House Plan Blog

As people have spent more time at home over the past year, interest in usable, comfortable outdoor living spaces has soared. Functionality has proven to be important as many have opted to use outdoor areas as remote workspaces, classrooms, or simply to relax and connect with family and nature.

The desire to have a multi-functional outdoor space is a trend The House Plan Company, a house plan marketing firm based in Eugene, Oregon has verified based on the interest in has seen in house plans with extensive or comfortable outdoor living spaces. Four of the most popular designs offer a mix of covered and open-air outdoor areas.

“When deciding on house plans, home buyers should consider how they’re most likely to use outdoor spaces—just like they would other rooms in the home,” said Rick McAlexander, CEO of The House Plan Company. “Knowing whether the space will be used for large or small gatherings or simply a quiet place to relax will aid in the decision-making process. It’s also important to consider orientation on the lot and weather patterns as they can impact the effectiveness of covered spaces.”

Increasingly, home buyers have demonstrated a desire for outdoor spaces featuring shade structures and privacy screening, and in some cases, the ability to create distinct areas that can serve multiple purposes. Whether for family gathering or to create the perfect setting for an outdoor yoga practice or Zoom call, a shift has occurred from purely entertainment to true outdoor living spaces. Luxury amenities like premium lighting, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, WiFi and comfortable furniture have also become popular when thinking about how to add to the ambiance of the space.

With options that accommodate both expansive and intimate spaces, homeowners are seeking out plans that lend themselves to comfortable outdoor living. Four of the most popular of The House Plan Company’s plans that accommodate extended outdoor living include:

Palmetto (Design #67934)

Featuring a popular farmhouse design, Palmetto offers a single level floorplan with an oversized covered patio that conveniently extends the living space of the kitchen, dining and great room. An outdoor kitchen and 9-foot ceilings make outdoor living easy, and a generous covered front porch offers homeowners yet another space to relax outdoors.

Barnhart (Design #96262)

Vaulted outdoor patios and covered walkways that wrap around three sides of this lodge-style home offer extended living options and plenty of spaces to congregate outside. The ability to incorporate a covered outdoor living room with stone fireplace offers ample entertaining and living areas that can be enjoyed year-round.

Plan (Design #35248)

This farmhouse-style design features a spacious, covered outdoor kitchen with an island that offers additional counter space and a living area with a cozy built-in fireplace. An open-air alcove adjacent to the rear porch creates another nook for relaxing, entertaining and more.

Odessa (Design #59772)

Offering a contemporary design with split-level living, the Odessa plan features a unique, loft-style sunroom that walks out onto a rooftop terrace with a beverage bar and built-in garden beds. Walk out access from multiple rooms on the ground level encourages homeowners to extend their living space outdoors.

Ultimately, location is an important consideration as it relates to planning an outdoor space. Knowing whether there is heavy sun, rainy overcast days, bugs or a mild year-round climate will affect the type of space desired and whether it is covered, open, screened or three-season enclosed.

“Just like planning for long-term use of the interior of a home, home buyers should consider how their needs may evolve,” continued McAlexander. “Transitioning from kids running about to extended family gatherings or aging in place accessibility—all of these stages of life and how they can impact how outdoor space is used are important to keep in mind.”

Over the last year the demand for home designs that feature 4 or more bedrooms has increased. Available in a wide range of sizes and styles, the one thing common with four bedroom house plans is the flexibility.  For a family of four, the additional bedroom could be used as a home office, exercise studio, home school room, etc. If you are a young family or empty nesters those additional bedrooms offer room for storage, hobbies, or guest rooms. To showcase the wide variety that can be found with 4 bedroom floor plans here are a few of our popular 1 story designs.

Sterling 30-990

This small house plan offers families an open, great room style living area with 4 bedrooms all in a 1 story floor plan with 1632 square feet. From the street, the Sterling is a classic ranch style home with a front loading 2 car garage. Inside the foyer is pulled forward to provide privacy between the front door and the great room. Immediately off the foyer, double doors open to either 1 of 4 bedrooms or a space that could be furnished as a den, home office, or home school room. The back of the home is filled with the great room where the living room, dining room, and kitchen are all open to each other. Even in a small floor plan the owners’ suite can have a separate hallway from the other bedrooms. Accessed off the living room, the owners’ suite fills the back right corner of the floor plan and features a private bathroom and large walk-in closet.

