Anytime that you are starting a new home renovation there are a million questions to ask before you can even think about beginning the project.
What design elements are important to incorporate? What style do you want to go with? Will you be tearing away old walls, electric, or plumbing? Will you be introducing a new bathroom or kitchen? What will the size of the renovation be?
Do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed with the project and questions by deciding to just start construction without a clear and concise plan. You will find yourself struggling to complete almost anything and the renovation process will never seem to end. That is why having well designed, detailed floor plans and blueprints are a crucial step for the overall process.
What is the Difference Between a Design Plan and Actual Blueprints?
At first glance, a design plan and blueprints would seem basically the same but these are two very different ways to display the build project.
A design or floor plan is simply an aerial sketch of what the layout will look like. This includes features such as basic room size, room placement, doors and door frames. It will also include a general idea of where appliances will go such as stoves, dishwashers, furnaces, water heaters, and washers/dryers.
Floor plans will even show what special shapes you would like your walls, staircases, bar countertops, kitchen islands and other elements to be. Any additional accessories, as well as materials you would like to use and even finishes you would like (such as mahogany wood), will be demonstrated here.
These types of plans are perfect for getting an overall feeling of what the space is going to be once the renovation is said and done.
Blueprints are a little more involved than floor plans. These plans were originally called blueprints because of the blue ink that was used when printing them. Nowadays most just use standard white paper for blueprints but the name stuck. A blueprint is simply a technical plan drawn up by an architect that shows every piece that will go into the build.