We might be living in the era of the Mini Mansion, but smaller homes continue to trend upward. In fact, between 2018 and 2019, search queries for ranch-style home plans grew by 60%.
While these types of homes were all the rage during the 1950s and 1960s, they fell out of favor around the 1990s, when bigger structures took over. Now, they’re back.
Are you looking for floor plans for ranch homes? Today, we’re sharing how to design one that you’ll love to call yours.
Make the Front the Focal Point
Ranch homes usually have long, sprawling front exteriors. While most are single-story in design, they’re built to go out instead of up. This means you may not have the luxury of a second story, but you can go all out and make a stellar front porch.
Use this space to your advantage and put the emphasis there. You can do a raised, traditional porch or a flat patio depending on your property layout. This is a great place to begin your floor plan design and can set the tone for the rest of the space.
Consider an Open Layout
In their earlier heyday, ranch-style home plans consisted of multiple, segmented rooms. Now, however, we’re living in the era of the open floor plan. Blame it on the Magnolia Network, but we’re all looking for walls to sledgehammer and hallways to open up.
This style lends itself well to a ranch home, especially in the living room and kitchen. If you’re designing from the ground up, consider a room plan that allows you to combine these spaces into one area, giving the illusion of more space.
Remodeling? Ask your contractor about any rooms you can combine into one to enhance your comfort level.
For instance, many older-style ranch homes had separate bedrooms and primary bathrooms that you can combine into an ensuite. You can check out inspiring bathroom before-and-afters here: https://ctbathplanet.com/bathroom-renovation-projects/.
Add Natural Light
A drawback of ranch-style house plans is that they tend to have lower ceilings, which can make the rooms appear dark. To offset this, add as many big picture windows as possible and keep the window treatments minimal.
Sunlight adds warmth and dimension to any room, and it makes a great impression here. You can even swap an exterior wall for a sliding glass door or a floor-to-ceiling window for added effect.
Think Strategically
Sometimes, practicality wins. A smart floor plan design is one that you can actually live with, not one that just looks great on paper. As you work with your builder, think about how you actually plan to use the rooms in your home.
If you have small children, consider putting their bedroom across the hall from yours, so you can hear them at night. If you’re bringing in-laws with you, create a place where they can live as independently as possible, such as a finished, accessible basement.
Get Creative With Floor Plans for Ranch Homes
Ranch homes are experiencing a resurgence, and we’re here for it. These affordable properties have all the comforts you could want and are more style-forward than ever before.
Now that you know how to design floor plans for ranch homes, you can start this fun and exciting process with confidence. In the meantime, we’re here to keep you updated with the home tips you need, so check out more of our guides!
