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6 Ways to Make Custom Home Design a Family Project

July 10, 2018

Your custom home is finally complete and you’re all moved in. But the homeownership tasks aren’t complete just yet. It’s time to decorate. Don’t want to go at it alone? We’re here to help, but it’s also fun to enlist the members of your family. Whether you’re focusing on just one room or the entire house, it’s time to get creative. Involve your significant other. If you have children, get them involved as well. Is there anyone else who will be living in your new home, or anyone who plans on frequenting your guest bedroom? Ask for their input too. Make it a family affair! The great thing about custom home designs is that you can transform a space any way you desire. If you want an elegant look, go for it. If you have young children and you want to cater to their needs, go for it. The beauty of customization is that you do not have to follow a standard, and can literally do whatever you want (as long as it fits within your allocated budget, of course). Now, how can we make this fun for the entire family? Here are six ideas for you to try. Throw a Brainstorming Party Before you even start working on your new home, get the family together, order some pizza, play some music, and have a brainstorming party! Go around the room and have everyone say what their “dream” aspect of the home would be. Appoint one person to write all of this down and create a long wish list. Feel free to joke around and remember that since iit's the brainstorming session, every idea is valid, no matter how wacky. Then, at a later date, take that wish list and see what you can and want to actually accomplish. This might be a discussion best left to the decision-makers in the home. But, if you want to continue the fun, save the lists to show to your children one day. Everyone will get a kick remembering past ideas, like that time your youngest wanted to paint the living room pink. Let Children Design Their Own Bedrooms It’s a new house and new bedrooms for your children – be sure to make them feel as though they have a say in the room that’s dedicated to them. Ask them the one thing they would absolutely love to have in their room. You may be surprised by your child’s answer – it could be as simple as asking for dinosaur comforters (or, yes, it could be as elaborate as a wall-to-wall aquarium). Of course, if they go for the more elaborate option, sit with them and come up with a budget-appropriate compromise. Maybe they can have a small fish bowl and an underwater themed room instead. Integrate Family Memories Is there a yearly vacation you take as a family? Dedicate wall space for photos from that. Is there a specific sports team you root for each season? Show off memorabilia or memories from going to games together. Is there one movie you always quote or constantly watch together? Hang lines from that around the house or get the official movie poster to hang in the playroom. Your new home is for the entire family, and you want it to be a reflection of your family. You can take things one step further by adding engravings to certain walls, shelves, tables, to further customize and personalize. It’s your house; anything goes! Don’t Forget About the Backyard If you have backyard space, utilize it! Is it enough for everyone in the family to have their own section that they can be in charge of? If so (and if you’re comfortable in doing so), designate specific sections to specific people for them to do what they want with. Or, chat as a family about what your dream backyard should include: The perfect space for hosting? A free area for children to run around? Space for your pets? Whatever you decide, decide as a family, and then work on it together. Involve Everyone in the Work Are you doing any of the decorating yourself? While you may not want to hand over a hammer or bucket of paint to your child, let them hand you nails as you hang paintings and assist as you clean up after a long day. Putting all the pieces together? Let the kids decide where the throw pillows go after you and your partner find the perfect location for your couch and reclining chairs. Then let the youngest organize your movies and music while you add in rugs, lamps, and tables. Children love to get involved so find small projects that they can handle. Don’t want them focused on the living room? Choose a space aside from their own room where their work would be most appreciated. Maybe it’s sorting through sporting equipment in the garage or locating the bathroom towels and hanging them on the respective racks. Go Shopping Together for Ideas and Supplies Are you still looking for decorating ideas before you get started? Bring the whole family along for the car ride. There are plenty of areas where they can help decide. Even if you go in another direction, it may even trigger ideas you haven’t yet thought of and each family member will feel important and included. So, go on a family outing to the paint store, furniture store, rug store, an antique store. Get an idea of who wants what in their new bedroom. Select colors and textiles that will work and narrow them down together. Let each person have a voice. Then, once everything comes together, everyone will be proud of the home you enjoy together. Customizing a new home can be an extremely exciting time! You get to make your house into anything you want it to be. But, don’t forget about your family and allow them to have input as well. The above are just six ways to make the process more enjoyable. Or, if you’re a more hands-off decorate, reach out to us at New Tradition Homes and you’ll have a space you will love in no time!