How to Design the Perfect Single Storey Bungalow

Brief 

From the best bungalow design layouts to how to make the most of views, our guide reveals the secrets of creating the perfect single storey home. Here, we explain what your top bungalow design considerations should be and offer the best solutions when it comes to floorplans.

Insight

Bungalow design needs careful planning and consideration if the benefits of single storey living – accessibility, futureproofing and the opportunity to connect to the garden, for example – are to be enjoyed.

Despite the many advantages of single storey homes the word ‘bungalow’ still throws up negative connotations for some, such as the post-war, poorly constructed properties of the past. However, building a new single storey house or renovating a bungalow presents an opportunity to create a unique home, tailored around your needs.

What are the Benefits of Bungalows?

Although commonly thought of as being solely for those with accessibility issues, living in a bungalow actually holds many benefits over multi-storey living.

Single storey layouts mean:

• no stairs to negotiate or to factor in to a layout
• the potential for garden access from bedrooms
• opportunities to have vaulted ceilings and rooflights throughout the main living areas, creating spacious, light-filled interiors
• a great connection with outdoors

How do You Keep Living and Sleeping Spaces Separate?

When considering bungalow design you top priority should be to ensure clear separation between the living areas and sleeping areas — no one wants to be sleeping right next to a noisy kitchen. Your single-storey layout will be dictated by many factors, including the plot and the size of the property, but the form will have one of the biggest impacts on where you position the bedrooms.

There are various ways you can tackle this, depending on the shape of the building: