of living and utility areas over different floors
What donât we like? Sizes of certain rooms, door swings, orientation of living room windows to the northeast, furnishing options in the large living room on the ground floor, integration of the pantry in the room, 2 rooms in the basement which are through-rooms to other rooms
Preferred heating system: underfloor heating
We are currently planning the construction of our house in Lower Austria, and I would really appreciate your feedback on our floor plan. Iâm 22, my partner is 26 â he is financing the house. Because of that, itâs particularly important to me that the floor plan fits perfectly and that we donât build in any costly âmistakes.â Iâm in the process of optimizing it, but the longer you look at it, the more you get blind to it.
I welcome any comments, criticism, and suggestions for improvements â whether itâs about circulation paths, storage, lighting, furnishing possibilities, or just âthis feels impracticalâ â these are exactly the things Iâm trying to fix right now.
In addition, I have a few specific questions where Iâm particularly unsure (list follows):
- Door swings â my partner would prefer all doors to open outward, which I donât like at all⌠For which rooms would you solve this problem differently? If the doors open inward in different rooms (e.g., office, both childrenâs rooms), how far from the wall would you position them?
- Iâm also not completely satisfied with the kitchen layout. Due to a lack of storage space on the ground floor, weâd likely keep the pantry but weâre currently unsure how. Ideally, if money were no object, Iâd want a concealed pantry and as much cupboard space as possible, but that is expensive. If you have any suggestions about the kitchen layout, please share them (the furniture is only placed provisionally, but the location of the stove, sink, and dishwasher should work similarly) â would you put the window above the sink at a sill height of 1.15m (45 inches) (with a 95cm (37 inch) countertop height) or have it flush directly with the countertop?
- How would you place the door in the cloakroom? Currently, we have 60cm (24 inches) space on one side and 38cm (15 inches) on the other. Iâm considering whether it would be smarter to leave at least 66cm (26 inches) at the top side for deeper cabinets and some clearance from the door (and possibly only a narrow shoe cabinet or a bench at the bottom side) â or to move both doors down to the bottom of the room and keep the rest as a more open passage (perhaps for a stroller or similar).
- The office might later be converted into a bedroom (see picture). However, both the 3m (10 ft) wide office and the 2.75m (9 ft) wide childrenâs bedroom 1 above currently have a window measuring 1.98m (6 ft 6 inch) wide and 1.32m (52 inches) high â would it be better to make these windows a bit narrower, since a bed might be placed underneath, and also raise the sill height of about 87.5cm (34 inches)? For more natural light, the window could maybe just be made a bit longer vertically, right?
- Upstairs, there is the option to expand childrenâs bedroom 1, which has a less practical layout, with a 25cm (10 inch) deep niche (making it approximately 14.6 m2 (157 ft2) instead of 12.6 m2 (136 ft2), which I think is easier to furnish). The bed could then be placed in the niche, with the headboard away from the window and the view of the door, and the width would be the same as the office below (windows could be aligned vertically).
- How would you position the windows in childrenâs bedroom 2? Would you prefer one wide window or two narrower ones on the left and right?
- Do you have any ideas on how the rooms in the basement could be arranged differently?
If anyone could answer or comment on even 1 or 2 of these points, I would be extremely grateful. Many thanks in advance!
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size: 625 m2 (30% of this may be built on)
Site coverage ratio: 1
Floor area ratio: 2
Number of parking spaces: 2
Roof type: hipped roof
Style: modern, cozy
Orientation: terrace faces north
Client Requirements
Style, roof type, building type: modern but not too cubic, hipped roof
Levels: basement, ground floor, first floor
Number of people, age: currently W22 and M26
Space requirements ground floor, upper floor: office on ground floor possibly as a future bedroom
Office use: family use or home office? home office
Open or closed architecture: rather open
Conservative or modern construction: modern
Open kitchen, kitchen island: yes
Number of dining seats: 2, at least 6-8 guests
Fireplace: maybe for the future
Music/sound system wall: sound system at TV wall
Balcony, roof terrace: small balcony at bedroom
Garage, carport: 37 m2 (400 ft2) garage, which will be built later as an extension
Currently, we do not have children but plan to have them in the future
House Design
Who designed it: do-it-yourself
What do we like? The size of the floor plan, the distribution of living and utility areas over different floors
What donât we like? Sizes of certain rooms, door swings, orientation of living room windows to the northeast, furnishing options in the large living room on the ground floor, integration of the pantry in the room, 2 rooms in the basement which are through-rooms to other rooms
Preferred heating system: underfloor heating
@haydee
So, do I understand correctly that you would prefer to place the bed under the window in the bedroom?
I already listed the disadvantagesâŚ
In general, it's mostly criticism here, but I would really appreciate some tips (for example, for the multifunctional room) or at least some suggestions on how you would arrange it, like with the bed.
