You are not alone if you can not visualize a floor plan or architectural drawings. Most people start to visualize a space only after construction is under way. We discuss three low cost ways of getting a better idea of your kitchen, bathroom or living room well before your architect finalizes drawings and construction begins.

Floor Plans are nice, but...
A well thought out floor plan is a first step in desiging or remodeling a new space. However, we live in multi-dimensional world. Space or the perception of a spacious room is important. If you have ever visited a buiding or home with 9 or 10 feet ceilings, you'll understand what we mean. Even small rooms with high ceilings transforms the space and your persception of it.

While a floor plan will give you that bird's eye view of a kitchen, bathroom or other room, it will not be very helpful if there are other elements in the room such as appliances, cabinets, vanities and walls. A good example is this 17' x 12' bathroom and the two the two alternative floor plans below.



See if you could decide which is preferable. The dimensions are exactly alike but the layout is different. Each layout provides a jacuzzi bath, generous shower area, two his and her vanities and an enclosed toilet area.

Build a Virtual Room and walk around in it
First thing you should do is see if the dimensions feel right. If you have comparable space inside your home, buy some inexpensive painter's tape. Then tape the outside dimensions and all other aspects of the bathroom layout. That includes the jacuzzi, shower, toilet bowl and area, vanities, etc.  Now you are ready to see if those distances make sense by doing the following:

1. Stand at the entrance to the bathroom or kitchen. Does it feel cramped? That 30" door may be tight so you might consider adjusting it to 36". That would make it more spacious and a lot easier to get the jacuzzi inside too.
2. Look at the distance between the entrance and the jacuzzi and shower area. Does it seem right. Use your judgement. it could be too short or long. Look at the distances between a vanity and shower/tub.
3. Now stand in the shower. Imagine your self taking a shower. How's the elbow room? Look at where the bench is.
4. Next, stand in the jacuzzi. Most are 72" x 32", but remember there may be a deck required to support the jacuzzi. Make sure that deck is taped also.
5. Next, look at the toilet area. Remember that that will be enclosed and there will be a wall there as well. Do you feel cramped or is there too much space?

Build a Mockup of the space
Taking into consideration the walls and other surfaces is very important. There are two things you can do here. You can build a very inexpensive mock up using some cardboard, tape and clear plastic to simulate windows or shower glass. This does not have to be perfect, but it does have to be to reasonalble scale. See the two we built below.

Notice how each bathroom now appears different. In mockup #1, that enclosed bathroom takes up a great deal of space so that part of the room is not as open and airy. Pick up the mockup and look at it from all angles to get a better idea of how walls, glass and other objects in the bathroom play out.

Use Remodeling Computer Software
You can also invest in a software program made by Better Homes & Gardens or HGTV. These take a little time to learn but they are capable of rending a view from any angle in the room. That will help you visualize how things will look also.

1. Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer 8.0
2. Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 8.0 [DOWNLOAD]
3. Better Homes and Gardens Home Designer Suite 8.0
4. HGTV Home Design & Remodeling Suite
5. HGTV Home & Landscape Platinum Suite

So which bathroom layout did we choose?
Neither. We designed the layout below instead. We felt that both of the above spaces were a bit claustrophobic and redesigned a more linear but open bath with the help of blue tape, the above models and the Better Homes and Garden software. In our opinion it's worth the effort to get what you want.