The bungalow house plan is small, cost-efficient, and easy to maintain. Bungalows were first created in south Asia, and their name was derived from Hindi by the East India Company in the 17th century. However, they are often considered large dwellings and are popular houses in Canada, the UK, Australia, and the United States.
What is a Bungalow?
In modern times, a bungalow is almost exclusively considered a small, one-story dwelling popular in the 20th century that has spread worldwide. A bungalow will typically have square space than multi-story buildings, which allows more room for customization and modification. They can offer more privacy than multi-story houses since they are low to the ground and often are surrounded by bushes or hedges. Bungalows are usually laid out with a large living room with smaller bedrooms extending out instead of the more popular open-floor plan we see more and more.
Types of Modern Bungalows
A California bungalow is a modification of the traditional bungalow, which was popular in Hollywood in the 1900s. They are usually one and a half stories, with a large porch and a sloping roof, and are made of wood, stucco, and shingles.
The Chicago bungalow, named after its birthplace, is made of brick and has a full-size basement. It usually has stairs to the porch from street level, sports dormer windows, and a more enclosed front room.
A Prairie bungalow is known for the piers that support the porch roof in front of the house. It has flat chimneys, prairie-style windows, and the interior usually has ceiling beams or horizontal woodwork.
The Tudor bungalow contradicts the bungalow style by featuring more intricate work coupled with a simple layout design. They tend to have elaborate chimneys, detailed doorways, and wall cladding. They are also known for their gabled roofs and narrow windows.
Why a Bungalow?
While many people like to pick a house by its outer design or the layout, there are many advantages to a bungalow house that some people don't consider. Here are a few:
Mobility: Not having a staircase in the house means easier mobility, especially for the elderly or disabled. They can also be safer to avoid stair-related accidents, especially with families of small children.
Privacy: Bungalows are typically built in large lots in suburbia, which allows for extra spacing between houses for more privacy. They are also low to the ground, so bushes or shrubbery can easily be added for more privacy that a multi-story dwelling couldn't obtain.
Maintenance: Because bungalow roofs are closer to the ground and are often less steep than multi-story houses, they are more easily accessible, which allows for easier cleaning of gutters and other maintenance.
Why Not a Bungalow?
While a bungalow has many advantages, it might not be suitable for all individuals or families. Here are a couple of the drawbacks:
Size: Size can be an issue for some families since bungalows usually have a few small rooms. Those looking to expand their families may need more rooms and more space, which would only be big enough for one small family.
Room Separation: Bungalows are small, and bedrooms are often right up next to each other on the same floor. With low ceilings and a narrow interior, sound travels easily, which can be difficult for families with small children or those working night shifts.
Security: Bungalows sit low to the ground, making their windows accessible outside. Many people living in bungalows choose to put bars over their windows or install security systems.
Can I Build, Modernize or Renovate a Bungalow?
Yes, yes, and yes! Bungalows are perfect for renovation since they are single-storied and have a lot of square footage. They are also usually on large plots of land, which give plenty of room for extensions. Interior walls are easily knocked down to open up the space. Bungalows are loved by renovators everywhere for their amazing potential.
Permitted Development
One of the great things about bungalows is that most of the renovations you want to make fall under Permitted Development. Permitted Development enables homeowners to undertake certain types of work on their homes without the need to apply for planning permission. This cuts out all the red tape involved and makes renovating your home easier.
The Layout of a Bungalow
When picking a layout for your bungalow, you should consider each room's purpose and go from there. Since bungalows only have one floor, you need to consider the positioning of each room. Putting more public rooms in the front of the house and more private rooms in the back is a good place to start. For the rooms that face the road, you will need to carefully consider furniture placement and window dressing. It also helps to position the bustling kitchen as far away from the quiet bedrooms as possible. A popular way to lay out a bungalow is to separate the house into two "wings," a private and a public wing with a distinct separation between them.
Single Story Extension
Single-story extensions are common with bungalows since they usually sit on a large lot with a large yard or garden that allows you to extend the house to the side or back. Single-story extensions will typically be self-supporting structures connecting to the house under the pre-existing eaves. Extensions with a mono-pitched roof often work well, but the most popular extension is with a dual-pitched roof that runs opposite the existing roof. These are perfect for extensions that turn a rectangular house into an L-shaped house.
Natural Lighting
Oftentimes bungalows can be dark with narrow corridors. Renovation is perfect for bringing in more natural lighting. This is done by adding skylights, roof lanterns, sliding glass doors, larger windows, or changing a flat roof for a vaulted roof to open up the space inside.
Add a Second Story
While a single-story bungalow has many benefits, sometimes you need to increase your living space. Adding a second story to the first is an excellent way to do that. This allows you access to more rooms and floor space without paying for additional foundation work. However, adding a second story is a complicated process. You will need to consider drainage inside and outside the house, which internal walls are load-bearing, ground conditions, and more. You may even need to strengthen the existing foundation.
Improve Security
If you're modernizing or renovating your home, take the extra time to improve the security. Ensure you have good security on all windows and doors since they are accessible from the ground floor. Installing a security system and outdoor lighting can also be beneficial.
Simplicity
Just because a bungalow may be small doesn't mean it can't be modern or spacious. By creating an open living area and having minimalist decor, you can make a house feel more open. In short, less furniture=more space. Minimizing internal walls to open up a space and allowing as much natural lighting as possible will make a space feel more open. Couple this with some mirrors, and you can make a small space feel big by merely simplifying it.
How to Give your Home a Modern Look
If you're living in or looking to buy an older bungalow, you may want to make some modern changes to it. While big renovations or construction may seem like too much, there are plenty of smaller home design options that can help as well.
- Eliminating clutter can make a huge difference. A modern house focuses on simplicity and minimalism, so storing clutter in cabinets or boxes instead of on surfaces around the house will make it appear more modern. Getting rid of anything that isn't functional or necessary, from decoration to furniture, gives your home a more minimalistic appearance.
- Neutral colors are most often found in modern homes. Many modern homes are often monochromatic, but that doesn't mean a pop of color can't make a huge difference. It simply means staying away from the cluttered, busy patterns.
- Glass is very popular with modern design, and it can help create more space. Simply putting in a glass shower door instead of a curtain can open a space and give a more modern look to your bathroom. Replacing a dividing wall between your kitchen and dining room with glass can modernize the home and allow you to keep an open floor plan.
- Removing a wall to open up space can have a huge impact. Modern houses often have open floor plans, so opening up a cramped bungalow can modernize it. You can remove a wall but separate spaces, like adding a bar between the kitchen and dining room instead of a solid wall.
- Updating the fittings in your home will make a difference as well. Instead of ornate fireplaces or door knobs, choose sleek, contemporary ones with straight lines. Instead of painted door frames, get steel ones. Instead of waves, opt for straight lines.
- Natural materials are often used in modern homes. This can mean removing a carpet and having a wooden floor or having a concrete wall with open shelves. Removing wallpaper and endless throw pillows can contribute to a more modern look.
How Can Modern Aspect Help Me?
When creating or recreating your home, it will be the final finishing touches that complete a house. Modern Aspect can help you by taking the functionality of house numbers, address plates, and mailboxes and turning them into something unique and modern to give your house the finish it needs to be extraordinary.