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You might want to design your custom home in the near future. However, have you considered to what extent you want to be a part of the design? Do you just want to be actively involved in the planning and initial blueprint? Or do you actually want to get your hands dirty?
Even if you just want to build the floor plan, it is going to take a lot of expertise and knowledge to account for all the necessary parts of the home. Consider what goes on behind the walls in terms of HVAC and plumbing and how that can influence the design and build.
Move on to the foundations and consider how the weight of the house gets transferred to the ground. This will give you a fair idea of the spans, beams, columns, and their placement. Or simply, lean back and leave it to the experts. No matter the approach you want to take, here’s an easy, doable guide for designing your dream custom home!
- Gather All the Information You Need
If you are hoping to design your dream home, get rid of the small obstacles that may bother you later. First and foremost, find out the size and shape of your lot and thoroughly explore all the local regulations placed upon it by the government. You can research your local zoning code and also reach out to your architect for advice.
You must also understand the common wind direction, the sun angle, potential snow loads, weather severity, and seismic zones. This allows you to build a strong home with integrity as well as a sustainable place that leads to lesser energy costs down the line.
Before you roll those sleeves up and start designing a blueprint, consider evaluating your lifestyle. What is the size of your family? Do you have little kids? How often do you go grocery shopping? Do you run a business from your home? All this affects the design.
- Don’t Pick Just One Style
If you have been searching for styles online and are confused how all those pins on Pinterest and those pictures you’ve saved to your computer align with different styles, don’t worry. You don’t need to be bound to just one style when designing your home. You just need to design a place that you would want to occupy and experience.
Your space should appeal to you. It shouldn’t be planned keeping others in mind. Many expert home builders shy away from starting with one specific style because it often doesn’t line up that well with your site as well as your vision.
Pro Tip: Don’t shy away from sharing those Pinterest boards with your architect. Don’t feel like they are too scattered. All you need to do is share your vision and leave it up to expert builders who are well-versed in building custom homes who know exactly how to execute your ideas.
- Let the Surroundings Come Into Play
When you are designing your custom home, remember that you can make it truly custom in every sense by taking note of your surroundings and recognizing ways you can play with it.
Most of the time, when people choose a plot, they pick it for a specific feature. It might be closer to their friends, have a great natural view, or just generally be located in a beautiful neighborhood. Take advantage of this.
For instance, if your house has a great view, invest in floor length glass windows with curtains. Or if you have a big enough plot, you could consider a conversation pit. These tiny additions elevate the look of your home!
- Hire the A-Team
Put together a team of experts that will eventually be in charge of designing that house. You don’t need to be an expert architect if you hire someone who knows what they are doing.
Your team should be able to solve difficult problems or any confusions you may have. Create a strong relationship with your team and always be available for major decisions. Since you would be putting thousands of dollars on the line, it is important to hire people you can trust and then be available to answer their queries.
Do your research before you settle on a company. Expert Morgantown custom home builders should be able to make early site visits, walk you through the cost structure, and align their own ideas with your vision! After all, it is your custom home we are talking about.
- Start with the Bigger Picture
We spoke of this before. Interior design comes way down the line. We must begin with the layout of the home, go on to the walls, then move to the furniture and fixtures, and so on.
Your interior should complement the general structure of your home. We suggest you avoid doing it the other way around where you have your heart set on a particular piece and want to build the entire house around it. It can quickly turn into a recipe for disaster!
The best way to approach this is to avoid the nitty gritty details at the start. Take it one step at a time and start with broad concepts. Each step of the home design is going to present to you a new obstacle to solve. Work closely with the experts on that particular obstacle so it is solved the way you want it to be.
What Makes a Home Special?
Keep asking yourself the most important question. What makes your home stand out? This is eventually going to be determined by your vision. What do you want to experience when you are inside your home? Do you picture yourself by the fireplace sipping on a glass of wine? Or do you feel like partying every weekend is more your vibe?
Your vision is going to eventually determine everything about your home. The shape, the materials used, the layout, the furniture, and so on…
Key Takeaways
Your dream home should closely follow your vision. Yet it is important to listen to the experts when they chime in on key technical aspects that might improve the home’s functionality. This helps you achieve that vision while staying practical and avoiding huge costs down the line.