9 Townhouse Floor Plan Designs

A townhouse floor plan is not a detached house plan. Unlike a detached house, which has windows on all four sides, a townhouse shares walls with neighboring units on one or both sides (party walls). The challenge is bringing natural light and ventilation to the interior of a narrow, deep building (width: 5-8 m / 16-26 ft, depth: 10-20 m / 33-66 ft). The solution is often a rear courtyard, a skylight, or a light well in the center.

1. The Narrow Townhouse (5-6 m wide, 2-3 stories)

A townhouse on a very narrow lot (5-6 m / 16-20 ft wide). The rooms are arranged in a straight line from front to back. The living room is at the front (street), the kitchen and dining in the middle, and the bedrooms at the rear (or upstairs). A corridor runs along one side. The narrow townhouse is common in dense urban neighborhoods (row houses). The challenge is the long, dark corridor and the lack of natural light in the middle of the house.

This plan is for narrow urban lots, row houses, or any site where width is very limited. The emotional effect is narrow, linear, and efficient.

Quick Specs

• Width: 5-6 m (16-20 ft).
• Depth: 12-18 m (40-60 ft).
• Stories: 2-3.
• Ground floor: living room (front), kitchen-dining (middle), powder room, stair.
• Upper floor: 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms.
• Rear courtyard: 2-3 m x 3-4 m (for light).

2. The Wide Townhouse (7-8 m wide, 2-3 stories)

A townhouse on a wider lot (7-8 m / 23-26 ft wide). The extra width allows for a side-by-side arrangement of rooms (living room and dining room side by side, two bedrooms side by side). The wide townhouse feels more like a detached house (more light, less corridor). The challenge is the party walls (shared with neighbors) still limit windows on the sides, but the extra width allows for more windows on the front and rear.

This plan is for wider urban lots, luxury townhouses, or any site where width is less restricted. The emotional effect is wide, open, and less tunnel-like.

Quick Specs

• Width: 7-8 m (23-26 ft).
• Depth: 10-15 m (33-49 ft).
• Stories: 2-3.
• Ground floor: living room and dining room side by side (front), kitchen (rear), powder room, stair.
• Upper floor: master bedroom (front), two secondary bedrooms (rear), 2 bathrooms.
• Rear courtyard or deck.

3. The Corner Townhouse (Two Street Exposures, L-Shaped)

A townhouse on a corner lot, with two street exposures (front and side). The corner townhouse has windows on two sides, which brings in more natural light and cross-ventilation. The L-shaped plan wraps around the corner, with the living room at the corner (windows on both streets). The kitchen and dining are along one street, and the bedrooms are along the other street (or upstairs). The corner townhouse is the most desirable unit in a row house block.

This plan is for corner lots, end units in a row house block, or any site with two exposures. The emotional effect is corner-oriented, light-filled, and L-shaped.

Quick Specs

• Width: 5-7 m (16-23 ft) on each leg.
• Depth: 10-15 m (33-49 ft).
• Stories: 2-3.
• Ground floor: living room at the corner (L-shaped or angled), kitchen and dining along one street, powder room, stair.
• Upper floor: master bedroom at the corner (windows on two streets), secondary bedrooms.

4. The Rear Courtyard Townhouse (Light Well at the Back)

A townhouse with a rear courtyard (open-to-sky) that brings light and air to the back of the deep plan. The courtyard is typically 3-4 m x 3-4 m (9-16 m²). The kitchen and dining open onto the courtyard. The bedrooms on the upper floor have windows facing the courtyard. The rear courtyard townhouse is common in row houses where the rear of the building faces another building (alley) and there is no view.

This plan is for row houses where the rear faces another building (no view), or any townhouse where the back needs light and ventilation. The emotional effect is courtyard-centered, light-filled at the rear, and private.

