Popular House Plan Features Homeowners Love

Choosing a house plan isn’t only about square footage, bedrooms and architectural style. The spaces that simplify daily routines, keep clutter under control or give a household room to evolve can be just as important. House plans with popular features offer plenty of ways to personalize how a home functions. From a hardworking mud room to a dedicated office space, the following are some of the best house plan features to consider as you search for your next home.

Mud Rooms Keep Everyday Clutter in Check

A mud room creates a transition point between the outdoors and the main living areas, giving shoes, backpacks, coats and sports gear a designated landing spot. Some house plans with laundry room designs place the two areas together so dirty clothes can head straight to the wash instead of traveling through the house.

A drop zone serves a similar but typically smaller purpose. Rather than a separate room, it may consist of a bench, hooks, cubbies or cabinetry near an entry. For busy households with plenty to corral, a full mud room offers more room to stay organized and keep everyday items out of the main entryway.

Walk-In Pantries Make Kitchen Storage Easier

The walk-in pantry has moved well beyond a few shelves for canned goods. Depending on the floor plan, it can accommodate small appliances, packaged goods, serving pieces and other kitchen essentials that might otherwise compete for cabinet or counter space. Keeping these items nearby but out of sight can also help the main kitchen feel less crowded. This feature is especially helpful for larger families who want to buy in bulk or keep extra household goods on hand.

Butlers Pantries Add a Space for Serving and Prep

A butler’s pantry traditionally served as a staging area between the kitchen and dining room, but today’s versions can take on several roles. Cabinetry, countertops, a sink, beverage refrigerator or second dishwasher can turn this pass-through space into an additional prep and entertaining zone. For households that host frequently, a butler’s pantry can also keep dishes and behind-the-scenes meal preparation away from the main kitchen when guests arrive.

Office Space Creates a Dedicated Place to Work

Working from the kitchen table may be fine occasionally, but house plans with office space provide a designated setting for remote work, studying, household paperwork or managing a business. When exploring house plans with home office layouts, consider more than the size of the room. Its location can make a significant difference. An office near the front entrance may work well for someone who meets with clients, while one tucked away from the main gathering areas may offer fewer distractions.

Open Floor Plans Bring Shared Spaces Together

An open floor plan minimizes walls between primary gathering areas such as the kitchen, dining room and great room. The result is better sightlines and easier movement between spaces, whether you’re preparing dinner, entertaining friends or keeping an eye on children. Open layouts remain popular because they can make shared areas feel larger and allow natural light to travel farther into the home. Thoughtful furniture placement, lighting and ceiling treatments can visually define individual zones without closing them off.

Bonus Rooms Leave the Possibilities Open

House plans with a bonus room provide extra square footage for work, entertainment, storage and more. Bonus rooms can be especially valuable as a household’s needs change. Depending on the size and location, a bonus room might become a:

• Game room or playroom
• Media or movie room
• Home gym
• Hobby or craft area
• Second office
• Teen hangout
• Guest space

House plans with large bonus room layouts can accommodate more than one purpose, while house plans with flex room designs offer a similar opportunity on a smaller scale. What’s more, house plans with loft spaces can also provide an adaptable area without requiring a fully enclosed room. Read more about the value of a bonus room layout here.

Wrap-Around Porches Extend Living Outdoors

A wrap-around porch brings character to a home’s exterior while providing another place to gather, dine or relax. Because the porch continues around more than one side of the house, it can offer multiple vantage points and a choice of sun or shade throughout the day.

Although commonly associated with farmhouse and country architecture, wrap-around porches appear on an assortment of house styles. They’re a reminder that must-have house features aren’t limited to what happens inside the walls.

Selecting the Best Features for Your Home

Before picking a house plan, think about what features you would love to have in it. Consider where clutter tends to accumulate, how often you entertain, whether you work from home and which spaces may need to serve a different purpose five or 10 years from now.

Explore America’s Best House Plans’ collections to find house plans with modern features and layouts that bring the right combination of function, comfort and style to your future home.

As you search for the perfect features, remember every house plan in our collection can be modified through our Modification Services. If you find the perfect house plan, but it’s missing your “final touch,” such as a kitchen island, breakfast nook, open floor plan, etc., you can request changes with our Modifications team.

We want your home to be exactly what your family wants and needs. Find more information about how the customization process works here.