Designing your own home is an exciting process, but it can also be intimidating. You want everything to be perfect, after all! Here are five key aspects of designing your home that will enhance its comfort, beauty, and convenience.
Lighting
This is one of the most important considerations of a custom-designed home, and it involves more than simply deciding where to install light fixtures.
Think about which rooms should be sunny in the morning — maybe your breakfast nook, but not your bedroom — so that those rooms can be oriented toward the east. Skylights, bay windows or even a Florida room can also be incorporating into your home design to let more light in.
Certain areas of the home need more artificial light than others as well. For example, you’ll want bright task lighting in the kitchen. Dimmers in the living room and bedrooms will provide a sense of coziness and calm.
Custom Finishings
Custom finishings really set the tone for your home. While furniture often makes more of a statement, the finishings you choose are the backdrop of your daily life.
Farmhouse sinks, clawfoot tubs, stone-tiled showers, and reclaimed wood floors are all popular choices, but make sure you’re choosing furniture based on your own taste and lifestyle. It’s not easy to uninstall these items and you don’t want your home to look dated in just a few years.
Finishings, such as cabinets, shelving, drawer pulls, and curtain rods are easier to swap out so feel free to have a little fun with these.
Environment
Smart homes are not only all the rage; they’re the wave of the future. In 2016, consumers across the globe purchased some 80 billion smart home devices.
If you’re designing your home, chances are you want smart technology incorporated into the build. It’s not going to be enough to simply have an Echo or another device to play your music and look up the weather.
Consider smart thermostats, security systems, electrical outlets, appliances, and of course, a smart hub.
Entertainment
Perhaps the most convenient use of smart home technology is entertainment. You’ll want wireless Bluetooth speakers installed in your dream home, voice-activated televisions, and a media room.
Entertainment systems are becoming more and more immersive. Imagine your living room lighting automatically adjusting to match the mood of the movie you’re watching, or being able to pause a song simply by waving your hand.
Furniture
You may be planning on purchasing new furniture for your new custom home, but take a look at the pieces you already have before you start designing your home.
If you have a beautiful antique credenza or dining table, it might be worthwhile designing the room around that one piece. Spotlight a showpiece canopy bed by placing it underneath a vaulted ceiling or skylight. These design choices can bring a cohesiveness to your room and make your beautiful pieces stand out.
Want Expert Advice for Designing Your Home?
The architects and planners here at Michael Helm & Associates can take all your desires and ideas and bring them to life. Check out our gallery and let us help create your dream home.
Michael Helm is a recognized leader in the architectural design and consultation fields. He has more than twenty-four years experience and more than 200 projects to his credit. He has extensive experience with demanding projects, and enjoys a high level of success and comfort working with clients, design and construction teams.