5 Easy Tricks for Choosing the Best Floor Plan for Your New Rental

It’s been quite a while since the days of feng shui, when choosing a place to live was partly based on its positioning from the sun or the energetic flow of the apartment. In fact, given the current white-hot housing market, both buyers and renters have inevitably begun to lower their expectations in order to secure a decent place to live.

And, although it might seem trivial, the floor plan of your future home can make a world of a difference in the long run. Whether you’re a fan of an open, airy space or prefer more well-defined rooms, it’s important to take time to assess your preference for floor plans — even when looking for apartments for rent. That way, you’ll find the best floor plan that will make the most sense for you, your lifestyle and your unique personality.

With that in mind, below are a few useful tips on how to choose the ideal floor plan when renting:

1. Call on the Ghost of Apartments Past and Ask Some Important Questions

 

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Like many other situations in life, sometimes it pays off just to take a walk down memory lane and assess your past in order to create a better future. So, when it comes to your apartment, try to think back on your past rentals or even just your current one. Then, pinpoint the things that worked and those  that didn’t. Maybe you’ve outgrown the place and it’s hard to store your many belongings. Or, perhaps your preferences have changed and you’re looking for a place that opens up to the living room and entertainment space, instead of the kitchen or the bedroom. These are the considerations that you should be aware of before choosing a floor plan for your next apartment. As long as you know what works best for you, you’ll surely find a good match out there.

2. Define Your Current Lifestyle and Make It Justice

Once you’ve looked a bit into your past, move a step forward and think of your current lifestyle, as this will affect the way that you use and perceive your living space. As an example, if you work from home, you’ll probably need a small office with quick access to a bathroom and the kitchen. If you have kids or pets, they, too, will shape your needs in terms of a floor plan. Or, if you entertain a lot — if you love throwing dinner parties, for example — an open floor plan might be the best choice so you can cook and socialize at the same time. The same goes for kids, especially toddlers, who need constant supervision.

3. Prepare for Any Future Additions

 

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Speaking of kids, if you aren’t a parent right now — but are planning to be in the future — take that into consideration when setting your heart on a new apartment. Realistically, depending on how long you plan to stay in your rental, you might need to prepare to accommodate a new family member. If you will need a nursery, for instance, the ideal floor plan would enable it to be close to the main bedroom for easy access. Similarly, look for apartments with larger living rooms that will accommodate all of the baby stuff and toys, as well as an open floor plan, which is ideal if you need to cook, but want to keep an eye on the kids at the same time.

4. Consider Functional Spaces and Storage

Especially during the early years of the pandemic, we all got used to spending more time at home — and, with that, came more and more stuff to either serve or entertain us. Of course, when you add multiple family members into the mix, it’s not hard to get to the point where you feel crowded (and even suffocated) by your belongings.

In some cases, a healthy decluttering session might do the trick, but it’s also important to find a space that can accommodate your things and keep at least some of them out of sight. Therefore, a floor plan that includes a couple of storage spaces — like a coat closet in the hallway or a pantry near the kitchen — can help you keep things organized and comfortable.

5. Envision Yourself There

 

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Last, but not least, is a simple trick, but one that can carry a lot of weight: can you envision yourself more in one apartment or the other? Do you like it enough? Do you see yourself living, working, entertaining or raising a family there? Can you picture yourself simply having a Saturday morning coffee in peace?

Remember, it’s the little details that make up the big picture, and how you feel about your living space is crucial. Ideally, coming home at the end of the day should feel like coming to your own personal sanctuary — where everything flows just right, the vibes are good, and you can always count on a useful, functional space that meets your needs.

Check out more tips and tricks on our blog, where you can learn everything about renting easy and resting easy – from finding the perfect place to making it your own with beautiful and affordable décor ideas, renting with pets, living with roommates and much more.