So, do I understand correctly that you would prefer to place the bed under the window in the bedroom?
I already listed the disadvantagesâŚ
In general, it's mostly criticism here, but I would really appreciate some tips (for example, for the multifunctional room) or at least some suggestions on how you would arrange it, like with the bed.
I would redesign the entire upper floor. I mentioned this to you before. Give the bedroom only one large window and place the bed, for example, against the exterior wall facing the garage. No door, no window.
Towel racks behind the door and cabinets on the shower wallâthis will make everything very cramped. You are working with rough structural dimensions, which may differ.
We are not here to create a floor plan for you. It largely depends on the furniture you want and their sizes. We can only point out tight spots, etc.
Towel racks behind the door and cabinets on the shower wallâthis will make everything very cramped. You are working with rough structural dimensions, which may differ.
We are not here to create a floor plan for you. It largely depends on the furniture you want and their sizes. We can only point out tight spots, etc.
@ypg, do you prefer any of the other suggestions where the living room and kitchen were swapped?
Where exactly have the living room and kitchen been swapped? I donât see it anywhere. But swapping them probably wouldnât improve things.
My general criticism is that a pantry is not properly planned but rather squeezed in somewhere. The consequence is that many things no longer flow well or function properly.
I also criticize how people get influenced by Instagram and similar platforms into thinking they absolutely need a pantry, even though they have a utility basement. Thereâs a whole missing mindset and preparation when it comes to house planning.
I honestly donât understand why anyone would squeeze a shelf behind the sofa, creating a dust trap. Whatâs the point? My grandmother had one, but there was at least 1.5m (5 feet) of space between the sofa and the back wall. In my view, a balcony is pointless, a separate toilet is a daily challenge, and so on.
To me, the house isnât thoughtfully designed â it feels rushed and sloppy.
Iâm basically stepping out of this discussion now: either you accept the situation or you build your own house with options for redesign. I also donât discuss houses here in the forum once the building permit/planning permission is already submitted. And in this case, youâre not the decision-maker or approver â your friend is.
This discussion has two main difficulties: explaining to you what shouldnât be done, and you having to convince your friend of it. Thatâs not working out well.
And if your friend thinks everything is fine, then you have no choice but to accept it or change your own situation.
On top of that, thereâs a lot of half-knowledge about building a house, including the contract. You really have to wonder why changes are suddenly impossible â even if the contract is a fixed price agreement, changes should be possible. But we donât know, you donât know, and then you have to ask why not?
In my view, this is a bad basis for building a home if partners arenât equal and working together toward the same goal. Also, the relationship is very new. But as I said â just my opinion.
About the house: it will somehow work as it is. Skip the pantry. If the walk-in closet eats up space because itâs too narrow, just move some things to the basement. And if in five years you find youâre disturbing each other in the bedroom, you can move to the office or already put your clothes in the bathroom at night.
The positive thing is that you can easily move out if you really miss the pantry that much 😉
Where exactly have the living room and kitchen been swapped? I donât see it anywhere. But swapping them probably wouldnât improve things.
My general criticism is that a pantry is not properly planned but rather squeezed in somewhere. The consequence is that many things no longer flow well or function properly.
I also criticize how people get influenced by Instagram and similar platforms into thinking they absolutely need a pantry, even though they have a utility basement. Thereâs a whole missing mindset and preparation when it comes to house planning.
I honestly donât understand why anyone would squeeze a shelf behind the sofa, creating a dust trap. Whatâs the point? My grandmother had one, but there was at least 1.5m (5 feet) of space between the sofa and the back wall. In my view, a balcony is pointless, a separate toilet is a daily challenge, and so on.
To me, the house isnât thoughtfully designed â it feels rushed and sloppy.
Iâm basically stepping out of this discussion now: either you accept the situation or you build your own house with options for redesign. I also donât discuss houses here in the forum once the building permit/planning permission is already submitted. And in this case, youâre not the decision-maker or approver â your friend is.
This discussion has two main difficulties: explaining to you what shouldnât be done, and you having to convince your friend of it. Thatâs not working out well.
And if your friend thinks everything is fine, then you have no choice but to accept it or change your own situation.
On top of that, thereâs a lot of half-knowledge about building a house, including the contract. You really have to wonder why changes are suddenly impossible â even if the contract is a fixed price agreement, changes should be possible. But we donât know, you donât know, and then you have to ask why not?
In my view, this is a bad basis for building a home if partners arenât equal and working together toward the same goal. Also, the relationship is very new. But as I said â just my opinion.
About the house: it will somehow work as it is. Skip the pantry. If the walk-in closet eats up space because itâs too narrow, just move some things to the basement. And if in five years you find youâre disturbing each other in the bedroom, you can move to the office or already put your clothes in the bathroom at night.
The positive thing is that you can easily move out if you really miss the pantry that much 😉
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