The best floor plans for families address these frustrations with lots of storage, well-placed rooms, and spaces that can adapt as children grow. New Era Homes offers a variety of family-friendly floor plans like these for homeowners building on their land in Bend and Central Oregon.
We’ll cover a few of the top design elements that families look for, with real-world examples from our floor plan library.
What Makes a Floor Plan “Family-Friendly”?
A family-friendly floor plan helps everyone stay organized and move comfortably through the house, letting members enjoy shared activities without sacrificing privacy.
Think about your daily routine. In the mornings before school, several people need to use the kitchen and bathrooms. Later, someone might be preparing dinner while the kids finish homework and another family member takes a work call. Shoes and backpacks also need a place to go when the kids get home.
Thoughtful room placement can make these routines easier. For example, a laundry room near the bedrooms shortens trips between washing and putting away clothes. An organized garage entry keeps outdoor gear out of the living room. A separate study gives someone a quiet place to concentrate.
Children's ages also influence your priorities. Parents of younger kids may prefer bedrooms nearby, while families with teenagers may want more separation.
Not every family needs the same floor plan. As you compare layouts, focus on the inconveniences you'd most like the next home to resolve.
Mudrooms and Drop Zones Keep Family Clutter Under Control
Backpacks, coats, shoes, and sports equipment need a designated place when everyone gets home. Otherwise, those belongings often end up scattered and in the way.
A mudroom creates an organized transition between the entrance and main living areas. For families in Bend, it can also accommodate hiking boots, winter jackets, helmets, and outdoor gear. Depending on the design, a mudroom might include a bench, hooks, cabinets, or other storage.
The right location makes the difference between a mudroom that works and one that goes unused. If your family usually enters through the garage, a mudroom beside that entrance keeps belongings close to where they're used.
New Era Homes offers several designs with organized entry areas:
- Freedom: A combined mudroom and laundry room connects to the garage entry, providing space for everyday belongings.
- Revolution: A garage-entry mudroom includes a counter and built-in sink.
- Monroe: A built-in bench in the laundry/mudroom provides a place to sit while removing shoes.
When reviewing these layouts, picture your family's usual trip from the driveway into the house. Where will everyone leave their shoes, coats, and bags? An entry area that's convenient to use is always easier to keep organized.
Walk-In Pantries Make Busy Family Kitchens More Functional
For many families, the kitchen is the home's spiritual center. Even outside of meal times, the most activity happens here as groceries get unloaded, lunches are packed, and everyone gathers before heading out for the day.
A walk-in pantry provides dedicated storage for food, small appliances, and kitchen supplies. It can also free up cabinets and counters for frequently used items.
When looking at floor plans, consider the pantry's location. Keeping ingredients near the main preparation area reduces extra steps, while convenient garage access can simplify putting groceries away.
New Era Homes offers designs with walk-in pantry storage, including:
- Lincoln: Features a walk-in pantry, central kitchen island, and open connection between the kitchen, dining area, and great room.
- Madison: Offers an open kitchen and dining arrangement with a walk-in pantry.
Beyond pantry storage, look at counter space, cabinet placement, island seating, and walking paths between appliances. If your children regularly do homework at the kitchen island, you'll want enough room for them to spread out without interrupting meal preparation.
While a walk-in pantry offers extra storage, it isn’t the be-all and end-all. Well-organized cabinetry and a smaller pantry may provide everything your household needs.
Convenient Laundry Room Placement Simplifies Daily Routines
The laundry room's location determines how far you'll carry clothes, bedding, and supplies between rooms throughout the week. A laundry room near the bedrooms reduces trips between the washer, dryer, and closets, while one near the garage offers a convenient place to handle wet jackets, muddy clothing, and sports uniforms.
New Era Homes offers different arrangements:
- Revolution: Places the laundry room near the bedrooms and away from the main living area.
- Freedom: Combines laundry and mudroom functions beside the garage entry.
- Taft 2: Includes a large laundry area with space for coats and boots.
Think about where your family's laundry accumulates and how everyone handles washing, folding, and putting clothes away. Also consider storage for cleaning supplies, available folding space, and noise. A bedroom-adjacent laundry room may reduce walking, but consider when the washer and dryer typically run. Prioritize the arrangement that makes your regular laundry routine more convenient.
Split-Bedroom Floor Plans Offer More Privacy
A split-bedroom floor plan places the primary bedroom apart from the secondary bedrooms, often with shared living spaces in between. This arrangement gives parents and children more separation, which can be more appealing as kids get older.
New Era Homes offers several split-bedroom designs:
- Adams: A single-level layout separating the primary suite from two additional bedrooms and a shared bathroom.
- Lincoln: Includes a private primary suite, with two secondary bedrooms grouped together.
- Jefferson: Separates the primary bedroom from the secondary bedrooms and includes an open great room and study.
- Madison: Places the primary suite toward the rear, with secondary bedrooms and a study near the front.
Your family's nighttime routine can help inform the right bedroom placement. Parents of younger children may appreciate bedrooms nearby, while teenagers usually prefer more privacy.
