1. Room Relationships and Sizes
Chapter 8
Room Relationships and Sizes

2. Links for Chapter 8 Floor Plan Design Kitchen Area Living Area
Traffic Patterns
Sleeping Area
Accessibility
Service Area
Related Web Sites

3. Floor Plan Design Considerations
Number of inhabitants and their age and sex
Family activities
Desired number of bedrooms and bathrooms
Desired kitchen appliances
Budget and home style
Intended length of stay

4. Client Needs Have clients write a specific list including:
- minimum number of rooms
- minimum room sizes
- how rooms will be furnished
- wishes
Generate bubble drawings and preliminary sketches

5. Living Area These rooms include: entry/foyer living room family room
dining room
den/study/office
nook

6. Entry
Main entry is the focal point of the house and provides protection against the weather
Clearly define access to the front door by raised ceiling and good landscaping
Door size of the entry will be influenced by the number of doors

7. Entry Single entry doors are generally 3’-0” wide
Larger homes may have doors 42” – 48” wide
Double doors are typically 5’-0” to 6’-0” wide
Single and double doors are usually 6’-8” but available in 8’-0”
The weather must be considered
Service entry is used by the family between the house and garage, yard, or service areas

8. Foyer
Used to greet guests, hang coats, and provide access to the rest of the home
Should create a warm, inviting feeling and enhance traffic flow
Keep foyer proportional in size to the rest of the house
Provides access to each area of the home

9. Living Room
Designed according to the needs and interests of the homeowner
Size is determined by the typical number of guests that will be entertained
If there is no family room, this room is used for formal entertaining and quite conversation
Usually placed near the entry and a few steps down
Should be placed so that other areas of the home can be accessed without having to pass through

10. Family Room Most used room in the house
Used for many different activities for a variety of people
Minimum size should be 13’ x 16’
Air must be able to circulate if there is a wood stove or fireplace

11. Dining Room
Located near the kitchen for easy serving and the living room for easy passage
Small dining is 9’ x 11’ minimum
Formal dining is about 11’ x 14’
Maintain room to walk (about 42”) around an occupied chair at the table

12. Nook and Den/Study/Office
Nook needs to be near the dining and kitchen areas for family meals
Den, study, or office is used for quite reading and study
Home theaters are used to show high-quality movies for about 8 to 12 people

13. Sleeping Area

14. Sleeping Area
Number of bedrooms will depend on the size of the family and the ages of the children
A minimum of two sleeping rooms should be provided
Keep plumbing away from bedroom walls by placing a closet between them

15. Bedrooms Place on the southeast side of the house
Minimum size is 70 sq. ft. and 100 sq. ft. if financed by the FHA
Master bedroom should have additional space for sitting and bathing
Minimum of 24” on each side of the bed should be provided

16. Closets Closets are not required according to code
Males need at least 48” and females 72”
Minimum of 30” is needed to prevent wrinkling of clothes
Can be used to buffer noise between rooms
Master bedrooms should have a walk-in closet

17. Service Area
These rooms include bath, kitchen, and utility rooms and garage
Keep service areas together to minimize plumbing needs

18. Bathrooms Types of bathrooms Half-bath - lavatory and toilet
Three-quarter - half-bath plus a shower
Full bath - half-bath plus a tub/shower
Bathroom suite - full bath plus enlarged tub

19. Bathrooms Each bathroom should have an individual access
Two-story house needs two full bathrooms
Place bathrooms back-to-back to reduce the amount of plumbing

20. Kitchen Locate near dining area
Windows usually allow for supervision of children
Keep near garage or carport for easy grocery unloading

21. Kitchen Areas Storage Area Preparation Area
Needed 18” beside refrigerator
Upper cabinets are 12” wide and base cabinets are 24” wide
Preparation Area
Includes sink, cooking units, and clear counter

22. Kitchen Areas Cleaning Center
Includes sink, garbage disposal, and dishwasher
Double sink is 32” x 21” and wider
Dish storage should be near the dishwasher
Do not include a garbage disposal in a septic system

23. Work Triangle
Formed by drawing a line between the preparation, storage, and cleaning areas
This maintains traffic flow and efficiency in preparing food
Additional appliances will affect the management of the kitchen areas

24. Work Triangle No side should be less than 4’ or more than 7’ long
Sum or the triangle sides should be at least 15’ but not more than 22’
Traffic flow should not pass through the triangle

25. Work Triangle

26. Counter Arrangements Straight - Used in small units
Corridor or Galley - Cabinets are on two parallel walls that are at least 48” apart
L-Shaped - Cabinets are on adjacent walls and helps eliminate traffic

27. Counter Arrangements
U-Shaped - Ideal for large kitchens with at least 60” between facing cabinets
Peninsula - An additional leg is added to an L- or U-shaped kitchen design

28. Counter Arrangements
Island - Added to any kitchen design and provides additional counter space

29. Cabinet Sizes Overhead Cabinets Base Cabinets 12”-18” deep
30”-33” above counter
12”-18” above appliance
9”-48” wide
Base Cabinets
24”-36” deep
36” high
9”-48” wide

30. Appliance Arrangements
Sink in front of a window
Sink should promote easy movement between the other work areas
Avoid placing sink and dishwasher on different counters
Place refrigerator near service area and sink

31. Utility Room
Space needed for cleaning and caring for clothes and long term storage
Place near the kitchen or bedroom
Include a laundry chute if possible

32. Garage or Carport Minimum space for single car is 11’ x 20’
Minimum space for two cars is 21’ x 21’
Additional space may be needed for other equipment or a workshop
Blend into the rest of the residence

33. Traffic Patterns
Traffic Flow - The route people follow as they move from one area to another
Circulation pathways should be between 36” and 48”
A sunroom or solarium is used to bring the outside into the interior living areas

34. Traffic Patterns - Inside/Outside
A court is at exterior grade level and enclosed by three or more walls
A patio is a ground-level made of concrete, stone, brick, or treated wood

35. Traffic Patterns - Inside/Outside
A balcony is above ground that projects from a wall or building with no additional supports
A porch is an enclosed patio or deck

36. Universal Accessibility
9’-0” parking space is required
Doors need a 32” clearance
A 60” square required for a 360° wheelchair turn

37. Universal Accessibility
Countertops should be 30” to 32” high
Refrigerator should have side-by-side doors
Install grab bars next to toilets, tubs, and showers
Include nonskid floor surfaces in bathroom

38. Universal Accessibility
Changes in elevation between outside and the front door require a ramp of no more than a 1:12 slope with 30” maximum rise

39. Related Web Sites
International Interior Design Association -
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers -
National Spa and Pool Institute -
National Sunroom Association -