Designing a home at the beach isn’t just about the view anymore. Along the Grand Strand, buyers are asking tougher questions: Will this layout work if my knees go bad? What if my kids want to rent it out later? What happens in a flood? The “new smart coastal home” has to juggle safety, flexibility, and long-term value.
Let’s walk through how Myrtle Beach–area homeowners can design (or remodel) a layout that checks four big boxes at once: flood resilience, aging in place, short-term rental appeal, and strong resale value.
1. Start with the Ground: Flood-Smart Layout Decisions
In coastal Horry County, your layout starts with one simple truth: water wins. Smart coastal homes are designed to let water pass under, around, or through the least important spaces.
Key layout moves for flood resilience:
Elevate what matters.
Living areas, primary bedrooms, and mechanicals (HVAC, water heaters, electrical panels) should live above the base flood elevation, ideally on the main living level, not the ground level.Use the ground level as a “sacrificial” zone.
In places like Cherry Grove, Murrells Inlet, and low-lying parts of the Intracoastal, many new homes use the ground floor for:Parking
Enclosed but “breakaway” storage
Outdoor lounges with flood-friendly finishes (no drywall, minimal built-ins)
Stack wet rooms smartly.
Align bathrooms and laundry vertically on upper floors so plumbing is more protected and easier to service.Outdoor living up high.
Instead of a huge slab patio at grade, think:Covered porches off the main living level
Screened rooms with views toward the marsh or ocean
Upper decks facing the Intracoastal Waterway or the Atlantic, depending where you are along the Grand Strand
This kind of layout doesn’t just reduce stress every storm season—it also looks great on a listing: “Elevated construction, flood-conscious design, low-risk mechanicals.” That’s catnip for buyers and appraisers.
2. Aging in Place: Main-Level Living Without Losing the Beach Vibe
Many Myrtle Beach buyers are “buying their last move.” They may still be active now, but they’re thinking ahead to one-level living even if the home is technically two or three stories.
Smart aging-in-place layout features:
True main-level suite.
The primary suite should be on the same level as:Kitchen
Main living room
Laundry (or at least a laundry closet)
Minimal interior steps.
Inside the main living level, aim for:Zero or very few transitions
Wide hallways (at least 3 feet)
3-foot doors into bedrooms and baths when possible
Future-friendly bathroom layouts.
Curbless shower with a wide opening
Space beside the toilet for future grab bars
Room to turn a walker or small wheelchair
Vertical circulation options.
In elevated homes in places like Carolina Forest, Market Common, and Grande Dunes, stairs are a reality. But layouts can plan for:Residential elevator shaft now (even if you install the elevator later)
Stacked closets that can convert to an elevator
Straight-run or L-shaped stairs that are easier to climb and easier to add a stair-lift to later
When a floor plan is “age-ready,” it’s also multigenerational-ready—perfect for grandparents hosting kids and grandkids at the beach or long-term guests from out of town.
3. Built-In Rental Appeal: Zoning Your Layout for Guests
A lot of Grand Strand buyers want their home to carry some of its own weight through short-term or seasonal rentals—especially around Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and North Myrtle Beach. Smart layouts treat rental flexibility as a design feature, not an afterthought.
Layout strategies that boost rental potential:
Separate sleeping zones.
Group bedrooms into wings:Primary suite on one side of the main level
Guest bedrooms upstairs or across a loft
This gives privacy for owners when the home is occupied by both family and renters.Multiple “living spots.”
Instead of one huge great room, think:Main family room near the kitchen
Flex loft or den upstairs
Screened porch that feels like a second living room
This helps mixed groups spread out and makes your listing photos look more generous.Easy-clean surfaces in high-traffic zones.
Open layouts are still popular, but for rentals, you also want:Durable flooring (LVP or tile) on main living level
Drop zones near entries for beach gear — hooks, benches, and storage cubbies
Lockout owner storage.
Smart layouts include:Owner closet in the primary suite
Lockable pantry or storage under the stairs
That way you can rent without feeling like your life is on display.Bed count without weird rooms.
Instead of carving awkward “bunk rooms” everywhere, design:One intentional bunk room with built-in storage
One flex office/guest room with a sleeper sofa niche
More beds, without feeling like a hostel.
A layout that rents well will often resell well—because the next buyer may also be planning to offset their mortgage with seasonal or snowbird rentals.
4. Resale Value: What Future Buyers Will Actually Pay For
In Myrtle Beach, buyers still love light, open, and coastal, but they are increasingly choosy about how those elements show up.
To protect resale value, focus your layout on:
Right-sized main living area.
Big is good, but usable is better. A great room that clearly fits:A real sofa + chairs
Dining table for 6–8
Sightlines to the kitchen and porch
A “livable four”: kitchen, dining, living, outdoor.
The best Grand Strand layouts treat outdoor living as a fourth main space:Double doors to a rear porch or deck
Covered area you can use in summer rain
Easy grill access that doesn’t send you 30 stairs down and around the house
No orphan rooms.
Rooms that are too small for a bedroom and too big for a closet tend to become clutter collectors. Instead, clearly define:Flex room near the front door as office/den
Loft as media room or kids’ hangout
Laundry and drop zones where people actually enter.