Look at bathroom access, too. Children should be able to reach a bathroom conveniently, and guests shouldn't need to walk through private sleeping areas.
Also consider how noise from the kitchen and living room might reach the bedrooms.
Flex Rooms Give Families Space to Adapt
Your family's space needs will change, sooner or later. A separate flex room provides an area for activities that don't belong in the kitchen or great room. With an adaptable space, the playroom today could easily become a homework area, media room, or home office several years from now.
Depending on the layout, a flex room can serve as a home office, study area, playroom, hobby space, media room, or occasional guest room.
New Era Homes offers several designs with adaptable spaces:
- Lincoln: A study near the entrance provides a separate work area, with an alternate fourth-bedroom configuration.
- Freedom: A separate family room offers another gathering space beyond the great room.
- Taft 2: Includes a study and bonus room.
- Roosevelt 2: Features a study and upstairs bonus room.
- Tribute 2: Offers a study and bonus room above the garage.
When looking at flex rooms in a floor plan, consider the size, location, natural light, and privacy. A study with a door may be preferable for remote meetings, while a larger bonus room offers more floor space for games or entertainment.
If you intend to use a study or bonus room as a bedroom, it will need to meet certain requirements to qualify as a designated bedroom, so be sure to discuss those plans with your builder.
Other Family-Friendly Floor Plan Features Worth Considering
The five features above address common household frustrations, but several other design elements deserve attention as you compare family home floor plans.
Open Kitchens and Connected Living Areas
An open kitchen, dining area, and great room let family members spend time together while doing different things. For example, with an open floor plan, you could prep dinner while the kids work at the island or keep a conversation going with guests in the living room.
The Lincoln, Madison, and Independence offer connected living spaces to explore.
When considering open floor plans, think about furniture placement and traffic flow. You'll want enough room to move comfortably around the island, dining table, and seating areas. Open layouts also let sound travel, so decide whether your family needs a separate room for quieter activities.
Enough Bathrooms in the Right Locations
When everyone gets ready for school or work at the same time, bathroom access can become a daily struggle. You’ll want to think about how many people will share each bathroom and how easily they can reach it from the bedrooms.
The Washington offers three bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. The Declaration includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms, while the Tribute 2 provides four bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms.
Separate Living Areas for Different Activities
A second living area gives family members room for different activities without competing for the same space. If your current home feels crowded when everyone is home, look at plans with more than one gathering space.
The Freedom includes a separate family room, while the Declaration offers an additional living area alongside its open kitchen, dining, and great room.
Covered Patios and Easy Backyard Access
Covered patios provide another place to eat, gather, and relax when the weather is nice. Consider how outdoor spaces connect to the kitchen and main living areas in a floor plan. Easy access can make outdoor meals and family activities more convenient.
The Monroe and Declaration each feature three covered patios. The Kennedy 2 also offers covered outdoor living space.
For your Bend property, consider orientation, seasonal weather, and how you plan to use the yard.
Garage Space and Additional Storage
Bicycles, skis, camping supplies, tools, and seasonal decorations can quickly fill a garage.
The Commonwealth and Hamilton include garage shop areas, while the Declaration and Tribute 2 feature three-car garages.
Evaluate how much storage space you'll have when all vehicles are parked. Garage entry placement is also worth a second look if your family uses that entrance daily.
A Family-Friendly Floor Plan Checklist Before You Decide On a Design
Use these questions to compare your favorite designs:
- Is there a place for backpacks, shoes, coats, and outdoor gear?
- Does the kitchen provide enough storage and counter space?
- Is the laundry room convenient for your household?
- Does the bedroom arrangement provide the privacy you want?
- Is there a separate room for work, homework, guests, or hobbies?
- Can everyone gather comfortably in the shared living areas?
- Are bathrooms accessible from bedrooms and common areas?
- Is there enough storage beyond the bedroom closets?
- Does the layout provide convenient outdoor access?
- Can the garage accommodate your vehicles and equipment?
- Will the design fit the property's conditions and building requirements?
Focus on the features your family will use most, rather than searching for a plan with every possible option.
Compare Family-Friendly Floor Plans From New Era Homes
New Era Homes offers established floor plans with different combinations of storage, bedroom privacy, connected living spaces, and flexible rooms.
| Floor Plan | Size and Layout | Family-Friendly Features |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | 1,894 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, study | Walk-in pantry, kitchen island, split bedrooms, flexible study |
| Madison | 1,817 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms | Split bedrooms, study, open kitchen and dining area |
| Freedom | 1,936 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms | Garage-entry mud/laundry room, separate family room |
| Revolution | 1,944 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, study | Mudroom with sink, bedroom-adjacent laundry, open living area |
| Declaration | 2,677 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms | Separate living area, three covered patios, three-car garage |
| Tribute 2 | 3,188 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, study and bonus room | Private primary suite, separate study, bonus room, three-car garage |
Each plan page provides drawings and details so you can examine room placement and available options. Explore the designs that interest you, compare their drawings, and consider how each could work on your property.
Have a favorite layout or questions about building on your land in Bend? Contact New Era Homes to discuss your property and preferred design.