Reducing friction in your floorplan for effortless living

A well-designed floorplan should feel intuitive—like everything is exactly where it needs to be for a seamless flow through your home. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by awkward layouts, bottlenecked spaces, or areas that just don’t “work,” it’s likely due to unnecessary friction in your floorplan. Our aim for you to not even notice the flow of your home, you just live effortlessly in it.

Walk-ways and doors

Walk-ways and door-ways that are too tight or wrongly positioned will be immediately obvious as you walk through the space. Consider the areas that will have the most traffic and ensure these are at least 1.2m wide so they're comfortable to travel through. Consider the most obvious movements around the house - bedrooms to living areas, living areas to bathrooms, etc. - and ensure doorways are both wide enough and located in ways that make the spaces flow.

Electrical points

It becomes really obvious when lights, power points and light switches are not located where they feel most natural. The problem is you often don't realise where this is until you start living in the space. Similar to above, you need to consider the most obvious movements and tasks in the home to ensure that all the electrical points make the most sense. For example, you would want to add a 2-way switch to both ends of a long hallway, or a light over a window seat if you plan to do some night-time reading.

Functional task areas

Task areas like kitchens, laundries and bathrooms should be designed to function without friction. The layout is often the most important factor, particularly ensuring that consecutive tasks are grouped together. For example, the towel rail is close to the shower and the dishwasher is close to the sink. It's also important that the clearance in front and around all the areas is comfortable to move around in.

Storage

When everything has a place, movement around your home becomes easier and more fluid. Consider how you want to use each space and what type of storage makes sense. For example, a coat and shoe closet at the front door, storage for blankets under a window seat, or storage for game boards in the rumpus room.

Private and public spaces

Separating private and public areas will help improve the way each space is used. For example, keeping bedrooms and home offices away from your main living areas and laundry, means less disruption to those sleeping or working, while others are free to watch TV or entertain friends.

A well-designed floorplan should feel effortless, supporting your daily routines without unnecessary obstacles. By prioritising natural flow, thoughtful zoning, and smart functionality, your home can become a space that enhances both comfort and ease of living.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog post. Have a wonderful week!

Nina xx