Designing the home of your dreams can seem like a difficult task, especially if you can't settle for a particular design. However, if you intend to age in the house, it's crucial to have your current and future needs in mind. You only have one shot at building the house of your dreams. Therefore, ask yourself the following questions when designing the plans for your future home.
Which Design Are You Gravitating Towards (and Why)?
There are numerous house designs that you can consider for your new home. Examples include Victorian design, Edwardian, Art Deco, Californian Bungalow, Mid-Century Modern and Contemporary styles, among others. Also, there are single-storey and multi-storey home, simple designs and sophisticated ones.
What's your style, and why do you like it? For example, if you are looking for a modern home with contemporary features, you may gravitate towards a contemporary design. Also, if you have a large family and would like to accommodate them from time to time, you'd prefer a multi-storey house with numerous rooms. This question should help you understand how practical and functional your new home will be.
What Are Your Favourite Parts of a House?
Think about the places that you love most in a home. Is it the kitchen, living room, bedroom or the outdoor space? Answering this question should help you determine how to design your favourite rooms. For example, if you love the kitchen and are fond of entertaining, you should opt for an open plan. Similarly, if you like the living room, you should create a plan that will deliver a cosy living space that adds warmth and character to the rest of the home.
What Features Do You Need Now (and Later)?
Think about the things that you need in a home at the moment. If you're young, these may include features such as a sunroom, a large and functional patio area or even a swimming pool to unwind over the weekends. Consider your current needs and have them in mind when outlining your floor plans.
Secondly, think about your future needs as well. For example, when you age, you may need a home that caters to the needs of the elderly. Will your chosen staircase design make it easy for you to access the upper rooms? If not, can you add a stairlift or railing without making significant alterations?
Which Things Can You Do Without?
Building a home is a costly affair, and you may have to make budget cuts. In this case, outline things you can do without in the new house. For example, do you need gypsum ceilings all over the house? What about the intricate roof-lines that cost a lot of money to build? How about the complicated floor plans with curves and trapezoids? If you can, go for a simple design as it will save you money in the long run.
Once you're settled on a style, talk to a builder who shares your vision and can actualise your dream home.
