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4 Ways to Personalize Your New Home Plans

March 21, 2019

One of the best reasons to build your new home from the ground up is to customize it as you see fit. The process of personalizing your home plans can be exciting. It can also be terrifying. This is your dream home; shouldn’t you include every wish you’ve ever had? Of course, you may have already experienced the reality of connecting your budget to your dreams. You may have settled on a particular series of home plans and are now trying to finalize your decisions. What should you say yes to? And where should you cut? How do you know you won’t regret a decision somewhere down the road? Luckily, we’ve done this many times over the years, with a lot of different families just like yours. We know there are a few easy ways to personalize your home with features you’ll love, yet stay on track with your budget too. Dream big. It’s important to get all of your wish lists down on paper. If you want it thanks to your pinboards on Pinterest or the file you’ve created from reading popular home magazines, put those ideas down. Then we can help you scale it back. Some rooms will be more important to you than others. This is where you can separate out your wants from your needs. You can also start ranking in importance the things you must have. 1. Build Your Lifestyle into Your Home There are a lot of buzzwords in the industry. Open concept. Craftsman style. You may have even used some of them yourself. But no matter how you use the buzzword, it might mean something different to you. And you may wish to incorporate it into your home plans in different ways.

• What activities do you and your family participate in?
• How big is your family?
• How connected do you like to be when you’re at home?
• Do you require bookcases and book storage?
• Do you need a place to display artwork?
• Maybe your family is musically inclined; a full studio space isn’t an option, it’s a requirement.

It doesn’t take much to convert the extra bedroom into anything you desire. Or make that third garage stall a woodworker’s haven. If you see it first, you can build it into your finalized plans however you choose. 2. Consider the Layout For most people, it’s difficult to see the final design when it’s only drawn up on paper. What sounds good in theory can often be unpleasant. Layout and flow are two things to pay attention to. You wouldn’t want to put a noisy game room next to a nursery where your baby will be sleeping. Your layout is important from the front door to the back. It’s also important as you move from room to room. Some families are now building homes for their multigenerational households. Would two separate entrances give you the privacy each member needs and deserves? Stairs are another thing to consider. While they might not be a big deal today, are you creating your home with universal design in mind? Then a first-floor master suite might be more than just a convenience. Think carefully about what rooms you want together. A playroom between children’s bedrooms might be the perfect way to keep clutter away from the main living areas. Or an in-law suite to give your parents the privacy they deserve might be a welcomed addition. 3. Structural Features Can Add Personality Have you longed for a walk-in pantry where you can have all of your staples conveniently stored and displayed? Or maybe a large prep counter to provide ample room for the large meals you create on the weekends? Many rooms have optional features when building out your home plans. How about homework space or a built-in desk in the kitchen? A spa-like shower in the master bath? Or a dedicated laundry space with room to fold and store near the bedrooms? Sometimes it’s easy to change a layout and make it uniquely your own; it might require swapping out certain features in order to build it to your own wants and desires. 4. Determine Your Preference for Special Features When you’re customizing a new home, it’s easy to incorporate any design feature you please. This is where help from Pinterest boards or cutouts from magazines can give you the direction you need. Anything’s possible. The sky’s the limit. Of course, you’ll have to think of your budget too, but if you want it, you can have it. Fireplaces are a great way to take the chill out of winter. What rooms do you want them in? Gas or wood? Media rooms are all the rage. Why not dedicate a room to your family’s entertainment? Make sure you include enough electrical work to ensure you have everything you need. How about heated floors? Or a centralized vacuum? Or maybe you’re more into entertaining outdoors. Spend extra time developing your home plans to move freely between your kitchen and your outdoor living space. Green living is also a growing trend. The more energy efficient you can make your home the better. If you start from the beginning of your home planning phase, the number of efficiencies you can include are endless. How about using only the highest energy-efficient appliances to keep your utility bills down? Or building in special features to reduce your carbon footprint? Complete Your Project and Love Your Home The purpose of personalizing your home plans long before the first shovel of dirt is upturned is to ensure you get the home of your dreams. That means you stay on top of the project from the beginning to the end. There are a lot of steps that go into creating your home. And while we handle this process every single day, we realize this may be your once-in-a-lifetime shot at getting it right. Ask questions. No question is too simple or naive. If you don’t understand the process or want to know how something is done, ask away. Because when it’s time to move in and unpack your belongings, you’ll be that much more excited when you know every corner, every wall, every selection you made was done to positively impact your life. And not just when you move in, but for the future too. Enjoy your new home. Invite your new neighbors. Because this is the start of happiness for years to come.