Hyacinth 31-094

This comfortable mid-sized Craftsman-inspired house plan offers plenty of separation between the owners’ suite and the other bedrooms. At 2124 square feet the 1 story floor plan offers families tons of flexibility – even the possibility of a 5^th bedroom. Off the entry, double doors open to the den. The left side of the floor plan is filled with three bedrooms which share a compartmentalized bathroom with dual vanities. The core of the design is the great room. The living area features a cozy, corner fireplace and is open to the kitchen and dining room. A sliding glass door in the dining room opens the space to the covered patio. Off the dining room a short hallway leads to the owners’ suite. With direct patio access and a large, private bathroom that features a walk-in shower, twin sinks, and generously sized walk-in closet, this space is a welcomed and luxurious retreat.

Kingsbridge 31-162

At 3259 square feet, this single level house plan with 4 bedrooms offers a modern floor plan wrapped in a trending farmhouse exterior. Natural light is a key part of this design, with most rooms featuring a rich display of windows. The great room fills the right side of the floor plan while 3 of the 4 bedrooms are grouped in the center of the home. For those looking at 4 bedroom designs for the flexibility this is a great house plan to consider. The utility wing of the home has a separate office and the 4^th bedroom which could be furnished as a den or second home office.

Laceflower 31-118

The Laceflower is a classic 4 bedroom house plan with Craftsman style. This 2708 square foot floor plan is filled with trending features. First up the attached 3 car front load garage is ideal for families with older children, those with recreational vehicles, or are simply looking for the extra bay to serve as a workshop. Inside the floor plan offers a blend of informal and formal spaces. Off the vaulted entry is a formal dining room for holidays or large gatherings. The back of the home is filled with an informal great room complete with wet bar, fireplace, and breakfast nook. The bedrooms are well-separated. The owners’ suite is off a private hallway to the left of the great room and is a luxurious retreat with walk-in closet and private bathroom with separate walk-in shower and soaking tub. The 3 other bedrooms fill the right side of the floor plan and offer the flexibility to be used as hobby space, an exercise studio,  home office, or whatever else suites.

These single level 4 bedroom house plans showcase the diversity in design that this floor plan arrangement can come in. Whether you are looking for a modern farmhouse, small ranch, or spacious Craftsman home – there is a four bedroom floor plan out there for you. What to view more design options, take a look at our collection of 4 Bedroom House Plans.

click image for floor plan and design details

Celilo 31-269

This stunning modern plan is designed for a sloped lot.  From the street, you easily approach the attached 3 car garage and the front covered porch. Inside the foyer has tall ceilings giving it a spacious and welcoming feel. To the left, the floor plan opens to the great room which is naturally bright from the rich display of windows plus the fireplace. The dining room is open to the great room and framed on both sides by large sliding glass doors. To the right is a BBQ patio, to the left is a vaulted covered deck overlooking views along the side of the home. At the back of the dining room is the well-appointed kitchen which is only visually separated by the center island with conversation bar. Along the back of the main floor is a den which could be furnished as a home office or as a fourth bedroom. Beyond the den is the owners' suite which boasts a private covered patio and en-suite bathroom with twin sinks, spa tub, and large walk-in shower.

This three bedroom house plan has two secondary bedrooms in the walk-out basement. Also in the lower level is a family room and large storage room.

Ideal for lots with views along the side, the Celilo offers a family centered floor plan designed to fit neatly on a hillside lot.

(click image for plan details and floor plan)

Garage Plan with Apartment - Design 20-328

Looking to add a multifunctional outbuilding to your property? Look no further than Garage 20-328. This detached garage design offers room to store up to 2 cars and has a main floor bathroom with room to add a shower if desired. An exterior staircase leads to a nice covered deck and second floor apartment. A vaulted ceiling runs through the kitchen and great room. A single bedroom fills the left side of the second floor along with a full bathroom. Through sliding glass doors in the great room is the vaulted covered deck. Whether you are looking to live in the apartment yourself or offer it as guest or extended family accommodations the second floor apartment is sure to feel comfortable. 