Quick Specs

• Width: 5-7 m (16-23 ft).
• Depth: 12-18 m (40-60 ft).
• Courtyard size: 3-4 m x 3-4 m (9-16 m²).
• Ground floor: living room (front), kitchen-dining (middle), powder room, stair, courtyard (rear).
• Upper floor: bedrooms with windows facing the courtyard.

5. The Skylight Townhouse (Light Well in the Center)

A townhouse with a skylight or light well in the center of the building (above the stair or a central atrium). The skylight brings natural light to the middle of the deep plan (the dark zone between the front and rear windows). The skylight can be a simple roof window or a full atrium that extends through multiple floors. This plan is ideal for very deep townhouses (15-20 m deep) where the middle would otherwise be dark.

This plan is for very deep townhouses (15-20 m deep), or any townhouse where the middle of the plan needs light. The emotional effect is sky-lit, central, and bright.

Quick Specs

• Width: 5-7 m (16-23 ft).
• Depth: 15-20 m (50-66 ft).
• Skylight size: 1 m x 2 m to 2 m x 3 m (above stair or atrium).
• Ground floor: living room (front), kitchen-dining (middle), powder room, stair under skylight.
• Upper floor: bedrooms with windows facing the skylight (if atrium).

6. The Three-Story Townhouse (4-5 stories, Vertical Living)

A townhouse with 3-5 stories (including a basement or rooftop terrace). The three-story townhouse maximizes square footage on a narrow footprint. The ground floor has the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The second floor has bedrooms. The third floor has a master suite or a rooftop terrace. The basement has storage, a home theater, or a gym. The challenge is the stairs (many steps) and the vertical circulation (elevator may be needed).

This plan is for very narrow urban lots where the only way to get more space is to go up. The emotional effect is vertical, compact, and space-maximizing.

Quick Specs

• Width: 5-7 m (16-23 ft).
• Depth: 10-15 m (33-49 ft).
• Stories: 3-5.
• Basement: storage, home theater, gym, wine cellar.
• Ground floor: living-dining-kitchen (open), powder room.
• Second floor: 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms.
• Third floor: master suite + roof terrace.

7. The Split-Level Townhouse (Half-Floor Shifts)

A townhouse with split levels (half-floor shifts). The entrance is on the main level. The living room is four steps up. The kitchen and dining are four steps up from the living room (or on the same level). The bedrooms are four steps up from the kitchen. The garage and utility are four steps down from the entrance. The split-level townhouse creates distinct zones without long corridors. The challenge is the stairs (many levels, not accessible).

This plan is for sloped sites, or any client who wants separation without long corridors. The emotional effect is stepped, connected, and sectional.

Quick Specs

• Width: 6-8 m (20-26 ft).
• Depth: 10-15 m (33-49 ft).
• Step height: 450-600 mm (3-4 risers) per half-level.
• Levels: 4-5 half-levels (garage, entry, living, kitchen, bedrooms).
• Stair runs: 3-5 treads between levels.

8. The Duplex Townhouse (Two Separate Units)

A townhouse that is actually two separate dwelling units (a duplex) on a single lot. One unit is on the ground floor (2 bedrooms), and the second unit is on the upper floors (2-3 bedrooms). Each unit has its own entrance (ground floor unit has a door on the street; upper unit has a separate door or a stair shared with the ground floor unit but locked). The duplex townhouse is for investors (rental income) or multigenerational living (parents on ground floor, adult children upstairs).

This plan is for investors, rental properties, or multigenerational households. The emotional effect is duplex, separate, and income-producing.

Quick Specs

• Width: 6-8 m (20-26 ft).
• Depth: 12-15 m (40-50 ft).
• Unit 1 (ground floor): 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living-dining-kitchen, private rear courtyard.
• Unit 2 (upper floors): 2-3 bedrooms, 1-2 bathrooms, living-dining-kitchen, balcony.
• Separate entrances: Unit 1 entrance on the street (front), Unit 2 entrance on the side or shared stair with separate door.

