FLOOR PLAN BASICS
Learning Targets
Evaluate the various activity
zones in a home.
 Identify factors to consider
when evaluating a floor plan.
 Analyze the advantages and
drawbacks of various floor
plans.
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Floor Plan
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A diagram that shows the
arrangement of rooms.
Presented as if viewed from above.
Includes information about size &
location of:
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Walls
Doors
Windows
Stairs
Closets
Cabinets
Activity Zones
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Private: space for sleeping, relaxing,
bathing, dressing, etc.
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Service: where household work is
done.
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Ex: bedrooms, bathrooms
Ex: laundry room, workshop, garage,
kitchen?
Social: part of the home for activities
and entertainment
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Ex: living, dining, family, & recreation
rooms, hallways, deck/patio etc.
Types of Floor Plans

Open
Few dividing walls separate rooms
 Spacious
 Flexibility for entertaining
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Closed
Walls separate rooms; selfcontained
 Greater privacy
 Better zone separation
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Open or Closed?
Open or Closed?
Evaluating Floor Plans
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Zones
Traffic Patterns
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Size & Shape of Rooms
Economy of Construction
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Place areas of plumbing back to back
Useable Wall Space
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People should be able to walk freely
from room to room
Hallways should be as short as possible
3-4 ft. for circulation
Not broken by doors & windows
Storage
Floor Plan Options

One-Level
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Two-Level
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Split-Level
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Split-Entry
Terms to Know
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Blueprint
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Architectural Symbols
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Shorthand that uses symbols to
represent structures and furnishings
Scale Drawing
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Architectural/construction drawing
Drawing done on graph paper where
each square represents a specific
measurement
Template

Cutouts of furnishings that can be traced
onto a scale drawing
ARRANGING FURNITURE
Learning Targets
Understand common blueprint
symbols.
 Understand clearance space.
 Create functional furniture
arrangements.
 Complete a scale drawing of a
room and its furnishings.
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Arranging Furniture
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Consider Structural Features
 Don’t block doors, windows, vents,
or outlets
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Determine the function of the room
 Activities that take place in the
room
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Create functional groupings
 Place pieces together that meet
one purpose or activity
Arranging Furniture
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Arrange your major furnishings
first
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Divide large rooms into
functional areas
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then, accessorize!
Use furniture as dividers
Create a focal point
Arranging Furniture
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Consider traffic patterns
Logical and Convenient
 Walk easily from place to place
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Consider standard clearance
space
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Furniture styles should be
consistent with the style of the
home
Arranging Furniture
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Avoid placing large furniture pieces
on diagonals
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Wasted spaced
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Consider design elements &
principles
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Consider views from one part of the
home to another
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Use groupings to direct attention toward
or away from certain views
Arranging Furniture
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Use open planning techniques
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Make small rooms appear larger
Be careful not to
overcrowd!
SCALE DRAWING BASICS
Learning Targets
Understand various types of
architectural drawings.
 Understand common blueprint
symbols.
 Use proper clearance space on a
scale drawing.
 Create functional furniture
arrangements.
 Complete a scale drawing of a
room and its furnishings.

Terms to Know

Blueprint


Architectural Symbols


Shorthand that uses symbols to
represent structures and furnishings
Scale Drawing


Architectural/construction drawing
Drawing done on graph paper where
each square represents a specific
measurement
Template

Cutouts of furnishings that can be traced
onto a scale drawing
Drawing to Scale
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Various Scales
1”=1’
 1/2”=1’
 1/4”=1’
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A 1/2 inch scale means the
drawing is one-half the size of
the object it represents
 The smaller the scale, the more
general the information
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Using Graph Paper
1/4” = 1’
 Therefore, each square
represents 1 ft.
 If your measurements are given
in inches, convert to feet by
dividing the number of inches
by 12
 Ex: 36 inch = 3 ft.
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Draw a line that covers 3 squares
How would you draw 6.5 ft.?
Starting to Draw
Outline dimensions of the room
first
 Add structural details (windows,
doors, closets, outlets, etc.) by
using the blueprint symbols
 Add large furniture first, then
smaller furniture & accessories
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Consider Clearance Space
Label Traffic Patterns
OTHER DRAWINGS
Learning Targets
Understand various types of
architectural drawings.
 Understand common blueprint
symbols.
 Use proper clearance space on a
scale drawing.
 Create functional furniture
arrangements.
 Complete a scale drawing of a
room and its furnishings.
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Professional Drawings
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Elevations
Show vertical surfaces as if viewed
by someone standing on the
ground or floor.
 See page 473 in your textbook
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Pictorial
Shows several surfaces in the
room simultaneously
 One or Two Point
 See page 481 in your textbook
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Professional Drawings
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Rendering
Shows realistic details such as
textures, shadows, shadings, and
colors
 See page 482 in your textbook
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Overlay
Sheet of transparent material that
is placed over a basic drawing.
 Can show alternative color
schemes, furniture arrangements,
etc.
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