How to find a home design that fits your block
Finding the right home design starts with understanding your block of land. From its size and orientation to the way you want to live, there are a few important things to consider before choosing your floorplan.
Whether you’ve already secured your block or you’re still searching for the perfect piece of land, knowing what to look for can help you make smarter decisions and find a home design that makes the most of your space.
The good news? You don’t need to be a building expert to get started. Here are four key things to consider when finding a home design that fits your block.
Consider your block’s orientation
You might have heard people talk about north-facing homes, but what does that actually mean when you’re building?
Your block’s orientation refers to the direction it faces in relation to the sun. It’s an important consideration because it can influence how much natural light enters your home, where your living spaces are positioned and how comfortable your home feels throughout the year.
In Victoria, north-facing living areas can be particularly beneficial, allowing more winter sunlight into your home while making it easier to manage summer heat with appropriate shading.
Here's what to think about:
- Natural light: Consider where the sun will enter your home throughout the day, particularly in your kitchen, living and dining areas.
- Outdoor living: Think about how your alfresco or backyard will be positioned to make the most of sunlight.
- Bedroom placement: Consider where bedrooms sit in relation to morning and afternoon sun.
- Comfort: Window placement, shading and your home’s layout can all influence indoor temperatures.
For example, if your block has a north-facing backyard, a home design with open-plan living at the rear could help you make the most of natural light.
And don’t worry if your block doesn’t face north. There are plenty of ways to make different orientations work with the right home design.
Our tip: When comparing floorplans, look beyond where the front door sits. Think about how the entire home is positioned on your block and how sunlight will move through your living spaces.
Understand your block's width and size
Not all blocks are created equal, and that’s what makes finding the right home design so important.
One of the first things to check is your block’s width, also known as its frontage. Home designs are often categorised by the minimum lot width they’re suited to, making this a great starting point when narrowing down your options.
For example, you might see home designs suited to 10.5m, 12.5m or 14m wide blocks.
But width is only part of the picture.
You’ll also want to consider:
- Block depth: How much room is available from the front boundary to the back?
- Total land size: How much space do you have for your home, backyard and outdoor living areas?
- Block shape: Is your land rectangular, irregular or positioned on a corner?
- Slope: Is your block relatively flat, or does it have a noticeable incline?
A narrower block doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on space. A clever double-storey design could give you more room inside while leaving space for a backyard.
Likewise, a wider block might offer more single-storey options, depending on its depth and building requirements.
It’s also important to remember that a home design suited to a particular frontage won’t automatically fit every block of that width. Setbacks, easements and other site requirements will still need to be checked.
Our tip: Before falling in love with a floorplan, have your block’s dimensions handy. It’ll make filtering home designs much easier.
Choose a home design that suits your lifestyle
Now for the exciting part: choosing what goes inside your new home.
While your block helps determine which designs are possible, your lifestyle should help you decide which one is right for you.
Start by thinking about how you’ll use your home, both now and in the future.
Here are a few important features to consider:
Bedrooms and bathrooms: Think about how many rooms you’ll need now and in the future, including space for guests, a growing family or working from home.
Garage space: Consider whether you need a single or double garage, plus any extra storage. Your choice can also affect which designs fit your block.
Living areas: Love entertaining or need room to spread out? Look for open-plan living, a second lounge or flexible spaces.
Outdoor space: Think about how much backyard space you’d like for entertaining, pets or relaxing.
Single or double storey: A single-storey home keeps everything on one level, while a double-storey design can maximise space on a smaller block.
Our tip: Make a list of your must-haves and nice-to-haves before exploring home designs. It’ll help you find a floorplan that suits your lifestyle and your block.
Check your block's building requirements
You’ve found a home design you love, and the dimensions look right. Before making your final decision, there’s one more important step: checking what can actually be built on your land.
Different blocks can have different building requirements, particularly within new residential estates.
These requirements may affect the size, position or appearance of your home.
Some things to look out for include:
- Setbacks: The minimum distances your home needs to sit from certain property boundaries.
- Easements: Areas of your land that may need to remain accessible for services such as drainage or utilities.
- Estate design guidelines: Requirements set by the developer that may influence your home’s facade, materials or overall appearance.
- Site conditions: Factors such as soil conditions, slope and drainage that may affect construction requirements and costs.
You don’t need to work through all these details on your own.
At Homebuyers Centre, our New Homes Consultants can help you explore suitable home designs and guide you through the next steps, including checking your block’s requirements.
Our tip: If you’ve already purchased land, bring along your lot details and any estate guidelines when discussing home designs. This can help identify suitable options sooner.
It doesn't have to be complicated.
Once you understand your land’s orientation, dimensions, building requirements and the features that matter most to you, you’ll be in a much better position to choose a home that feels right.
And if you’re still searching for land, knowing these things early can help you find a block that works with the home you want to build.
At Homebuyers Centre, we’re all about making first homes happen. From finding suitable land to choosing a home design that works for your lifestyle and budget, we’re here to help make the process easier.