You may be wondering, what is a duplex house plan? Ever consider if building a duplex is a good choice for you? Duplex plans are a great option for those looking to build for multiple families or generations in mind. Maybe you are looking for a solution that would allow you to build while offsetting the cost with additional income. Whatever the reason, a duplex design will feature 2 units with individual living space. How they are arranged can vary based upon your desire for privacy and lot configuration.

However the duplex floor plan is laid out there is a shared wall between the units. Sometimes that shared wall is one units ceiling and the other unit’s floor. Other arrangements may have the units laid out side by side with a common wall running down the middle. For maximum privacy some duplex plans only have a shared wall between garages.

For those looking to help house family members – either adult children or aging parents – a duplex plan is a great consideration. Day to day living can feel private yet family is close at hand to help when needed.

Multi-family homes are an excellent investment for rental properties as well. Economical to build when compared to building two separate single family dwellings. Ideal for college towns or large cities where housing shortages are at a peak but space is limited. Duplexes provide opportunities for affordable housing or temporarily dwellings and share many design characteristics with townhomes – another great investment design.

With the rise in interest for home plans with dual master suites, many homeowners may be forgetting about the duplex as a solution to multi-generational housing. The benefit over finding a single family home with two master bedrooms is the privacy that is afforded to all when living in a duplex.

Associated Designs in Eugene, Oregon offers a great collection of duplex house plans. And to show the range of this unsung design below are 4 best-selling duplex floor plans.

Maximum Privacy – Columbine 60-046

It is quick to see why the Columbine is a popular duplex design with both homeowners and those looking for investment opportunities. First each unit offers a different floor plan. Unit A is a 1.5 story floor plan that offers 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a great room style living area. While Unit B, is a 1 story design with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The only shared wall runs between the garages allowing the maximum amount of privacy between the living areas. For those looking to help aging parents the Unit B offers an ideal and charming cottage-style apartment so independence can be maintained while keeping help close at hand.

Incognito Duplex – Tupelo 60-006

From the street the Tupelo appears to be a large single-family Craftsman house plan. A charming covered porch frames the entrance to the main floor unit while the second unit is accessed from the side. In this floor plan the common wall is the ceiling/floor. Unit A fills the main level with a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom floor plan; while Unit B is completely on the second floor save for a small entry landing. Upstairs, Unit B’s floor plan incorporates 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and an open great room. The detached garage for Unit A adds to the illusion that this is not a duplex.

Corner Lot – Corydon 60-008

If you are lucky to be working with a corner lot, take a look at the Corydon duplex plan. This floor plan maximizes the privacy of each unit in a non-traditional layout. Unit A is a two story floor plan with all 3 bedrooms on the upper level so that living area fills the main floor. The shared wall with Unit B runs along the great room wall. Unit B also has a great room style living area but offers a 2 bedroom floor plan with 1 bathroom. Garage space is plentiful as Unit B has a 3 car garage. For those looking to maintain the Corydon as a rental property, the second garage bay for Unit B may want to be held aside for the storage of maintenance supplies.

Traditional Duplex – Toliver 60-020

For those looking for a classic duplex design look no further than the Toliver. The floor plans for both units are mirror copies of each other and the traditional common wall runs right down the center. While the design may be traditional it isn’t short of features that homeowners or renters are looking for. Each unit gets an attached 1 car garage with direct access to the living area. The main floor offers a great room style living area while 4 bedrooms are tucked away on the second floor. The master bedroom has a private bathroom and generous walk-in closet while the other three bedrooms share a second full bathroom. The Toliver shows that traditional can be comfortable.

The flexibly and range of style shows that duplex house plans are a great option for multiple stages of life. Whether you are looking for investment opportunities or to care for your family in an ever changing stage of life, a duplex design can shift with the owners’ needs. For more inspiration check out Associated Designs complete collection of Duplex or Townhome house plans.

There are plenty of reasons to think creatively when it comes to building the perfect home plan. A dream design can be tweaked to help generate extra income as a primary residence or investment. And owners with a bit of room to spare can create spaces for beloved parents or grandparents to live in comfort while maintaining independence for the rest of the family.

Owners are increasingly eyeing plans built with the versatility of in-law suites, duplexes and multigenerational homes in mind. From cottages and farmhouses, to craftsman and hillside homes, there are numerous designs to choose from that check the boxes of adaptability and luxury.

