One of the things that we want to accomplish with our blogs is to show how one choice affects another. Nowhere is this more poignant than choosing the number of floors.
In addition to personal preference, this choice comes down to 4 main considerations:
Footprint - Advantage: 2-story allows for more yard space.
Cost - Advantage: 2-story is cheaper to build for the same space.
Eliminating Stairs - Advantage: 1-story.
Separation - Advantage: 2-story if more is better for you.
Two-story homes have a smaller footprint for the same amount of living area. This means more yard space and cost savings.
In general, the smaller you can make the foundation of a home, the less it costs to build. The lowest-cost-per-square-foot scenario is basically a rectangle exactly the same size on the top floor as it is on the bottom.
Elimination of stairs keeps one-story plans popular, especially with the average age of Americans on the rise.
Separation can be an issue with children. If a baby or small child wakes up during the night do you want to have to climb stairs in the middle of the night to check on him? On the other hand, having the secondary bedrooms upstairs is a popular option when more separation is desired. Having all bedroom upstairs will decrease the number of rooms that will be in view of visitors, which may make entertaining a little less work.
Realtor.com has more good information on the subject.
At Habitation Home Design, we investigate, educate, and collaborate to create the optimal home design for you that’s Beyond Custom!