If your home feels cramped, you might be thinking about remodeling and creating an open floor plan. That can make your house more functional and comfortable, but it can also be expensive and disruptive. There might be a simpler and more affordable solution.
Reasons to Change the Floor Plan
An open floor plan can make your house feel more spacious. That can be particularly helpful if you have an active family or if you frequently have guests over for holidays and other events. Removing one or more walls can give your kids more room to play, give family and friends more space to mingle, and make it easier for you to keep an eye on your kids and prepare for special occasions.
Altering the layout can also increase your home’s resale value. Houses with open floor plans are popular, especially among buyers with young kids.
Potential Problems
Contractors might have to remove several walls to create an open floor plan. That can be an expensive, messy, and time-consuming project. Workers might discover problems that nobody was aware of, such as mold or outdated electrical wiring. Dealing with those sorts of issues can add thousands of dollars to the cost and put the project weeks or months behind schedule.
Debris, dust, and tools can make your home unsafe, especially if you have kids or pets. Your family might have to move out temporarily while your house is being renovated. If you decide to stay in a hotel or a short-term rental, you’ll have to factor that into your budget.
Other Options
You might be able to make your house better suit your family’s needs without dramatically changing the layout and spending tens of thousands of dollars. If your home feels cramped, its architectural design might not be the problem.
The real issue might be clutter or the way your furniture is arranged. You might be able to improve traffic flow by getting rid of things you don’t need, organizing the items you decide to keep, or rearranging furniture.
If you decide that remodeling would be the best way to solve your problems, you might not have to dramatically alter the floor plan. You might just need to remove one wall or widen a doorway to make your home’s design work better for your family.
Get Professional Advice
Changing your house’s floor plan might be the best way to make your home fit your needs, or there might be an easier and more affordable way. Your house’s current design will influence your options and the cost of a project. An architect or a contractor can help you make a decision that fits your goals and your budget.
