Unlock the Potential of Your Home: Grid + Zone Planning Guidance
A few years back I had the idea to create a grid to organize the spaces in my house for quick reference. My primary intention was to notate important areas or items within my home in case of emergency, but the idea has evolved over time.
See below for examples of how to create your own home grid, and the many applications.
The inspiration for this post (I was feeling colorful that day).
what is a home grid?
It’s a reference tool that enables you to visually identify, organize & utilize the spaces in your house (or on your lot). The grid can be comprised in a variety of ways using your preferred nomenclature:
Numerical (e.g., Zone 1)
Alphabetical (e.g., Zone B)
Numerical + alphabetical (e.g., Zone B1)
Words (e.g., Kitchen Zone)
Sections (e.g., Section 1)
Direction (e.g., Southwest Zone)
Description (e.g., front of house)
The example above was my first concept. I took an existing rendering of my floor plan and overlaid colored boxes to which I assigned numerical zones. Though initially I only intended to use this grid in emergency situations, in planning this post I discovered several ongoing uses for this type of reference document.
uses
Indicate emergency turn-offs: gas, water, etc.
Emergency evacuation checklist: record where critical items are stored (e.g., medications, pet go-bags)
Travel prep checklist: list what to check before you leave (e.g., doors closed, stove off), where to move things (e.g., move plants to x room & close the door), what to put away (e.g., delicate blankets), etc.
Spatial planning: brainstorm how to refresh your spaces by moving furniture & decor
Overnight guest prep: designate sleeping areas
Event planning: identify what will be staged where (e.g., beverage station, goody bag table), and the flow of the party
Furniture delivery: instruct delivery personnel on where to place a large purchase (e.g., couch)
Moving: label boxes based on the zones to which they will be moved
What you own: list noteworthy items (e.g., furniture, electronics, valuables) for insurance purposes
Maintenance log: track where completed maintenance activities occurred (e.g., replaced x in x room)
Honey-do list: keep a running log of improvements or maintenance that needs to occur (e.g., touch-up paint in zones X & Y)
Plant location: create a watering schedule based on plant location, use as a reference for house sitters when out of town (OOT)
Assist with professional services: call attention to an issue that requires expert guidance (e.g., tell a landscaper the exact portion of a yard that needs to be assessed, notate light fixtures that an Electrician needs to address)
Seasonal decor planning: stage decor to meet your desired outcome (e.g., put cobwebs & pumpkins in zone 2 and witches and gourds in zone 3)
tips
Indicate cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) for data analysis (e.g., strong afternoon sun in zone B1)
Combine spaces within a zone if needed (e.g., kitchen & pantry can be one zone as they are similar in function and in close proximity)
Don’t forget about outdoor spaces (e.g., side yards, porch) + attics / basements (if applicable)
Indicate the location of important or useful items (e.g., weather gauges, vacation water turn-off valve, inventory spill-over, seasonal decor storage)
List your pet’s favorite spots for pet sitter’s awareness (e.g., Fluffy loves to hide in the closet in zone 3)
Print a copy of your grid to keep in your emergency drawer (if you have one) in case of power loss
Share a digital version with close family / friends / house sitters for emergencies or informational purposes (e.g., please water the plants in zone G5 every other day)
Set a recurring task to review & maintain your grid and associated content (e.g., update zone reference if you move something)
examples
Option 1: Clean
Pros: Aesthetically pleasing. Promotes creative thinking.
Cons: May be hard to interpret (i.e., too vague). Less beneficial for external parties (e.g., house sitters)
Example: Cat go-bag located in zone C2
Option 2: Descriptive
Pros: Easy for external parties (e.g., house sitters) to reference
Cons: Cluttered look
Example: Cat go-bag located in Mudroom (zone C2)
Option 3: Simple
Pros: May be easier for children to remember numbered spaces.
Cons: Broad and large surface area per zone. May be difficult to notate specific locations.
Example: Cat go-bag located in zone 1
Option 4: Comprehensive
Pros: Multiple ways to reference locations (can add room names for thoroughness). May be easier & quicker to locate items.
Cons: Cluttered look
Example: Cat go-bag stored in space 1, specifically zone C2
Where to make your grid
Powerpoint / Keynote
Excel / Numbers
Milanote
Hand draw
Paint application (or something similar)
Use our Raven Voyage template to help you construct your home grid!
how to make your dot grid
Draft your home floor plan (rooms, major hallways, etc. — exclude furniture, decor, foliage, etc. unless there is a specific reason for it to be documented)
If you have a to-scale floor plan of your home, that is a good place to start
If not, use basic shapes to depict the various spaces (an approximation will be sufficient)
For multiple levels in a home, document each floor separately
Determine the quantity of zones that will be most appropriate for your space (e.g., you might want to use a grid with A-Z and 1-26 to enable more distinct zones)
Make smaller zones in areas you anticipate using most often (e.g., if your yard is a top priority and a frequently used space in your home, consider breaking it into multiple zones instead of one zone comprising of the whole yard)
Define your naming convention (numbers, letters, etc.)
Assign zones to your spaces
If using a categorized grid (e.g., A-Z, 1—26), the zones will be auto “named” based on their location
If not using a categorized grid, assign zones in preferred order (e.g., most used spaces to least used, inherent flow of the house, etc.)
Add additional detail as preferred (e.g., add room names on top of a categorized grid)
Apply zones to projects, trackers, reference lists, etc. as applicable
I hope you find this tool useful and perhaps to provide some peace of mind. Let me know in the Comments how you intend to use your home grid!