9. The Mews Townhouse (Alley, Garage at Rear)

A mews townhouse is a townhouse with the garage at the rear (accessed from an alley). The front of the house faces a pedestrian street (no cars). The ground floor has the living-dining-kitchen. The rear of the ground floor has a garage (accessed from the alley) and a small courtyard. The mews townhouse is common in historic neighborhoods (London mews) and in new urbanist developments. The challenge is the alley access (the alley must be public).

This plan is for new urbanist developments, historic mews, or any site with alley access. The emotional effect is mews, pedestrian-front, and car-rear.

Quick Specs

• Width: 5-7 m (16-23 ft).
• Depth: 12-18 m (40-60 ft).
• Front: pedestrian street (no garage).
• Rear: alley (garage access).
• Ground floor: living-dining-kitchen (front), garage (rear), courtyard (between).
• Upper floors: bedrooms.

Comparison Summary

Conclusion

A townhouse floor plan is a plan for urban living. Unlike a detached house, a townhouse shares walls with neighbors, so natural light comes only from the front and rear (and the roof, if skylights are added). The challenge is bringing light to the middle of a deep, narrow building. The nine plans presented here offer different strategies for different widths, depths, and sites.

The Narrow Townhouse says: put the rooms in a line (front to back). This works for very narrow lots (5-6 m wide). The risk is the long, dark corridor and the lack of light in the middle.

The Wide Townhouse says: use the extra width to put rooms side by side. This works for wider lots (7-8 m wide). The plan feels more like a detached house.

The Corner Townhouse says: take advantage of two street exposures. The corner townhouse has windows on two sides, so it is the most light-filled and desirable.

The Rear Courtyard Townhouse says: put a light well at the back. The courtyard brings light to the kitchen, dining, and rear bedrooms. This is for deep lots where the rear faces another building.

The Skylight Townhouse says: put a skylight in the center. The skylight brings light to the middle of a very deep plan (15-20 m). The light penetrates down through an open stair.

The Three-Story Townhouse says: go up (not out). With 3-5 stories, you can get a large house on a very narrow footprint. The risk is the stairs (many steps).

The Split-Level Townhouse says: use half-floor shifts to separate zones. No long corridors – each zone is a few steps up or down. This works on sloped sites or for clients who want separation without long hallways.

The Duplex Townhouse says: put two units in one building. This is for investors or multigenerational families. Each unit has its own entrance, living spaces, and bedrooms.

The Mews Townhouse says: put the garage at the rear (alley). The front is a pedestrian street. This is for historic mews or new urbanist developments.

When designing a townhouse floor plan, ask: Where is the light? In a narrow townhouse, light comes only from the front and rear. In a corner townhouse, light comes from two sides. In a rear courtyard townhouse, light comes from the front and the courtyard. In a skylight townhouse, light comes from the front, rear, and center.

Ask: What is the width? If the width is 5-6 m, use a linear plan (rooms in a line). If the width is 7-8 m, use a side-by-side plan (rooms next to each other). If the width is 8 m or more, you can put a stair in the center and rooms on both sides.

Ask: Where is the stair? The stair is the vertical circulation. In a narrow townhouse, the stair is often along one side (to leave the center for rooms). In a wide townhouse, the stair can be in the center (with rooms on both sides). The stair should have a window or skylight for natural light.

Ask: Where is the courtyard? A rear courtyard (3-4 m x 3-4 m) brings light to the back of the house. The courtyard should be accessible from the kitchen or dining area (sliding glass doors). The upper floor bedrooms should have windows facing the courtyard.

Ask: Where is the garage? In a typical townhouse, the garage is at the front (street). In a mews townhouse, the garage is at the rear (alley). If the garage is at the front, the garage door will dominate the street facade (less attractive). If possible, put the garage at the rear.

The best townhouse floor plan is not the one with the most bedrooms or the largest living room. It is the one where the morning light hits the kitchen, where the rear courtyard has a tree, where the stair has a window, where the master bedroom is quiet (away from the street), and where the second bedroom has a view of the courtyard. It is a plan for urban living.