How to Choose a House Design for a Narrow Block

Plenty of new blocks in South East Queensland are ten to twelve and a half metres wide, and a few are narrower again. That is not a problem, it just means the design has to be chosen with the block in mind rather than the other way around.

Start with the block, not the floor plan

Before comparing designs, read the block plan for:

• Frontage width, and the front setback the estate requires
• Depth, and the rear setback, because those two numbers decide the footprint
• Orientation, so you know where north sits and where the afternoon sun lands
• Slope across the block, which affects site costs more than most buyers expect
• Easements, which may rule out a shed, a pool or a wider garage
• Covenants on facade width, materials and roof colour

Width, depth and the garage

On a narrow block the garage is the first decision, because it consumes the full width it occupies:

• A double garage side by side needs roughly six metres across the front
• A tandem garage is narrower but deeper, and it suits a long block
• Recessing the garage behind the front room widens the street view of the home
• An angled or front loaded garage changes the whole facade

Light and airflow in a Queensland climate

• Put living areas on the northern side where the block allows
• Use deeper eaves on the western side to cut the afternoon heat
• Plan openings so air crosses the home rather than stopping in one room
• Consider an alfresco or courtyard on the eastern or northern edge
• Keep bedrooms off the western wall if you can

Making a small footprint live well

• Open plan living, with the kitchen at the centre rather than tucked away
• A study nook in a wide hallway, which is often dead space otherwise
• Bedrooms sized for beds and storage, not for furniture from another era
• A walk-in robe or built-in that genuinely fits the room
• A laundry that doubles as a mudroom at the entry from the garage

Read the inclusion list before you fall in love

The display home is rarely the base price. Check whether the facade shown is standard, whether the alfresco is included or an upgrade, and how close the plan sits to the rear setback once it is stretched to suit your block.

If you would like a second opinion on a plan, send it to us and we will tell you how it fits the block you are looking at. Before you commit to a build budget, have the Sorted Mortgages team confirm what the loan needs to cover.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum width for a house on a narrow block?

Designs exist for frontages around eight to ten metres, usually with a tandem garage and a single or slim double storey. Below that you are generally looking at townhouse style product.

Can you fit four bedrooms on a narrow block?

Yes, particularly with a double storey design. On a single storey, four bedrooms usually means a longer home and a smaller backyard, which is a trade worth making consciously.

Are double storey homes better on narrow blocks?

They give you the floor area without eating the yard, and they suit sloping blocks. They cost more to build and more to heat and cool, so weigh that against the extra space.

Should I pick the design or the block first?

The block first, in most cases. Its width, depth, slope and orientation rule designs in or out, and finding out after you have bought is expensive. Our current packages already pair a block with a design that suits it.

Where to start

Have a look at the packages for owner occupiers available now, or filter by the number of living areas you want. If you already have a block, send us the details and we will suggest designs that fit it.