These days, people live in cities with limited space, so row houses have become a popular way to live. These small but useful homes offer a unique mix of low-cost living in a community and smart design. Figuring out row house design plans is important whether you’re building a home for the first time or looking for a cosy place to live in a busy city. In this blog, Brick & Bolt will detail about row house plans, their main features, advantages, and things to consider to help you get through the process easily.
What is a Row House?
A row house, which is also called a townhouse or terraced house, is a type of residential building that shares walls with units on both sides. These homes are usually lined up in a row, making a continuous line of attached houses. Row houses are made up of multi-storey designs, and each unit has its own entrance and private outdoor space, like a small yard or porch.
How to Make a Row House Plan Designs
When it comes to row house plans, there are a few design rules that must be followed to make the best use of the space and make sure people are comfortable:
Vertical Expansion:
Row houses often have multiple floors to compensate for their limited horizontal footprint. This vertical expansion makes good use of the space by giving living rooms, bedrooms, and other essential rooms.
Open Floor Plans:
Nowadays, people love open floor plans. Many row house design ideas use open floor plans that combine the living room, dining room, and kitchen into a single, flowing space to make a row house feel bigger.
If you’re interested in exploring house floor plans, be sure to check out Brick & Bolt’s floor plan page for a wide range of options.
Outdoor Connections:
Even though row houses are small, they often have outdoor spaces like porches, patios, or small yards that allow residents to connect with nature and extra living space.
Natural Light Optimisation:
In row house plans, it’s important to find ways to bring natural light into the home. So, place windows and skylights carefully to maximise natural light and make the small living areas feel bright and airy.
Types of Row House Designs
Row house plans come in various number of different ways to suit different lives and tastes. Here are some common types:
Traditional Row Houses:
These are the classic designs with regular facades that usually have similar windows, doors, and rooflines. Most of the time, they are symmetrical and can be found in older urban areas.
Victorian Row Houses:
These row houses are characterised by ornate detailing, decorative trim, and vibrant colours. They were popular during the Victorian era and are often found in historic districts of cities.
Georgian Row Houses:
These row houses are based on the Georgian style of architecture and have simple, symmetrical designs. They have a front door in the middle and brick walls with sash windows.
Greek Row House:
The designs of Greek row houses are often based on ancient Greek architecture, which is known for its symmetry, proportion, and simple elegance.
Duplex Row House:
Duplex row houses consist of two separate apartments stacked on top of each other. Each apartment has its own door and amenities. They offer a way for multiple generations to live together or to make money by renting out rooms.
Green Row Houses:
These row houses are built with sustainability in mind. They have green building features like green roofs, solar panels, and rainwater collection systems to help the environment and save energy efficiency.
How to Make the Most of Space in Row House Plans
A key part of row house design plans is making the most of the room you have. Architects and designers use a variety of methods to make living areas that are useful and efficient:
Multi-Purpose Rooms:
Row house plans often have rooms that can be used for more than one thing, like a guest room that can also be used as a home office or a living room that can be turned into an eating area.
Built-In Storage:
To maximize your home’s space, consider smart storage ideas. Smart built-in storage options, like closets under the stairs, wall niches, and lofts, help you make the most of your room and keep clutter at bay.
Small Appliances and Fixtures:
Choosing small appliances like stackable washers and dryers and fixtures that take up little room, like pedestal sinks, can make the inside of row houses much more efficient.
Efficient Circulation:
When you plan your circulation patterns well, you can make the most of the space you have by reducing wasted space and making sure that people can easily move from one place to another.
Advantages of Living in a Row House
Row houses have many advantages that make them a popular choice for many people looking to buy a home:
Affordability:
Row houses are often less expensive than separate single-family homes. This makes homeownership easier to get, especially in cities.
Low Maintenance:
Row houses need less maintenance than bigger detached homes because they share walls and have smaller outdoor spaces. This makes them perfect for busy people or for those who want to live in a low-maintenance environment.
Community Living:
People in row houses live close to each other and share shared areas, so they often help build a sense of community and neighbourhood friendship.
Walkability:
Many row house projects are in cities or suburbs, which makes it easy to get to public transportation, shops, and neighbourhoods where you can walk.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Row House
Row houses have many benefits, but before you buy one, you should think about the following things:
Noise Levels:
Shared walls with neighbouring units can increase noise levels, so it’s important to measure the soundproofing quality of the row house plans you’re considering.
Privacy Concerns:
If you live close to your neighbours, you may worry about your privacy, especially when you’re outside or there is a lot of noise.
Homeowners Association(HOA) Fees and Rules:
An HOA oversees most row house communities. It sets the rules for the community and collects fees for things like upkeep and amenities in the shared areas. Before buying a unit, it’s important to read these.
Parking and Storage:
Depending on the neighbourhood, row houses may not have many parking spots or storage units, so it’s important to consider what you need and what’s available.
In conclusion, row houses are a unique way to live because they are affordable, allow you to live in a community, and are designed to be energy efficient. You can choose a row house plan that fits your wants and way of life if you know about them, how they’re put together, and the things you should think about. No matter if you like the cosy look of a traditional row house or the sleek look of a stacked townhouse, there is a row house plan style for you. Enjoy living in the city and look into the different row house plans to find the right one for you.
If you want to know about transforming your terrace with creative ideas, then click the link below.
Transforming Your Terrace: Creative Design Ideas for Outdoor Living Spaces