Designing your future luxury home is the next step after making the decision to build instead of buy. These ten tips can help you to strike that often hard to find the balance between fitting all your needs, yet staying within budget.
Do Your Design Homework
There are so many different housing styles, that having some idea of what you want to live in is important. Write down what appeals to you in the way of decoration, features or character when you see a home you like, and start keeping your notes in one place to use them later if necessary.
Create a Home Design List
You will need to come up with a list of needs and wants, including such things as garage size, style of eating area, whether you want a porch or deck, and what any outdoor space should comprise. And of course, you will need to figure out the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and other rooms for the family.
Planning the important and desired features for the individual rooms should come next. You should look at such details as phone and Internet connections, the features and accessories you would like in the master bathroom and kitchen, and any speaker or music systems.
Check your Local Zoning Laws
You can save yourself a lot of trouble in the future by making sure you are familiar with any local zoning restrictions and laws. They can regulate everything, from the fencing in your yard to the framing in your house.
Keep It Within Your Budget
Many first time home builders can find it a challenge to stay within budget. If you are not careful, you could find yourself with an unfinished home if you run out of money.
It’s easy to find and use home design software, which provides you with a running total of costs as your home takes shape, and it can be an effective way to stay on track and not overspend.
Design Your Home For Your Plot
You can save on excavating costs and keep more of the natural character of your plot by working with it, rather than against it. For example, instead of the more traditional back door, think about incorporating a walkout side basement door if your plot of land has a steep slope to one side. There may be other unique features which should be seen as assets and not challenges.
Increase privacy and your home’s appeal by the way you design your fences, foliage, and windows. And if you are close to foot or street traffic, consider placing bedrooms and bathrooms on the ground level as far as possible from potential noise, at the rear of the house.
Maximize Your Space Efficiency
The job of your contractor should be as easy as possible while he is building your dream luxury home, and a logical flow to your design will help to make life easy for him and for your family. Some considerations:
- Keep piping amounts to a minimum by having all your plumbing in one general area.
- Have access from the garage directly to the kitchen.
- Enjoy the better balance of temperature through your home by locating the air conditioning, ventilation, and heating systems as centrally as you can.
- Increase privacy and lower noise levels by having your bedrooms isolated.
- If you have two or more floors, locate the washer and dryer on the same floor as the bedrooms.
- Allow easy movement of furniture by making sure hallways, doorways and stairs are all wide enough.
- Outlets and light switches should all be in convenient locations.
Plan For Expansion
Building your luxury home in phases allows you to plan for expansion if you don’t have the budget to build your entire house all at once. A finished basement and a garage can always be added in the future.
Interior Design Is Important
Home design software, magazine articles or graph paper all allow you to see how your furniture will look in your new home. And don’t forget your flooring, paint color, and lighting, all of which will be important when it comes to entertaining and general everyday living.
Don’t Forget the Sun
You can save energy by locating windows to take advantage of natural sunlight, and you may want to position them to enjoy the sunset or sunrise. Don’t forget that a south facing home will be hotter during summer and warmer in the winter months.
Beautify All Sides
Small design features and elements all around the exterior of your home will ensure that it looks good from the outside, regardless of which side you or your guests are looking at. You and your visitors can enjoy a pleasant and inviting home with the addition of plants, shrubs and flowers, and perhaps a porch, deck or covered patio.
Final Words
Considering the above points will help you create a home that you will be truly proud of. Remember this is your home and your chance to create something that you will live in for a long time. With careful consideration, you can create something you will truly love and will serve you and your loved ones for the decades ahead.
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