Why you should care

When searching for your home, you’ll come across thousands of property layouts. The choice is great, but it’s also confusing. You should choose your home’s layout based on your lifestyle and priorities and this five-step questionnaire will help you decide in no time.

Deciding on a home layout can be tricky and time consuming because we’re always torn between what we want and what we need. Interior designers suggest that you find a balance between form and function to achieve your dream space.

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Not sure how to start? These five questions will help you shortlist your property shopping and determine if you’ll require one customised just for you.

1 What type of lifestyle do you lead?

The type of lifestyle and personal interests you have largely dictate how you envision your dream home. For instance, if you love the outdoors, you’d prefer an open layout space that welcomes the outdoors, indoors with large mirrors and sliding doors. If you’re a family person, you’d want communal areas around the house.

Assess your space current floor plan and determine its pros and cons to determine what you want in the property you’re looking for.

2 Do you often entertain guests?

If you love throwing dinner parties or often have family and friends over, you should consider allocating a larger space for entertaining. Professional interior designers suggest having an open floor living and dining space to accommodate large groups.

If you rarely have guests  over, you can opt for a significantly smaller living room and use the space for personal interest sections like a reading nook or a home office.

3 What is missing in my current space?

If the design of your home just isn’t right, find out what you’re lacking. Maybe your space is too small, or has too many rooms. Find out what’s making you unhappy about your current home and create a solution. Deciding on this will help you narrow down layouts.

4 Is this a long-term home?

Although it’s hard to predict your future, you can still try to imagine what your life would be like 5 to 10 years down the line: Do you plan on staying in your home in the long run, or is it only a temporary living arrangement? If you plan on starting a family or accommodating elderly parents in the future, then it’s best to take those scenarios into account rather than contending with a layout that only works for you presently. Make sure you have extra bedrooms for potential kids, partners, and family members in the long run.

5 What do I care about most?

In the process of planning the layout of your dream home, you need to decide whether the size or aesthetics in your space take precedence. It’s not that you can only choose one or the other, but prioritising will help you manage your budget. If the size of your space matters, then choosing a layout with more square feet and forgo things like a newer, more expensive development, or nice-to-haves like a high ceilings and fancy finishes.

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Need an interior designer’s opinion? Let our professionals help you.  Click on the ‘Request Quote’ button on any of the images to receive free consultations from Malaysian interior designers.

You can also check out other local interior design portfolios.

Why you should care

When searching for your home, you’ll come across thousands of property layouts. The choice is great, but it’s also confusing. You should choose your home’s layout based on your lifestyle and priorities and this five-step questionnaire will help you decide in no time.

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