In many local neighborhoods, homeowners come in from:The garage (for inland communities like Carolina Forest and Forestbrook)
The stair from under-house parking (for raised beach homes)
A smart layout places a mudroom, drop zone, or laundry near that entry, not across the house by the “formal” front door.View-first planning.
Whether your lot faces a pond in Carolina Forest, a golf course, or the marsh, design the layout so:Kitchen sink or island views face that feature
Main seating area faces windows, not just a TV wall
Views sell. Period.
5. The “Smart Coastal Core”: One Layout, Four Use Cases
Think of the “smart coastal core” as a layout that works in four modes without major remodeling:
Daily living (you live here full-time)
Aging in place (mobility needs change, but you stay put)
Income mode (you rent the home seasonally or part-time)
Exit mode (you decide to sell in 5, 10, or 15 years)
A good core layout usually includes:
Elevated main living level with kitchen, dining, living, primary suite, and laundry
Wide, open traffic patterns with few tight turns
A stack of space reserved for a future elevator
Guest suite(s) grouped together, often upstairs
Outdoor living zones both covered and open
Simple structural grid, making future reconfigurations easier
In Market Common, for example, buyers often love townhome-style products. But the most future-proof ones have:
Alley-entry garages
Main-level living or at least a main-level flex room with full bath
Space for an elevator or stair-lift
Along the more traditional neighborhoods of Carolina Forest, you’ll see ranch and two-story plans. The smart ones now are often:
1.5 stories (primary on main, guest beds + loft up)
With a true zero-entry option from garage to main floor
These details sound small on paper, but they’re the difference between a home you grow out of and a home you grow into.
6. Working with a Local Builder on a Smart Coastal Layout
You don’t have to bring a perfect floor plan to the table. What you do need is a clear checklist and a builder who understands how Myrtle Beach actually lives and floods.
When you sit down with a local team like Carolina Crafted Homes, you’ll want to talk about:
Your timeline: living here now vs. in 5–10 years
Your mobility and access needs
Whether you want rental flexibility and what platforms you might use
What type of lot you have (inland, waterway, marsh, or closer to the oceanfront)
Your must-have view and your “non-negotiable” rooms
A good design process doesn’t just draw pretty elevations. It reverse-engineers your life into the layout: where sand gets dropped, where groceries land, how your guests arrive, and how you’ll feel here at 75, not just at 55.
If you’re dreaming of a coastal home around Myrtle Beach that feels good today and still makes sense 10 years from now, your layout is the smartest place to start. Carolina Crafted Homes can help you design a flood-aware, age-ready, rental-flexible plan that fits your lot and your lifestyle—from Carolina Forest and Market Common to the wider Grand Strand.
Ready to map out your smart coastal layout? Schedule a consultation, bring your wish list, and let’s design a home that works in every season of life.
FAQS
How do I design a coastal home that’s safer in a flood?
A flood-smart coastal layout in Myrtle Beach starts with elevating your main living level above the base flood elevation and keeping critical systems off the ground. Use the ground floor mainly for parking and storage with flood-friendly materials. Stack bathrooms and laundry above and create outdoor living spaces on upper porches or decks instead of at grade. Work with a local builder who understands FEMA maps, local codes, and how storm water behaves in your specific neighborhood.
Can the same floor plan work for aging in place and rentals?
Yes, if it’s designed intentionally. A smart coastal layout can include a main-level primary suite, wide doorways, and a future elevator location while still offering guest zones, bunk rooms, and flexible living spaces that appeal to renters. Think of it as one “smart core” that works in daily, aging, rental, and resale modes. Clear sleeping zones, multiple hangout spaces, and easy-clean finishes keep it comfortable for you and attractive for guests.
What features help my Myrtle Beach home resell for more later?
Buyers along the Grand Strand generally pay more for layouts that feel open but functional: a strong indoor-outdoor connection, a real dining area, a true main-level suite, and a defined flex space for an office or media room. Elevated construction, flood-conscious mechanical placement, and age-ready details are becoming selling points. Views of ponds, marsh, or golf help, but smart traffic flow and usable outdoor living make everyday life—and listing photos—much more appealing.
Are elevators worth adding to a coastal home layout?
You don’t always have to install an elevator up front, but planning for one is very smart. By stacking closets or leaving a “shaft-ready” bay in the layout, you can add the elevator later as needs or budget change. In elevated homes in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, future elevator potential is a big plus for aging buyers and can help your home stand out in listings. It also makes moving luggage, groceries, and beach gear much easier.
How many bedrooms should a smart rental-friendly beach home have?
It depends on your lot and budget, but many successful Myrtle Beach rentals hit a sweet spot of three to five bedrooms. Instead of forcing extra tiny bedrooms, plan one true bunk room and possibly a flex office/guest room with a sleeper sofa niche. Combine that with multiple living areas—like a loft and a porch—and your home can handle more guests comfortably. That balance helps with nightly rates and good reviews without making the home feel overcrowded.
Do inland Myrtle Beach communities still need flood-smart layouts?
Even if you’re building inland in Carolina Forest, Forestbrook, or parts of Conway, flood-aware design still matters. Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage, and elevated mechanicals, good site grading, and smart ground-floor use can reduce risk and damage. You may not need the same height as a raised beach house, but designing with drainage, storage, and material choices in mind gives you resilience and can make your home more attractive to cautious buyers later.
