Home 17 Perfect House Plans for First-Time Homeowners By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South.She earned a B.A. in Journalism at the University of Georgia. She hopes to inspire your travel bucket list with her features on road trips through Texas Hill Country, bourbon tours in Kentucky, and the best beach getaways on the Gulf Coast. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 3, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Southern Living Moving into your first home comes with plenty of excitement—and plenty of decisions. What square footage fits your family? Which design style matches your own? How much do you really need that wraparound porch? Luckily, our Southern Living House Plans cover every base. For first-time homeowners, we chose our favorite plans that are compact in size—under 2,500 square feet—but live much larger with clever layouts and cozy accents. We married traditional Southern styles, like Colonial and Lowcountry, with stylish updates that keep things fresh. From modern farmhouse plans to charming cottage house plans, this collection is chock-full of inspiration. 01 of 18 Sizes To Fit All Families 02 of 18 Farmdale Cottage, Plan #1870 Laurey W. Glenn Find a country cottage with more charm, we dare. This 2,057-square-foot abode offers a satisfyingly symmetrical exterior and stunning entry for first-time homeowners that want character and style. 3 to 4 bedrooms and 4 baths2,057 square feetSee Plan: Farmdale Cottage 03 of 18 Sparta II, Plan #1810 Southern Living House Plans From the stately Colonial influence seen on the exterior to the traditional Southern influence felt inside, this house plan is a perfect fit for first-time buyers that love a classic look. 3 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths1,804 square feetSee Plan: Sparta II 04 of 18 Aiken Street, Plan #1807 Southern Living Want every day to feel like a getaway? Enter this classic cottage with a Lowcountry feel and vintage twist. It features a mix of simple spaces and natural materials that set the tone. 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths2,233 square feetSee Plan: Aiken Street 05 of 18 Randolph Cottage, Plan #1861 Southern Living Southern charm meets New England style. This charming cottage lives bigger than its sweet size thanks to an open floor plan. 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths1,800 square feetSee Plan: Randolph Cottage 06 of 18 Tideland Haven, Plan #1375 Southern Living This haven is detailed for comfort. A wraparound porch and tucked-away bedrooms are cozy touches, while a free-flowing living and kitchen space makes for easy entertaining. 2 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths2,418 square feetSee Plan: Tideland Haven 07 of 18 Fontanel Carriage House, Plan #1856 Southern Living Tiny house lovers, rejoice! This Fontanel carriage house plan packs its 1,099 square-feet with country farmhouse charm. Modern accents make it feel fresh and stylish enough for young buyers who prefer cozy over spacious. 2 bedrooms and 2 baths1,099 square feetSee Plan: Fontanel Carriage House 08 of 18 Four Gables, Plan #1832 Southern Living Joanna Gaines might just swoon over this modern farmhouse plan. For those who love shiplap, this one's for you. 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths2,341 square feetSee Plan: Four Gables 09 of 18 Cottage Revival, Plan #1946 Southern Living You'll love this modern take on a classic cottage. Enjoy a lived-in, organic flow thanks to its L-shaped layout. 4 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths1,929 square feetSee Plan: Cottage Revival 10 of 18 Charlestowne Creek Cottage, Plan #1956 Southern Living This house plan offers plenty of historic character on the outside, while fitting first-time homeowners' needs with fresh interior details (since it's a newer house plan). And there's no denying the curb appeal garnered from Chippendale front railing, front columns, and floor-to-ceiling windows flanking the front door. 3 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,314 square feetSee Plan: Charlestowne Creek Cottage 11 of 18 Nautical Cottage, Plan #224 Southern Living This coastal-inspired cottage is basically made for those who love relaxing at home. It's warm and inviting—all at a compact square footage perfect for young owners. 3 bedrooms and 2 baths1,315 square feetSee Plan: Nautical Cottage 12 of 18 Eastover Cottage, Plan #1666 Southern Living Find this plan somewhere between Greek Revival and Southern cottage on the style spectrum. The front porch lets you enjoy part of what makes living in the South so special: winding down the day on the porch together. 3 to 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,530 square feetSee Plan: Eastover Cottage 13 of 18 Pendleton, Plan #1812 Southern Living Talk about curb appeal. This front porch serves as a warm welcome for all guests, while a Dutch Colonial shingled roof is a cute finishing touch. 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths2,329 square feetSee Plan: Pendleton 14 of 18 Sugarberry Cottage, Plan #1648 Southern Living Pairing compact square footage with ample covered and screened porch space, this house plan lives larger than its not-too-big, family-oriented layout. 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths1,679 square feetSee Plan: Sugarberry Cottage 15 of 18 Bay Breeze, Plan #1914 Southern Living Who doesn't love a little bay breeze? This house plan agrees. The two-story home makes a case for late-afternoon porch sits and cheery-hued shutters. 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths2,030 square feetSee Plan: Bay Breeze 16 of 18 Sadie Springs Retreat, Plan #1957 Southern Living This shingled home is influenced by traditional Colonial style, but keeps things cozy with a Southern cottage feel. The master suite opens up to a personal porch space, which is a special treat for young buyers. 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths1,806 square feetSee Plan: Sadie Springs Retreat 17 of 18 Cottage of the Year, Plan #593 Southern Living This plan is infinitely versatile as far as fitting the personal style and location of potential owners, making it an easy pick for first-timers. The slightly larger square footage will work for those who want room to expand. 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,718 square feetSee Plan: Cottage of the Year 18 of 18 Beaufort Cottage, Plan #1136 Southern Living This Carolina-inspired cottage is a beautiful blend of past and present. A galley-style kitchen and fireplace-focused living space makes the plan feel plenty homey. 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths1,720 square feetSee Plan: Beaufort Cottage Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit