How to Choose the Best Home Layout for Your Lifestyle

By Toll Brothers 4 minute read

Last updated on August 24th, 2022

Part of the excitement of a new home search is having the opportunity to make choices that are just right for you. When you decide to purchase or build a new home, it’s important to consider which floor plan and features would benefit you the most. Whether your lifestyle is filled with extracurriculars, travel, or entertaining friends and family for large feasts, you can choose a design that will meet your needs.

To find a home layout that feels like the right fit, start by assessing your current lifestyle. Simply, what do you and your family like to do the most? Here are some lifestyle categories to consider before you walk into a Toll Brothers’ sales center and think about home layouts and design you’ve always wanted.

 

Home Floor Plan Ideas for the Kitchen Aficionado

If you’re someone who enjoys cooking up delicious creations, then there are a few questions you should ask yourself about your new home design. Do you need a private area to prepare the food for guests? Do you need to watch your children as you cook? Do you need ample counter space to prepare and entertain guests?

Maybe you would prefer to focus on the surrounding areas or if your home can accommodate a breakfast nook to enjoy morning meals. Look to your outdoor living area if you love to barbecue and need seating or a dining table to host outdoor dinners. Your floorplan could include a transitional indoor to outdoor living space, an extended kitchen to accommodate double islands and breakfast nooks, and a butler’s pantry for dinner parties.

Kitchen layout ideas for those who love or need to cook
Toll Brothers at the Meadows, Escena model, AZ

 

The Home Layout Ideas for Families

If you have a family or plan on having children, it’s crucial to consider not only the near-term needs for your home but also how those needs will change as your children grow. If you have two kids, perhaps a four-bedroom home is a necessity so each child can have their own space, with an extra bedroom to serve as a home office or a guest room? You may find a mudroom to be very valuable so your little ones aren’t bringing the outdoors into your living space. As your kids progress through school, the kitchen island may double as a homework station. Therefore, a large kitchen with a generous island may be what you’re looking for – or a double island kitchen.

A modern home layout with a separate mudroom
Toll Brothers at Falls at Weddington, NC

 

The Best Home Layout Ideas for the Entertainer

Do you receive frequent visits from older children or extended family members? Maybe your future considerations include live-in, aging parents who need a room with a separate entrance or a bedroom on the main floor.

Open-concept living has become extremely popular in recent years. In this type of home layout, the common area does not have any walls separating the spaces. Typically, the kitchen flows right into the main living areas. This design brings loved ones together via the great room. If you frequently entertain, this is perfect for ensuring that you have plenty of room for guests to mix and mingle around the kitchen, dining, and living room areas. For multi-generational families, en-suite floor plans are often the best design options to ensure everyone has their private space including a bedroom, a bathroom, and kitchen.

Modern open concept layout idea for those who love to entertain.
Canterbury Park, WA

 

Home Layout Ideas Based on Your Location & Climate

Depending on where you live in the country, your needs for your home can vary greatly. If you live on the west coast, you probably spend a significant portion of the year utilizing your outdoor space than those that live in less temperate climates. Setting aside a specific area of your home layout for outdoor living can help you get the most out of your outdoor space, and mild climates. If you reside on the east coast, you probably couldn’t imagine a new home without a finished basement to increase your living space. Whatever the need may be, it’s important to remember what kind of flexible space you might want when designing your home. Homes out west can feature a loft and outdoor living area with multiple viewing screens, a generous wet bar, or a place to play billiards. Adding extra features in the home plan like a basement is a great idea for east coasters or those who live in harsher climates. No matter where you’re living, you should always consider multifaceted flex spaces that accommodate things like wine rooms or gaming areas. If you prefer a place to bunker down and watch a good movie or get work done in a quieter environment, a luxury basement is essential.

Modern basement layout idea for those who need extra space.
Orchard Ridge, Hampton model, NJ

 

Home Plan Ideas for the Hobbyist

If you’re someone who enjoys hobbies, needs a dedicated area to work from home, or perhaps a space to set up home gym equipment, don’t forget to factor this into your room count. Have pets? A mudroom would be the perfect option to wash them before they roam the rest of the house. Consider whether you would prefer an extensive laundry room that acts as a mudroom, a modern in-home office to get work done, a stylish gym studio, or a creative music room or writing nook that spurs on imagination over additional bedrooms.

