1.5-Story House Plans

We need to start with the benefits of 1.5-story house plans, also called story and a half house plans. We’ll take a closer look at how they compare to 2-story ones. We must look at the difference between the two to help you make the right choice. Many people are curious about these concerns. They may be considering what happens when they eventually get around to selling the house.

1.5 story homes are not the only ones available. The features below are some of the most common ones we get asked about here on the platform.

For the 1.5 story home, the master bedroom suite is commonly not on the upper floor. That is in contrast to a lot of other styles. Instead, they have the remaining bedrooms on the upper floor. This leaves you with more privacy if you’re downstairs. You won’t need to move upstairs can also be a significant advantage to an aging couple.

If you with your Mother-in-law coming to live with you in the future, they can be great. Considering a 1.5-story house may be what you need if you don’t want an entire guest house. It may also be the solution to your changing multi-generational living situation. If you’re finding your grown son moving home after college, and you don’t want to build a basement.

Either way, we hope you’re finding what you need on this page.

Who is it for?

• The style is great for investors
• Empty nesters looking to downsize
• Growing families
• Homebuyers looking for versatility

1,500 sq ft

The 1,500 sq ft option is great for small or growing families. It starts becoming the size where some families choose to include as many as 4 bedrooms. It’s great if you want a house that offers functionality without paying for and maintaining a 3,000 square foot home. It’s also a size that has started attracting many real estate investors. When running the numbers, you’ll find out it can be a really good investment if you manage to put enough bedrooms in.

We have made it easy to find the right house around 1,500 square feet. You can use the parameters to get a more specific search. Find the 2, 3, or 4 bedroom design you’re on the lookout for.

There are also single-story or cottage options if you know the style you’re looking for. Have something very specific in mind that you can’t find by looking around? Talk to one of our architects, and we’ll help you get the right option custom-created.

Benefits:

• Has a unique look
• Provides additional space you would otherwise not have
• Increases resale value

Cons:

• Fitting stairs in can be tricky
• Considering noise between levels can be tough
• Limited natural light upstairs
• More expensive to build than a single-story home

Raised Ranch

There is often a lot of confusion about exactly the difference is between a raised ranch and a split level is. This section is specifically dedicated to raised ranch houses. We have an entirely different page dedicated to traditional ranch-style designs, too.

Raised ranches have many of the same benefits that you can get from sloped lots. For instance, you may be able to exit your backyard through a walkout basement. For a raised ranch, you’ll be entering straight into the level where you’re also finding the living area. A flight of stairs would take you down to a different living area below.

You enter a mid-way section in between two different levels for split levels. It is instead of going straight into the living room. For split levels, you’ll have to either take a flight of stairs up or down no matter which level it is you choose to go to.

Neither of the two styles is currently at the prime of their popularity. They are still very valid options for you to choose between. There still are many families that research them. These aren’t single-story homes, as should be self-evident from their unique descriptions. They come in different varieties, with a 1,500 sq ft size being very popular. They usually have either 3 or 4 bedrooms.

2,000 sq ft

The 2,000 sq ft design is a medium-size one that is attractive for its flexibility and ‘ability to retain value. If you decide to sell it later, you’ll want it to retain its value. A lot of potential buyers are in the market for houses that size.

Families grow in size. Two people become 3, 3 become 4. Suddenly, you discover that the 2 bedrooms design isn’t enough anymore. Where you were previously living doesn’t do its job anymore. You may have previously lived on 1,200 or even 800 square feet. That is not to say it’s sustainable in the long term.

In addition to being a good size for a medium-sized family, it is an attractive option for other reasons. It’s great for investors looking to have tenants move in. It’s not too many bedrooms that people start losing accountability. It’s not so few that you simply aren’t getting a good amount of rent flowing through. You want a good balance between the size of the investment and the rent.

Given their popularity, this is very much a size where you might find the plan that works for you. Without having any architects alter the plans, you can get the right house for your family.

Getting the functionality of a loft with a modern option

There is no denying it – it is extremely stylish to get a loft home with high ceilings. They are very popular when it comes to modern homes! The amount of natural light they let in can help liven up the place. It’ll make all those interior decoration initiatives you have been undertaking stand out.

Another benefit of high ceilings is that it leaves many spaces for you for interior decorating. If you start filling up the walls entirely with art, you will quickly feel that it becomes crowded. It will be less pleasing to the eye! With higher ceilings, there is much space to get creative with. It also means you can put something bigger on the walls without having it start feeling ugly.

The 1 1/2-story house plans allow great open concept styling, even if you are only building small. The only thing you may need is a wrap-around couch for you to enjoy in those summer months. Getting a story and a half may have seemed like an inconvenience. The reality is that there is so much you will be able to do with the space. There are so many things you may not be able to do with an otherwise comparable home.

