Just like traffic routes on roads throughout your city, traffic paths within your home are key to moving comfortably around it. How can you assess and improve traffic patterns by remodeling your new space? Here are two steps to take and how. 

Step 1: Identify Traffic Paths

First, you must know what you're working with. Looking at a floor plan (or proposed floor plan), start by drawing a dotted line from each doorway to every other accessible doorway. These are natural navigation routes. 

Using a different color, mark the paths between common fixtures, appliances, and stations. In the kitchen, these are commonly the sink, refrigerator, stove, oven, and eating areas. Bathroom fixtures like the toilet, shower, bathtub, and sinks get regular traffic among them. Each particular room and how you use it dictates these kinds of smaller traffic paths. 

Finally, mark the space needed for the doors to fully open. Doors include both interior and exterior doors, cabinet doors, appliance doors (like the washer and dryer or oven), and furniture doors. Even though these will not all be open at the same time, some of them will — and this will create ongoing and unexpected frustrations. 

Step 2: Fix Traffic Paths

Once you've marked your traffic paths, look for conflicts. For instance, does a traffic path interrupt the kitchen work triangle formed by the stove, sink, and refrigerator? If so, there are many ways to fix it. You might add an island that makes the work triangle more compact while diverting traffic to the other side. Or you may choose to move a doorway to move the traffic flow. 

As you make adjustments, try to include a few smart traffic flow concepts. One is creating a pool of uninterrupted space for furnishings. People should not, for instance, be crossing the center of the living room and interrupting conversation or other activities. Moving traffic to the sides makes a much more enjoyable space for all users. 

In addition, avoid allowing doors to open into each other, placing doors behind doors, hindering traffic passage by open doors, and creating meandering or obstructed traffic patterns. 

Where to Get Help

Figuring out where there are conflicts and how to fix them can be challenging for homeowners. Your best resource is an experienced home remodeling service. They will work with you to find creative solutions for a comfortable and efficient home. Call today to learn more about foot traffic and its effects on your remodeled space.