We’ve finally found a simple way to share the evolving layout of our home without inviting everyone over for a tour (though we still welcome visitors). Recently I discovered a free, user-friendly floor planning tool called Floorplanner that makes it easy to create clear, proportional 2D house plans. I’ve used it to sketch both our previous layout and the nearly finished new layout so you can compare the changes and see how the renovation is shaping up.
Last night I spent time recreating two versions of our floor plan: the original arrangement and the updated plan that reflects most of the work we’ve completed. I didn’t take exact measurements for every room, so the square footage and fine technical details are approximate. My goal was to keep proportions realistic and to illustrate the flow, circulation, and functional changes we’ve made.
Below are the images of the two floor plans. The first image shows the old layout and the second image shows the new layout. These visuals highlight how a few well-considered changes can dramatically improve the usability and feel of a small house.
And here is the updated floor plan that reflects our current renovation choices:
Key changes you’ll notice in the new layout:
- Wider doorways around the kitchen and den, which improve circulation and create a more open feel between rooms.
- New continuous wood flooring that visually unites the kitchen, den, and laundry/bathroom area for a cohesive look.
- An opened-up laundry nook that replaces bulky bi-fold doors, making the space easier to access and more functional.
- The living room has been reconfigured into a combined living and dining area to better suit daily life and entertaining.
- The former dining room has been repurposed as a third bedroom, giving the house more flexible sleeping or office space.
- A redesigned kitchen that offers roughly 50% more counter space, improving food prep, storage, and usability.
Why these changes matter: opening circulation and increasing usable surface areas were the main design goals. The wider openings and continuous flooring provide visual connectivity and help small spaces feel larger. Converting underused rooms into functional zones, like turning a formal dining room into a bedroom, reflects how we actually live and increases the home’s adaptability. The larger kitchen counters make daily tasks smoother and add practical value to the space.
Tips if you want to try this yourself:
- Start with rough measurements and focus on proportional relationships rather than precise dimensions at first. This helps you iterate quickly.
- Create a separate layer or copy of the original plan before making changes so you can compare “before” and “after” easily.
- Use consistent flooring or color cues in your plan to demonstrate how different rooms will flow together.
- Test different door widths and swing directions to see how they affect traffic patterns and furniture placement.
- Keep notes on the plan about furniture or fixtures you intend to keep versus items you’ll replace; this makes decisions clearer during renovation.
I hope these plans help you visualize the transformation. If you’re planning your own layout changes, a simple 2D floor planning tool can be a practical, low-cost way to explore options before you commit to construction. It’s been a valuable step in our remodeling process and has made communicating ideas with contractors and family members much easier.
If you try digital floor planning, I’d love to see what you design—feel free to share descriptions or screenshots. Watching a home evolve through thoughtful layout changes is one of the most satisfying parts of a renovation.