How to Choose the Right Floor Plan for Your Life Stage (and What Caruso Buyers Actually Pick)

Choosing the right floor plan starts with how you use your home today and what you may need later. Your priorities can shift quite a bit depending on your life stage, from buying your first home to planning for multigenerational living. Here’s what to look for as you compare your options.

Match the Plan to Your Life Stage

The best way to choose a floor plan is to identify the parts of your current home or living situation you want to change. Your priorities may look very different depending on where you are in life.

• First-time buyers: Focus on affordability and rooms you know you will use.
• Move-up buyers: Start with the layout problem prompting your move.
• Active adult or move-down buyers: Look at main-level living and everyday convenience.
• Multigenerational households: Prioritize privacy and separate sleeping areas.

From there, we can help you narrow the plans around those priorities by looking at how your household lives today and what may change in the years ahead.

Choose Flexible Space as a First-Time Buyer

For a first-time buyer, a good floor plan gives you the space you expect to use over the next several years without stretching your budget for extra rooms you may not need.

Ask yourself:

• Could a secondary bedroom also serve as an office?
• Do you need another bathroom now or soon?
• Will the kitchen and gathering spaces work for your daily routine?
• Are you comfortable maintaining every room in the plan?

We can walk through the floor plan with you and explain how the available choices affect the way your home will function, which can make those early decisions feel much more manageable for a first-time buyer.

“Caruso builds with quality and care, and that home became the place where I began growing my family, welcomed my first child, and created many special moments with family and friends.” –The Bryan Family, first-time homeowners who chose the Oxford

Fix the Layout Issue Driving Your Move

Whether you’re moving up from another home or buying after years of renting, think about the layout frustrations you already know you want to avoid. Once we know what has worked for you before and what hasn’t, we can compare floor plans much more quickly.

Comparing floor plans usually means looking closely at:

• Bedroom placement
• Flexible rooms with a defined purpose
• Available structural choices
• How the layout may work as your household changes 

Our available floor plans offer plenty of personalization to fit your needs, with features varying by plan and homesite. Visit our floor plans for Maryland and North Carolina online, where you can find virtual tours and our interactive floor plan design tool which allows you to personalize each plan with your favorite options. 

“It’s allowed our family of six to each have their own bedroom. We desperately needed that space.” –The G Family chose the Emory II

Consider Main-Level Living for Long-Term Flexibility

Main-level living can make everyday routines easier now while also giving you more flexibility for the years ahead. A first-floor primary suite can be especially helpful if you want to reduce how often you need to use stairs or are thinking ahead to retirement and future mobility needs.

Several of our plans currently offer main-level living  layouts, including:

• Ashland
• Hayes 
• Triumph 
• Charleston 

Main-level living  can also appeal to move-down buyers who want to age in place  while choosing a home that still fits how they live now. One level homes make tasks like laundry, carrying groceries, and vacuuming easier and provide reassurance that future mobility won’t be an issue.

We can help you focus on features that support low maintenance living with less upkeep over time. A new home also offers peace of mind with a new home warranty and fewer immediate repair needs than an older used home.

My Kellaway home has made my life so much easier. The floor plan is so convenient. This home and community are amazing.” –M. Ridenour purchased the Kellaway at our Amblebrook 55+ community

Plan for Multigenerational Privacy

Multigenerational homes work best when each generation has some space of its own. Room placement matters as much as total square footage when several adults share a home.

When comparing multigenerational house plans, look at:

• Bedroom placement
• Bathroom access
• Separation between sleeping and gathering areas
• Option to add amulti-gen suite 
• Option to add an elevator for accessibility

The Aspen is designed to support multi-gen living with an included in-law suite and the option to add a full multi-generation suite with separate living and sleeping areas and a separate entrance. 

The Lexington II is also a strong plan to consider for multigenerational living.

“With dual primary suites on both the main and upper levels, the Lexington II embraces one of today’s most popular living trends—creating a home that comfortably supports aging parents or adult children under one roof. Each resident enjoys a private, well‑designed retreat while still sharing the convenience and connection of thoughtfully crafted common living spaces.” –Jeff Caruso, Owner & CEO of Caruso Homes

Multi-gen home design often involves people with different needs and preferences, and we’re here to help your household balance those priorities and design a home that feels right for everyone.

Compare Our Most-Requested Floor Plans

Over the years, we’ve seen certain floor plans become favorites with our buyers and our own team. The Kingsport II, Hayes, Monticello, and Davidson each appeal for different reasons: 

• Kingsport II: Offers a two-story family room, a luxurious primary retreat with spa bath, and is loaded with exciting options to personalize every space exactly how you want it.  
• Hayes: Stands out for the open connection between the kitchen, dining area, and great room, which flows right out to the screened porch, along with the option to add a loft or sky basement.
• Monticello: Offers more room for multigenerational living, with an optional elevator and available additions such as a morning room or conservatory.
• Davidson: Features a first-level primary bedroom, an available in-law suite, and a covered rear porch for outdoor living.

Looking at the floor plans our buyers request most can help you see how other buyers approach similar decisions.

Caruso Homes has been dedicated to improving the way our homes live with over four decades of watching how families actually use these plans. We stay open to new ideas and buyer feedback, then use what we learn to refine our homes over time. 

”We still wake up every morning in disbelief as to how beautiful our dream home is. Thanks to Caruso Homes for making this come true, a place to celebrate with family and friends.” –The Sun Family chose the Kingsport II 

After building for more than 5,000 families across four states, that ongoing improvement is part of how floor plans like these have become lasting favorites with our buyers. 

Find a Plan That Fits Your Life

Once you’ve narrowed down the features that feel right for your household, the next step is seeing how those priorities translate into an actual Caruso floor plan.

Explore our available Caruso Homes floor plans, then talk with one of our New Home Consultants about the layouts and available structural choices that fit your needs. We’d be happy to help you compare your options and find a plan that feels right!

Floor Plan FAQs

How do I know what floor plan actually fits my stage of life?

Think about what’s working in your current home and what you keep wishing you had. Then think about likely changes, such as working from home or another family member joining the household. Use those preferences and priorities to narrow the plans that make the most sense for you. 

What is a main-level owner’s suite, and who is it usually right for?

A main-level owner’s suite puts your primary bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. Buyers often like this setup if they want easier everyday living now or are planning for retirement and future mobility.

Can one floor plan really work for multiple generations under one roof?

Yes, when the plan gives each generation enough privacy and access to the spaces they need. Our Aspen offers an optional multi-generationsuite, while the Monticello and Lexington II are other plans we often suggest considering.

Do I need a bigger house to add flexible space like an office or in-law suite?

Not necessarily. Sometimes an existing bedroom, loft, or available structural option can give you the extra function you need without increasing the overall size of the home. We can help you look at what each plan already offers before you decide you need more square footage.

Does Caruso let buyers personalize a floor plan to fit these situations?

Yes. Available structural options and other choices vary by floor plan, homesite, and buying situation. We can walk you through what is available and help you decide which choices fit the way you plan to use your home.