Floor plan design single-family house with around 150 m²

I understand your feelings and have the desire to try to comfort and cheer you up at least a little. Technically, you certainly have the option to have one or two more windows installed later on medium to long term (approved?). Maybe you are among those who receive Christmas bonuses annually or occasionally get a small subsidy from parents/grandparents. Consider already where you would like to have another window and start making plans, imagine which window (size, shape, number of sashes or glass blocks?) you might install later and where. In principle, you could even obtain concrete and free offers and find out that it is not as expensive and complicated as you suspect. Please consider, a house/garden is never really finished. There is always, and I suspect with everyone, something to change or optimize. It’s a pity that you recently felt ashamed. Even among experts, opinions on what can be called successful architecture are controversial.

Thank you for your words. Of course, it might still be possible to install additional windows – for us, it’s less a question of money and more about the possible locations. We chose the windows as they are now for various reasons – on the west side for privacy from neighbors. But larger windows would be nice exactly there. Maybe the room layout would have needed to be designed quite differently from the start to get more/larger windows. Or consistently install large windows and then possibly work with curtains. Now we have to see if anything can be done at all. You’re right about the architecture. Everyone’s taste is different.

- to the west for privacy from neighbors. But larger windows would be nice, especially there.

That is an argument, but not one I would accept for myself. I don't want to dissuade you from your point of view or attitude (only from your distress), but is there anything you do or have that your neighbors cannot see a hundred thousand times better and more beautifully on the Internet? Please don't take it the wrong way, but most of the time we are not as interesting to other people as we think. And if your neighbors may have looked into your window a few times, they get bored of it too. Personally, I do not require privacy in the entire house and around the clock.

Now you have to see if anything can be done at all.

There is certainly still something to be done and it is also a nice topic now for spring.

Now we have to see if there is anything left to do at all.

Dude, you’re crazy. I just looked at your floor plan again. Your living room is over 4 meters deep. Absolutely good standard. You wanted to build narrow so there would still be a garden and yet there is enough space in the living room. You wanted to build small because the budget was small. Now being disappointed because it’s not a bigger and more expensive glass palace is just silly. I even doubt you would be happier then. This absolutely lacks furnishing. Nothing has been done here. Normally, you would have to spend all day in furniture stores and watch episodes of Fixer Upper nonstop at night. Didn’t you rave to me with pictures about how wonderful it would look in the end when I assumed the room would feel like a hallway? So where are the pictures now and where is the implementation of that? I rather think you’re depressed because the construction itself is over. The excitement fades and you have no desire for the necessary final touches in furnishing. :P

Recently I showed a friend some exterior views and was asked if we had renovated an old house.

I would take that as a compliment for a successful integration according to §34.

In the west for privacy from neighbors. But larger windows would be nice exactly there.

Anyone who omits windows because of neighbors would, for consistency’s sake (since there are stupid people everywhere), have to walk around with earplugs as soon as they step outside.

I rather think you’re depressed because the construction itself is over.

Haha, postpartum depression *LOL*

Great fireplace. Others don’t have that.
And renovating or refurbishing a used house is much better than a new build. That’s how it is!
Don’t let anything negative get to you.

The living room seating area is already bright, but when I sit, I see quite a lot of walls and I feel trapped there. Plus the rather low ceiling, which adds to the oppressive feeling

Well, honestly, I’m always amazed by the planned waist-high windows – they’re not my thing either.

Maybe from the start you should have arranged the rooms completely differently to get more/larger windows. Or just consistently install big ones and then possibly work with curtains.
Now you have to see if anything can still be done

I would definitely put the sofa on the other wall. Then you look into brightness. The TV can be placed diagonally and on another piece of furniture or something.
Put some indirect lights on the floor and/or at eye level: you only have a skylight when you need to look for marbles
And the dining table could be placed crosswise too, right?

The fireplace is really well done.

Now I have to grin. Even if it’s terrible how you feel.
At first, my living room also felt so cold to me. Then everything was so quiet (my husband is not home much during the week and before that we lived in a multi-generational house). It was awful.
But the more you make the house your own, a curtain here, something else there, the more beautiful moments you have, the better it gets.

Why shouldn’t you dare to show your house? Yes, it is plain. IT IS YOURS!!!!! You set this budget yourself and decided against many cost drivers. You have to be able and willing to do that. Be proud of it.

Try placing the sofa against the other wall, then your view goes through the balcony door. Maybe that is better.

Thank you. Maybe you’re right and it will look cozier little by little... a warmer wall color, pictures... then the many “bare” walls won’t stand out so much anymore and you’ll also see other things you have beautifully designed yourself.