Features to include:

• A great floor plan to best utilize the space
• Adequate space upstairs for the intended purpose
• Large windows upstairs

Small or big

On this site, you’re able to find just the 1.5-story home that suits your needs. Figure out the specific features or the size that you are looking for. Go ahead and try changing the parameters. You can easily find designs in the 1,800 to 2,000 sq ft range if you are interested in those.

Are you looking for a plan with farmhouse characteristics?

Some people adore the features commonly associated with farmhouses. One is the possibility to use clapboard siding while having a wide porch greeting you at the front. They’re commonly very typical in their shape, with their usual rectangular form and gable roof.

Are we going that Craftsman route?

Going that Craftsman route is a popular choice for 1.5-story houses. With their overhanging eaves and exposed rafters, this style creates a rustic feel people appreciate. It can be built on a lake or near the beach. It usually includes beautiful dormers and a covered front porch, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine.

Walkout basements are a nice addition.

If you have a sloping lot, it’s not uncommon to use that to your advantage. Build a different story and have a walkout basement on the lower floor. It also allows many natural lights to enter the place throughout the day. It’s a luxury. You will quickly grow used to it if you have a home with a basement. Having an actual walkout basement is a lot more useful.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Being too ambitious in what can be fit in
• Not including light considerations
• Not considering zoning issues

Reverse house plans with the master on the main floor

Some people want reverse house plans. It comes to 1.5-story homes that include the master on the main floor and other bedrooms the house has. The living area is then placed on the upper floor. Is it a popular style for all?

No. Many people do not find it provides the level of privacy they want in their homes. It might not provide the perceived convenience either.

Even if you want a 1.5-story home, you may consider not overlooking these factors that could provide value.

A bonus room over the garage

These distinctive homes are often sought after where they have a bonus room built over the garage. They can be very convenient if you either have guests or someone else living with you.

Luxurious and contemporary

You are not quite getting the extravagance you would otherwise be getting if you got an L-shaped home. Designs on this page sell a lot easier in the future when that time comes around. You can get the luxury and level of contemporary you may be hoping to get when that’s been said. Our experts are here to help you adjust anything that may not work with your preferences.

When you’re building this marvel, you don’t have to lock yourself into the typical style they have. Here’s a handful of options that can go well with a 1.5 story home as well.

2-story and 3-story alternatives

The designs on this page stand in sharp contrast to other 2-story and 3-story homes available here. They also provide many benefits, and we hope you’ll be able to find what you’ve been looking for.

Great features

Certain trends are likely not going away for a very long time. What is one of the most common features when thinking of a house built in the 1960s through 1980s? Do you think these homes have high ceilings? Is it more common for them to rather have low ceilings?

If you guessed low ceilings, you are very right. There may be exceptions, where a forward-looking family was building something with more than a nine-foot ceiling. The common standard back in the day was 8-foot ones. Even if you don’t think that that extra foot adds a whole lot, you’d be wrong. Try asking a real estate agent if they know of a home you can tour where one home has an 8-foot ceiling. Then visit one that has 9-foot ceilings. It makes a big difference in terms of feeling open and inviting.

While you may think that 10’ ones are desired, you can usually do much better in 1.5 story homes. You should try walking into one that has 12-foot ceilings. You can see just how great and luxurious of a feeling it has to it, and we’re sure you’ll be hooked by the end.

The good thing about ceilings like this is that they do not seem likely to go out of fashion soon. It seems very likely that the trend is here to stay. People want additional sunlight. They want the luxuriousness that this design offers. They want the benefits of the additional extra half room. There’s a good reason why these designs are some of the most popular ones on our website.

You’ll also easily get the good appearance of a 2-story home with this option. You can find various designs that vary in size on Passion Plans.

Whether you’re looking for a 2,200 square foot or a 1,000 square foot option, we have different options. If you still find these are bigger than what you’re hoping for, check out the 800 square foot designs. They may be great if you’re just one person, or perhaps two. You want to build something a bit more accommodating to a smaller family.

If you have 2 or 3 children living with you, you may want to ensure that each child has room. It will create less daily tension and make your home more peaceful. Perhaps the 2,200 square foot option is better. It can nicely fit a 4th or a 5th bedroom as well.

Accommodating guests

With the extra room, you get something great with this type of design. You can choose to use it as an option when hosting guests. The design may not lend itself well to the bonus room as a full-time bedroom. Perhaps the size doesn’t allow it to comfort someone living there full time. It may still function very well with a smaller bed in it. Do you have in-laws that come into town regularly?

We have options on this platform to build an entire guest section. However, that may not be what you want to do. Perhaps you have a smaller lot. Perhaps you find it slightly excessive to build such an elegant addition. Either way, the 1.5-story home is a type that many homeowners are going for due to its many benefits.