Thinking of building your dream home? If you’re anything like the rest of us, you’ve probably turned to Pinterest and HGTV to start gathering your ideas, which is a great way to start. (Fixer Upper addiction, anyone? Please tell us we aren’t alone…)
Still, when you are in the process of Planning and ideating, there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid:
1. Focusing on your current home, not your future home.
Are you too focused on the problems in your current house instead of the possibilities? We see it a lot because your current home is at the forefront of your mind. In ten years though, it won’t be, we promise! It’s important to list the problem areas you have now, but don’t let that stand in the way of coming up with completely fresh ideas.
A good way to start brainstorming instead of problem-solving is to mentally separate the two:
Problems
Here are the problems I deal with every day in my current home:
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Examples would be things like:
1. Not enough storage
2. Why do I have to carry my laundry downstairs?!
3. There’s no bathroom in the basement.
Dreams
If I could add anything to my dream home it would be:
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Examples would be things like:
- Epic pool and outdoor living area
- Wine cellar
- Guest room suite
2. Planning décor, not space OR planning space, not décor.
Wait, what? You have to do a little of both. Here’s why it’s important to be thinking fluidly about both throughout the process:
When you want to plan your SPACE before you plan your décor:
If you stay focused on the layout of the bathroom instead of that awesome mirror you want above the vanity, you’ll be thinking about the usability of your space. Believe it or not, the usability is something that drastically affects the aesthetic, so it’s something that is important to think about before you start picking out towel colors. If you start planning small décor details first, it’s easy to get caught up in details that don’t matter just yet. Even worse, it can cause delays in the build if you are spending time on those tiny details before you spend the time reviewing and critiquing your floor plan with your Custom home builder.
When you might want to plan some DÉCOR before you plan the space:
If you’re dreaming of a banquet-style dining room table, don’t wait to share the idea. There are certain pieces of décor that are central to your home and must be considered when you are creating a floorplan with your custom home builder. If you design around your must-have dream home pieces, your home will have a seamless look and feel later. That way, you won’t be stuck trying to make your banquet table work in a room that isn’t quite long enough to make your vision of giant family dinners come true.
3.) Going with the trends before you think about your needs in the long term.
It goes without saying that you’ll want your custom home to be beautiful. Be aware, though, that beautiful and trendy are different things. Remember that you may be living in this home for quite some time, so you won’t want to commit to a layout that is en vogue right now, but isn’t a fit for you, your family, or your lifestyle.
This is why it’s so important for you to be working with a custom home builder that takes the time to understand your needs and your personal tastes. If you wanted something that was trendy, you could buy an existing home out on the market somewhere. However, if you want a home that is suited to you and your family and can stand the test of time, you’ll want to work with a custom home builder that spends the time on YOU.
Want to talk ideas? We can’t wait! Connect with our team and schedule a meeting so we can get to know you and hear all about your ideas for your dream home.
The post 3 Big Mistakes To Avoid When Planning Your Custom Home appeared first on GG Custom Homes - Indianapolis Custom Home Builder.
