They toured five different homes this weekend, but something about this one was different. It felt like an interconnected design more than a jumble of rooms. The mudroom made sense. The kitchen was the heart of everything. The laundry room was near the closet (finally!).
“It just feels right,” she said.
That feeling of flow in a home doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of thoughtful floor plan decisions. These are the layout elements our clients love most and why they’re worth considering for your custom home.
Main-Floor Primary Suite
It’s a good rule of thumb to keep the most important rooms of your custom home, your master bedroom, bathroom, and closet, conveniently on one level. This layout is ideal for aging in place, improved accessibility, and long-term future-proofing, while also providing added privacy and separation from children’s or guest bedrooms.
Thoughtful Mudroom Placement
Located between the garage and main living space, a well-planned mudroom is designed to manage the mess and traffic of everyday living. Built-in lockers, cubbies, and benches are ideal for shoes, coats, and backpacks. Pair your mudroom with a powder room or laundry area for extra convenience.
Laundry Room Near the Primary Closet
It won’t be the grand dining room or the luxury bath that makes you truly fall in love with your custom home; it will be the ease and convenience built into your lifestyle. A perfect example of this is saving yourself time and energy on laundry day by orienting your laundry room near your primary closet. This eliminates the need to carry loads up and down stairs or across the house.
Open-Concept Living with Strategic Separation
Open-concept living is thoughtfully designed to allow the kitchen, dining area, and living space to remain connected while still maintaining their own distinct identities. Subtle design elements such as partial walls, ceiling treatments, and columns create visual boundaries while remaining open.
Indoor-Outdoor Transitions
Bring the beauty and serenity of nature into your custom home with large sliding or folding glass doors connecting your patio to your dining room. Create a seamless flow from your kitchen to an outdoor cooking station and firepit so the party can move in or out depending on the occasion.
Flex Rooms for Changing Needs
Your custom home should change as you do. What you use as a home office during the week could be converted into a comfortable guest suite on holiday weekends. Your children’s playroom could one day turn into a home gym when the kids move out. Have a room that can be easily swapped to a dining space for important meals, but is used year-round as an art studio. With the right planning, you can easily adapt the space over time without needing renovation.
Kitchen-Centric Layouts
The kitchen is the metaphorical heart of the home. What if your custom home floor plan reflected that? Consider sitting in the kitchen in the center with views of the dining room and main living area. Walk-in pantries, oversized islands, and easy access to outdoor living areas are ideal for everyday meals, family gatherings, and dinner parties.
Bonus Details That Make a Big Impact
Here are a few more custom home floorplan features to consider:
- Pocket doors to save space and offer flexible privacy
- Drop zones near the entryway for keys, mail, and tech chargers
- Dual closets in the primary suite for shared storage
Building Your Forever Home
The best floor plans aren’t just visually appealing; they make your life easier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable day after day. The proper layout can feel effortless when every feature is placed with purpose.
At LaFollette Custom Homes, we design homes that live as beautifully as they look. Whether you’re dreaming of open spaces or cozy corners, we’ll help you bring your perfect floor plan to life one thoughtful detail at a time.