Townhouses
A townhouse is a house that shares one or more walls with another house. A townhouse may be attached to another house on one side. Townhouses may also be attached to other houses on both sides. This form of housing is very common in urban areas where land for building homes may be scarce. Townhouse design should focus closely on details that will help occupants take full advantage of the lot's best features.
Instructions
1. Use the right exterior materials. Materials used should blend in with the other houses on the block if possible. If houses on the rest of the block are clad in brick, consider a brick facade for the house. If the townhouses on the block have painted exteriors, consider a paint exterior. Painting can be an excellent way to add character to a townhouse. Consider painting the townhouse in a color that complements the rest of the houses. If the neighbors have all chosen pastel colors paint the townhouse in light blue, mint green, lemon yellow or even pink or lavender.
2. Use landscaping. Landscaping comprises the hard and soft elements on outside of the home. Make the front yard and backyard inviting. Plant small flowers out front. Add a tinkling concrete fountain and small bench where visitors can sit while they wait for someone to answer the door. Make the backyard equally inviting with plantings that work well in small lots. Use a creeping vine such as hyacinth bean to add color. Place pine bushes in colorful pots to help keep the yard green and private.
3. Carefully think about the number of levels in the townhouse. Most townhouses have from two to five levels. A smaller number can make the space more manageable for an individual family. A larger number of levels may allow the occupants to create an accessory apartment on one floor to rent out for additional income or as a place for an elderly relative to live rather than being placed in a nursing home.
4. Consider the placement of rooms. Reduce the time spent climbing staircases by having at least one bathroom on each floor if possible. Make grocery shopping and food preparation easier by placing the kitchen on the first floor. Place bedrooms on the top floors to reduce noise levels and increase privacy.
5. Add detail. Use skylights to bring natural light into rooms. Carpet the entire space in the same materials to make it feel unified as people move between floors. Place a terrace or other open space on one floor to give additional access to the outdoors and take advantage of the townhouse's height.
