Who is a single-story house the best choice for?
A single-story house is best suited for those who value daily life on one level, without stairs. It's an ideal solution for seniors, people with mobility limitations, families with small children, and anyone planning a home for life. Garden enthusiasts and those who appreciate large windows will also find it appealing. However, there's one condition: a sufficiently large or well-chosen plot of land, as a single-level house occupies a larger footprint. In this post, we show for whom a single-story house is an excellent choice, when it's worth considering other solutions, and why in many of these situations, a custom design tailored to a specific plot and lifestyle works best.
Who a single-story house is best for
In short: a single-story house is the best choice for people who want to live comfortably on one level. It's most often chosen by seniors, people with mobility limitations, families with small children, couples and singles who value ease of use, and anyone who desires close contact with their garden. The prerequisite is a plot of land large enough to accommodate a larger building footprint.
Below, we break this down into specific situations and explain what design elements make a single-story house truly meet an individual's needs.
For those who don't want to live with stairs
A single-story house is the best choice for anyone who wants all rooms on one level. The absence of stairs means not only convenience but also daily savings in energy and time, as the living area, bedrooms, and utility rooms are all just a few steps away. Such a layout also simplifies tidiness and communication within the home. Our design practice shows that living on one level is the most frequently cited reason for choosing a single-story house, regardless of the investor's age.
For seniors and people with mobility limitations
A single-story house is a particularly recommended solution for older individuals and those with limited mobility. The absence of stairs eliminates a major source of fall risk and ensures the entire home remains accessible throughout life. However, a well-designed single-story house goes beyond merely removing stairs. We design them without thresholds, with appropriately wide doors and circulation paths, with a bathroom adapted for safe use, and with a thoughtfully planned entrance approach. This is precisely where a custom-tailored design surpasses a ready-made one, as accessibility can be matched to the specific needs of the resident, rather than to an average standard.
For families with small children
For families with small children, a single-story house primarily means safety. The absence of stairs reduces the risk of falls for the youngest, and a single level makes it easier for parents to keep an eye on what's happening in the house. An open-plan living area allows children to be within sight from the kitchen or living room, and proximity to the garden provides easy and safe outdoor access. In a custom design, the sleeping area can also be planned so that children's rooms are adjacent to the parents' bedroom, which can be important in the early stages.
For couples, singles, and small households
A single-story house is also a convenient choice for couples, individuals living alone, and small households. A compact single-story home with one or two bedrooms offers the independence and comfort of a detached house without excessive space to maintain. One level means a simple, clear layout and easy daily management. For those moving from an apartment, such a house is a natural step, as it retains the convenience of a single level while providing a private garden and privacy.
For garden and open-space enthusiasts
If you value close contact with your garden, a single-story house offers exceptional opportunities. On one level, it's easier to design large glazing, patio doors, and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing almost every room to have direct access to or a view of the greenery. A single-story house also casts less shade on the garden than taller buildings, which improves sunlight exposure for both the interiors and the area around the house. This is a solution for those who treat their garden as an extension of their home, not just an accessory.
For those planning a home for life
A single-story house is an excellent choice for anyone thinking long-term about their home. A single-level layout remains comfortable regardless of life stage, from raising small children to later years when stairs become an obstacle. It's a home that doesn't need to change as your needs evolve. In a custom design, you can anticipate the future from the outset, for example, by reserving a room that will eventually become a ground-floor bedroom, or by planning the layout for easy future adaptation.
How to Design an Accessible Single-Story House
The mere absence of stairs does not make a house fully accessible. A truly comfortable and safe single-story home is based on the principles of universal design, which means creating spaces that everyone can use comfortably, regardless of age and ability. In our design practice, we focus on several elements that determine the comfort of daily use:
- a house entrance without stairs or with a gentle, safe approach,
- no internal thresholds and level floors between rooms,
- wide doors and passageways that allow for free movement,
- a threshold-free bathroom with a floor-level shower and space for potential grab bars,
- thoughtful placement of switches, outlets, and windows at a convenient height,
- good, even lighting in passageways.
These solutions are not exclusively for seniors. They make life easier for families with small children, people recovering from injuries, and also increase the value of the home for years to come, as it remains comfortable regardless of how residents' needs change. That's why accessibility is best planned at the design stage, rather than trying to fix it later in a finished building.
Single-Story House or a House with a Senior Suite, When the Plot is a Factor
A fully single-story house is not always the only answer to the need for stair-free living. When the plot is smaller and two generations are to live under one roof, a good alternative is often a house with a senior suite – an independent living unit on the ground floor, with its own bathroom and convenient access, while the rest of the house occupies an upper floor. Similarly, a house with a usable attic, featuring the main bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor, combines the accessibility of the most important rooms on one level with a smaller building footprint.
This distinction has practical significance. If you desire stair-free living but the plot is limited, the solution doesn't have to be giving up on your dream, but rather choosing the right type of house for the actual conditions. This is where an individual design offers the most, as it allows you to compare options for a specific plot, instead of adapting your life to a ready-made catalog.
For Whom a Single-Story House May Not Be the Best Choice
A single-story house has one real limitation: it occupies a larger building footprint than a house with the same usable area spread over two floors. This means that on a small, narrow, or very restricted plot, a classic single-story house might not fit or could take up too much of the land, limiting the garden. In such a situation, it's worth considering a house with a usable attic or a two-story house, which accommodate the same area on a smaller footprint.
However, this doesn't always rule out a single-story house. For an unusual plot, an individual design is often the answer, adapting the shape and orientation of the building to the actual dimensions of the land. A narrow or challenging plot can often be developed with a single-story house with an elongated form, which a standard ready-made design cannot provide. We dedicate a separate post to this topic about single-story houses on narrow plots.
Why Consider an Individual Design in These Situations
Most reasons for choosing a single-story house relate to tailoring it to a specific person: their stage of life, mobility needs, how they use the garden, or family size. A ready-made catalog design addresses an average need, not yours. An individual design allows you to tailor accessibility, zone layout, glazing placement, and the relationship with the plot exactly to how you want to live. This is the difference between a house that is simply single-story, and a single-story house designed for a specific investor and a specific plot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a single-story house good for seniors?
Yes. The absence of stairs and all rooms on one level make it one of the safest solutions for seniors, especially when the design includes no thresholds and wider passageways.
Is a single-story house suitable for families with small children?
Yes. The absence of stairs reduces the risk of falls, and a single level makes it easier for parents to supervise and organize the space around children.
Instead of a full single-story house, can one choose a house with an in-law suite?
Yes. When the plot is smaller or two generations are to live under one roof, a house with an in-law suite or a ground-floor bedroom ensures accessibility to the most important rooms on one level with a smaller building footprint.
How large a plot is needed for a single-story house?
A single-story house has a larger footprint than a multi-story house with the same usable area, so it requires a wider or larger plot. For an unusual plot, a custom design tailored to its dimensions is helpful.
Can a single-story house be built on a narrow plot?
Often yes, but it requires a well-thought-out design with an elongated form. In such cases, a custom-made design works best instead of an off-the-shelf plan.
Can a single-story house be adapted for the future?
Yes. In a custom design, the layout can be planned from the start so that it can be easily adapted to the changing needs of the residents.
Are you wondering if a single-story house suits your plot and lifestyle? Contact BRJ-Studio, and we will design a single-story house tailored to your needs and specific plot.