Modern Luxury House Plan Idea for a Home Gym
Canyon Point at Traverse Mountain, Ashton model, UT

Once your home is underway, you’ll be thankful you thought through your lifestyle needs and preferences before a single nail is in place. As important as the aesthetics are, it is equally, if not more, important for your dream home to contain the rooms you need and the space to enjoy the activities that mean the most to you and your family.

 

For help finding and personalizing your home layout visit Toll Brother’s Design Center.

written by

Embracing an unwavering commitment to quality and customer service, Toll Brothers currently builds in over 60 markets in 24 states nationwide, and is a publicly owned company with its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TOL). In 2024, Toll Brothers marked 10 years in a row being named to the Fortune World's Most Admired Companies™ list.* Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information, visit TollBrothers.com. From Fortune, ©2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

  • 16 Comments

    1. Barbara Lannin says:

      I need a house by the end of this month.

    2. Carolne Benton says:

      I’m looking for new constrution 3bedroom home. Need to move in by 12/1/2020. Do you have any ready move in new construction home available for me to look at?

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Carolne, we appreciate your interest in our homes! Do you have a state or Toll Brothers community in mind? Please provide us with this information so we can better assist you in finding the right home for you. Thanks!

    3. Ekram Bella says:

      Ridgecrest community – I have few inquiries, (1) is there a owner’s bedroom on the 1st floor option? (2) is there a basement option? (3) When the model home will be available? When you will start selling? Visited the location.

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Ekram, After looking into your preferences, we recommend the Nora model from Ridgecrest – The Peak Collection. It comes with a primary 1st-floor bedroom and basement option. You can learn more about the home design on our website here. As for availability and when the community will start selling, please contact our Online Sales Team at 866-232-1719 for more information. Thanks

    4. Chloe Nguyen says:

      I want to build the Culebra house and there is a wait list at Wolf Ranch in Colorado Springs. Do you know how long the house for this model available?

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Chloe, we encourage you to contact our Online Sales Team from Wolf Ranch at 866-999-6822. They’ll be able to provide more information regarding waitlists and model availability. Thanks!

    5. Andrea Lawrence says:

      Are you building any homes in Colorado Springs Colorado near Black Forest

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Andrea, yes, we are! Please visit our website and explore our collection of communities located in Colorado Springs, CO, here. Thanks!

    6. Bonnie Keeshin says:

      Looking for a quick move in ranch property in the Fort Collins area/prefer cul de sac, mature trees and possibly finished basement. With fenced yard.. HOA to handle landscape and snow removal..

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Bonnie, we encourage you to explore Toll Brothers at Trailside Harmony in Timnath, CO, on our website here. There are no quick move-in options currently available, but there are a handful of models that suit your other criteria. Thanks!

    7. Dolly Wahid says:

      Hi, My husband and I will be retiring to Las Vegas in July 2022. We would like to live in a diverse community with parks and amenities nearby. Preferably Summerlin or Lake Las Vegas area.
      We are looking for newly built or soon to be built homes-single story, 3-4 bdm, 2.5 baths, with a small back yard with outdoor kitchen and gardening.
      I will be in Vegas Nov 18-21. Please let me know if you have any inventory to tour during this time.
      Thank you.

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi Dolly, based on your input, we recommend visiting two of our Nevada communities – Mira Villa and Regency at Summerlin – Palisades Collection, both located in Las Vegas, NV. Each community offers a home design that suits your criteria – one-story, 3-4 bedrooms, and 2.5 baths.

        Explore models from each community on our website. Then, to schedule a model tour, contact our Online Sales Team via the phone number located on each community page. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thanks!

    8. Christina Salvador says:

      Hi,

      I’m looking for a lift type house in Phoenix. Preferably in Gilbert/Chandler/Mesa. Any Toll Brothers houses with high ceiling preferably 10feet with loft type of house. We’ve seen Preserve at San Tan Valley but I was wondering if you have in those areas that I’ve mentioned. I really want to be near a school and a hospital if possible.

      Thank you very much!

      Christina

      • Toll Brothers says:

        Hi, Christina. We appreciate your interest in our homes! We have forwarded your information to our local team in AZ. You can anticipate an email regarding available options in the near future. Thanks!

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