How to Create a Floor Plan with Furniture, Notes, Objects and Photos

Architectural Features

These are the fixed, established aspects of a room, including exterior doors, interior doors, windows, closets, stairs, and structural elements such as columns. Adding these to a floor plan helps convey the everyday functionality of the space.

Annotations

An annotated floor plan leaves less to the imagination. By adding descriptive notes and remarks, you can help clarify any of a number of things. Here are a few examples:

• Room labels/names

• Comments about interior wall and ceiling finishes (plaster, drywall, paneling, brick, etc.)

• Locations of electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems

• Descriptions of plumbing fixtures

• Explanations of floor coverings and other materials used throughout a space

• Callouts that further define the details of windows, doors, stairs and structural elements

• Lines that indicate each door’s swing direction

• General information directed at clients, contractors or laborers

• References to other drawings or specifications

Objects

Fill out some rooms by inserting storage features and appliances where appropriate. In a kitchen drawing, for example, you can add wall-attached cabinets and shelves, an island, a refrigerator, a range, a dishwasher and a microwave, to show the specific locations of these items. In a laundry area drawing, you can include a washer and dryer. In a bathroom drawing, you can place a toilet, bathtub and vanity. In a utility room drawing, you may want to add a furnace and storage shelves or cabinets.

Similarly, adding some essential furniture to main living areas and bedrooms helps others visualize the actual scale of each space and how it is used. A living room can be filled out with a sofa, chairs and tables. A bedroom can be configured with a bed, a dresser, nightstands and an armoire or chest of drawers. A kitchen can be outfitted with a table and chairs.

However, you’ll want to add floor plan objects thoughtfully, and avoid cramming your plan with too many details that overwhelm the eyes.

Photos

Floor plans with pictures provide a more cohesive and comprehensive overview, as opposed to plans without pictures. So, try to include wide shots of single rooms and closeups of special features and objects to make each floor plan more vivid. This will help others truly visualize the space without actually standing in it. The inclusion of photos will also help remind you of your own visit to the site, to jog your memory and help solidify your recommendations for any next steps.