Designing a custom home is an exciting and rewarding process. It might take some effort to craft a layout that matches your vision, but the result is a home that’s uniquely yours. Working with a custom home builder means you’ll have access to industry experts with the skills and knowledge to turn your dream home into a reality.
You can speed up the process by getting started on the design before you speak to your home builder. To point you in the right direction, we’re going to cover 6 6 simple steps to design a custom home that suits you perfectly.
1. Set a Budget for the Project
Working with a custom home builder gives you the freedom to achieve almost any vision for your new home. That presents a unique opportunity, but it makes it all the more important to set a budget at the start of the project. Your budget will ensure you can realistically afford the property, and it serves as a useful tool for deciding which features you do and don’t need to include.
Remember to think about additional expenses when setting your budget. Features such as decks, landscaping and driveways may be considered add-ons, so it’s a good idea to think about them up front.
2. Determine Your Home’s Orientation
The way your home is positioned on a block has a major impact on its design and features. For example, if you wanted to make the most of ocean views, you could design a layout that delivers the best scenes to the main living area. Similarly, the positioning of windows in each room can help you create a more sustainable home and take advantage of passive heating and cooling. Visit your block of land and try to pick the location and orientation that suits your layout and budget.
3. Design for Your Lifestyle
Building a custom home is your opportunity to design a property that perfectly suits your family and lifestyle. When creating your new home wish list, prioritise the features that support the lifestyle you’re envisioning. Do you need multiple living spaces for extended family or adult children? Do you spend your weekends entertaining? Do you have a young family that needs yard space to play? Now’s your chance to think about those things!
There’s lots to consider when designing a home that meets your lifestyle, including:
- The size of the home and how many rooms it needs
- The number and size of living rooms
- Additional features such as a home office, butler’s pantry or theatre room
- Storage space in bedrooms and throughout the home
- Integrated garage spaces
- Whether you need separate or additional areas
- Outdoor entertainment areas
4. Choose a Style You Love
Homes come in hundreds of different design aesthetics, and this is your chance to choose the one you love. Making the most of your home’s style isn’t just about the facade – the style should work its way into every corner of the property. Make sure you’re setting the tone for your design properly by choosing a style at the start of the project. If you need inspiration, it’s easy to look up popular styles like Hampton homes online and see what others have done.
5. Explore Existing Home Designs
It can be challenging to design a custom home or even a knock down rebuild project. Thousands of tiny details go into creating the perfect floorplan, so it’s a good idea to borrow some ideas from existing homes you like. Many home builders offer examples of their work on their websites. Browsing through their home designs can give you a feel for which features you want and how they fit into the home’s layout.
6. Create a Floorplan
Custom home builders have a wealth of experience in designing bespoke homes to suit their customers’ needs. That means you’re free to lean on their expertise to design a custom home. However, you can make the design process much simpler by bringing your ideas to the table.
If you have the time, sketch out some floorplans of your own. Even rough floorplans will be enough to help a builder understand your vision. They’ll be able to refine the plans and add any missing details later, so all you need to do is focus on getting the broad strokes right.
Turn Your Vision into a New Custom Home with McCarthy Homes!
Taking the time to design a custom home can dramatically speed up the process of working with your builder. Having a clear idea of what you want from your property means it’s simple to turn your dream home into a reality. If you’re ready to get started, McCarthy Homes is here to help!
McCarthy are Hampton style home builders working throughout the Brisbane region. We specialise in crafting high quality homes that feature all the details your new lifestyle needs. You can contact us online at any time – we’re always happy to have a conversation and find out how we can support your custom home dream!
