In recent years, open concept homes have once again been all the rage! More and more new homes and custom-built homes choose to have an open concept floor plan over the traditional floor plan.

This isn't for everyone, though! New home buyers and home builders often think that they should choose an open concept layout, but you don't have to have it because it's in vogue. 

When building your custom dream home, you should choose a floor plan that is not only your style and to your liking, but one that will fit your family and their needs!

Open Concept Floor Plan

Open concept homes became very popular in the 1970s, and by the 1990s, most homes were being built with this style. But the open concept has evolved during this time, as everything does.

An open concept floor plan is essentially a floor plan where no walls exist to separate the living room, dining room, and kitchen. They all become one large open space, where the way one tells each room apart is by the differing furniture.

This floor plan has many benefits:

• Making a small space appear larger
• Promote everyday living
• Spread natural light
• More modern
• Resale Value

However, as with most things, there are downsides to an open concept floor plan:

• Lack of privacy
• Cooking smells travel
• Hard to keep clean
• Resale Value

You may have noticed that resale value is both a benefit and a downside when it comes to this type of floor plan and may wonder how that is possible. While vastly popular right now, this type of floor plan is still a trend, much like sliding barn doors or heated entry way floor. This means that the trend could go out of fashion. It also means that not all home buyers want this. 

Traditional Floor Plan

A traditional floor plan is one where the home has different and distinct rooms that are usually sectioned by walls, so there is a separate living room and kitchen, and sometimes a dining room. This type of floor plan is most often seen in homes built before the 1990s.

As with the open concept floor plan, there are many benefits to this floor plan:

• Privacy
• Sound control
• Mess containment
• Reduced heating and cooling costs

Downsides to a traditional floor plan:

• Large gatherings can feel split up
• Safety (more challenging to keep an eye on the kids)

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When it comes to choosing between a traditional or open concept floor plan for your custom home, it truly depends on what your needs and the needs of your family are, as well as what your preference is. If you know that this home will be a forever home or retirement home and that you'll never sell, choose the floor plan that you like most.

Maybe you want to cook with your family and/or keep an eye on the kids as your cook; then, an open concept floor plan is for you!

Barb and Doug Pocha can help you when it comes to the floor plans of your custom dream home. With the help of their architects, they have build many a dream home for their happy clients. Each Fine Point Cedar Home is built to meet the clients' needs, and each house can have changes made to them.