Designing a home? Homeshelf has all the information you need on home designs, from how to choose the best design for your dream home, to deciding on a builder, and finding the right location. There is a home design to suit every lifestyle, budget, and land size. Being informed of the things to consider will help you to create the perfect home design.
Choosing a Home Design
When building a new home, it’s important to put a lot of thought into the house design. The right home design can create a beautiful, comfortable and welcoming space to enjoy for years to come. Different home designs will suit different locations, blocks and homeowners.
The first thing to consider when designing a home is the specifics of your block of land. Is your land flat or sloping? How big is your block? What direction is it facing? All of these factors will be important when creating your home design.
Once you have determined these key characteristics, you can start to consider your own personal needs and aesthetic. It’s important to create a home that works well for you and your family as you grow and evolve. Think about how many bedrooms and bathrooms you require, as well as additional needs like garage space, outdoor entertainment areas, and home offices.
When looking at floorplans, consider the layout of the home and how it will work for you. Ask yourself questions, such as whether you want all the bedrooms in one area of the house. Do you want an open plan living area, or separate kitchen and dining rooms? These considerations will help you narrow down the kind of home design that you want.
Choosing the Right Builder for You
Choosing the best builder for your new home is a crucial decision. There are builders to suit any location, budget and design choice. Always do plenty of research before committing to a builder to ensure they will deliver the home you want.
Budget
Your budget for building your home will determine the kind of builder you will approach for your home design. Some builders are well known for delivering exceptional, cost-effective homes. Others are better equipped to provide luxury and customised home designs. Starting with your budget will ensure you only consider the right builders for your design aspirations.
Location
Many builders will only work in specific areas. If you have a location in mind, make sure you consider builders who are experienced in building in that area, as they will have more connections with local trades and suppliers.
Style
When looking at builders, consider other homes they have built previously. You may want to visit display homes to get a sense of their style. Choose a builder that creates home designs that align with your tastes and design preferences.
Standard Home Designs
Standard home designs are a suite of designs created by a builder that are made to cater for a range of homeowners. These designs will range in size, materials and more: you can choose from single storey homes, two storey homes, split level homes, townhouses and many other types of home designs.
A standard home design offers many advantages to homebuilders. Because the homes are already designed by the building company, they are better value for money. Builders can create these houses faster than other types of homes, because the people on site are experienced in building this specific design.
When you choose a standard home design, you will often have the option to add upgrades. These additional extras can provide an added sense of luxury and aesthetic appeal to your home, as well as contributing to the functionality.
Custom Home Designs
A custom build gives you the freedom to produce your ideal home design. When you use a custom design, you are working with a builder and design team to create your perfect home from scratch.
It’s important to remember that not all builders will offer customised builds. If you have already had plans drawn up with an architect or drafter, many larger builders won’t be able to create that home for you. It’s best to engage a custom builder from the beginning of the process. This helps to keep the project within budget and ensures the builder is able to accommodate every aspect of your design.
The advantages of a custom home design are that they allow you to be more involved in the building process. If you have specific needs or desires, you can incorporate these into your house design: from the floorplan to the finishes, everything can be customised just for you.
However, custom home designs are more expensive than standard builds. They often will take longer, due to the added time of designing the home and a longer construction timeframe.
Finding the Right Land
The location of your home is one of the most important aspects of its liveability. You want to find a block of land that is going to be convenient for you and your family, as well as a site that will accommodate your dream home.
Size, shape and slope
Certain blocks are better suited to different home designs. You can create a beautiful house on any kind of block, but if you have a specific house design in mind, make sure you choose a block that will accommodate this.
Building restrictions
Council restrictions can apply to things like house height, proximity to boundaries, and even colours and materials. Always research the area and any rules in place so that you can build your ideal home without compromising.
Orientation
Consider the way that natural light will enter your home. North-facing blocks are best to make the most of the sun. You can design your floorplan to cater for the best position within your block.
Lifestyle
Consider the location relative to your work, to amenities like shopping centres and healthcare, to public transport, and to places like schools and childcare centres. The perfect piece of land won’t work well if you feel like you’re not close to the things you need.