Ranch Style House Plans

For a list of trusted home plan firms specializing in Ranch home designs, please visit the Ranch Home Plans Directory.

Ranch house floor plans tend to be simple in design with an emphasis on the efficient use space, and are usually very open with few interior walls.

Ranch style homes are usually built from natural materials meaning wood floors, and wood or brick exteriors. Aside from shutters and porch roof supports, Ranch homes lack much decorative detailing on the exterior. Windows are large (usually double hung, picture windows) and often include sliding doors to a patio or deck.

Ranch Home Design Tips

"Hi! We are currently building our ranch and the one tip we have is this: if you are planning to finish part of the basement and plan to use the other side for storage decide where the steps to the downstairs will suit you best. For us we wanted our French doors to the unfinished side so we can bring muddy, wet feet, or equipment in this way. Our lot is such that our exit from our basement is to the side of our house. We didn't want dirt tracked through the finished area. So, we wanted our steps to be located at the finished end so when we had company they didn't have to see all of our "junk" before heading to the finished part from inside. We are also putting in a pool so the door side will be perfect for the kids to use the bathroom. We will have two doors for the bathroom. One on the finished side and the other on the unfinished side. Eventually we may make a small pool room but this is the plan for now. There's lots to think of. It's also a good idea to have a sump pump just in case of water damage. Especially if you are planning to finish a section. No one ever anticipates the basement flooding. Thanks."

"Garage placement is important when selecting the floor plan. It could decrease the amount of basement you will be able to finish unless or course there will be storage under the garage. Just another thought."

- Chrisy BK, Altoona

We are currently looking for more ranch design tips or experiences with selection/construction of Ranch house plans. Please email your suggestions or comments to editor@homeplaninfo.com