Let's run quickly through some common floor plan errors, in order to get to more subtle design issues. Direct Entrances Into Main Rooms This is never done in polite circles. Some kind of defined entry, if not a separate vestibule, is an absolutely essential element in a good house plan. Improperly Placed Doors You can't design a room without considering where the furniture goes—real furniture, not the scaled-down stuff they draw in real estate brochures. With the furniture drawn in (try two or three different possibilities), you will quickly see where doors can and cannot be placed. Also, consider door swings; colliding doors are a nuisance that can usually be avoided (see Figure 1). Plumbing Over Living Areas Bathrooms, kitchens, and
