While you are planning the layout of your self-built home, it is a good idea to have a look at your current living arrangement and indeed other people’s houses as well. There may be some aspects of the rooms and the layout in general that you might want to keep and some that you feel to be unattractive or just awkward, due to there possibly being too many items on the floor that would be more accessible and organised on shelves.

The hall and staircase, for example, can be just an attractive feature or more functional in nature. For instance, a cupboard under the stairs might be handy especially with integrated shelves or shelving systems to hold various items such as a toolbox and cleaning materials. It might also possibly be a good place to store shoes and coats.

An open plan living space might be more useful to you. The number of bathrooms and whether you want en-suite bedrooms will be another aspect to be considered. Even if a bathroom is small, making use of shelving units not only for storage, but innovative decoration can make a room appear larger.

Think carefully about each room in turn, as the size of the windows and the height of the ceiling, as well as the use of well-placed shelves can have a dramatic effect on how the rooms feel, as it were. More natural light in the room would mean less use of electric light. A high ceiling will make the room feel cooler which would be beneficial in any hot summer weather that might occur.

You might want an office or a hobby room. Where you put this room should also be thought out carefully, preferably it should be located in the quietest part of the house to allow you to concentrate on your work or hobby.