To passersby on the street, the Generation #44964 design featured on The House Plan Company has all the appearance of a single-story cottage. But a step beneath the covered front porch and through the entryway reveals there’s much more here than meets the eye. The entryway opens into a generously sized kitchen and dining room that extends to a living room, and out through sliding doors to a covered rear porch. Back off the entryway, a side hallway leads to the private master bedroom with a luxurious master bath.

But it’s off of the kitchen where this plan flexes its versatility. The rooms beyond are an entirely separate apartment unit, with an optional door to connect to the main home, or to be left out to maintain privacy. About half as large as the main dwelling, the apartment unit is cozy and entirely self-functional, with a living room, rear-facing windows, a kitchen with dining area, full bathroom and private bedroom that sits on the opposite side of the design from the primary master bedroom. A hallway past the apartment bedroom opens out to a separate covered porch from the main residence.

Other designs, like the Darrington #89422, use a split garage concept to provide a bit of separation between main and secondary living spaces. Through the front entry, a hallway leads straight ahead to an owners’ suite with a wraparound sitting area, master bath, dual closets and double doors that open to a rear patio. The hallway branches off from the master suite to find two additional bedrooms and a bathroom. Back off of the entryway, an opening to the left reveals a vaulted living room that passes through to an open dining room and kitchen with island, plus a walk-in utility room. An exit from the dining room opens to the rear patio, where there’s more to discover than a mere detached garage. To the right of the garage, a door opens to reveal the great room of an independent secondary unit, complete with two bedrooms and a shared bath. The great room extends into a kitchen with double doors opening back out to the rear of the patio.

For those looking to build on a sloping lot, duplexes can be an effective way to maintain privacy while letting each side enjoy the benefit of rear-facing views. Plan #78627, a contemporary prairie home is ideal as an investment build, or to provide older children or aging parents with a shared yet distinct living space from the owner. Each matching unit starts with a street-facing garage and front entry to a lofty, open dining room that can easily be arranged to residents’ preferences. A kitchen with center island extends off of the dining room, while a hallway off the great room leads to a half bath. Another door opens back from the hall to the master bedroom, complete with a full bath, walk-in closet and exit to a covered rear porch that’s also accessed from a sliding great room door.

This main level space is all a couple or small family needs to feel at home. But a staircase right off the entryway leads down to a wealth of additional spaces for those extended visits from family or friends. The bottom of the stairway reveals an adaptable lower level family room with abundant storage space, two additional bedrooms and a full bath.

Designs like #77084, lodge-style craftsman spread luxury living across two floors. A grand front facade of siding, stone and shingle and multi-level truss roofing opens to an entry hallway with a den off to the left. Farther down the hallway and past a separated dining room, the hall opens to a great room with a fireplace, and exits out through double doors to a back patio and barbecue area. A rear-facing breakfast nook separates the great room from the adjoining kitchen. On the opposite wall, an open gallery hallway leads to a doorway containing the lower-level suite, complete with a full bath and walk-in closet. This space can easily function as a second master bedroom for an older relative, or to offer a bit of privacy for an extended guest. A staircase back off the entryway climbs to an upper floor loft landing, leading ahead to the primary master entry. Step straight into the bedroom, or off to the stately master bath or walk-in closet on either side. Also off of the loft landing is a second bedroom with a walk-in closet and full bath. The opposite site of the landing opens to a hallway with a bonus room and laundry room on opposite ends, plus two additional bedrooms and a full bath.

There are plenty of ways to build multiple suites into one design, however. The Coronado #14909 takes a truly distinguished approach. Incorporating elements of Mediterranean and Spanish design, it places the guest suite and full bath in a poolhouse within a courtyard, separated from the main residence by a swimming pool and wraparound patio. This patio leads down past a gated entrance to the right of the guest suite to the main residence’s entry. Opening to a two-story entryway, passages lead to distinct living room, dining and kitchen spaces, as well as a two-story family room and adjoining breakfast nook. A staircase rises from the family room to a second-floor landing that’s open to the family room and entryway below. This level contains a pair of additional bedrooms, a full bath and additional closet space. Back on the main floor, double doors opposite the living and dining rooms open to the primary owners’ suite, which is separated from the master bath by a walk-in closet, and includes a private exit to the courtyard and pool.