Designing the floor plan of your dream home is an exciting but daunting task. At Buildscope, Jacqui and Peter are here to guide you through the process with our top tips to create a space that’s both functional and stunning.
Prioritise Functionality
When it comes to designing your home, functionality should be the key consideration. While trends can be tempting, they often become outdated. Focus on your lifestyle needs first. For instance, if you enjoy entertaining, consider an open plan that combines the kitchen, living area, and alfresco. This creates a spacious environment ideal for hosting guests. Additionally, ensure your hallways are wide enough to avoid a cramped feel.
Establish Non-Negotiables
Identify what aspects of your home are non-negotiable and be open to compromise on the rest. Building costs have increased post-COVID, so it’s essential to prioritise your must haves. Collaborate with a trusted professional custom home builder to find cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality. For example, if a brick home is a must, but you’re flexible on window styles, you could opt for aluminium frame windows over more expensive options i.e steel frame curved window frames.
Engage a Builder Early
Involve a builder at the design stage and build the relationship early on, as this will save you a lot of money, time, and headache during the building stage. The builder is responsible for the built form of your home and can provide valuable guidance at the design stage. It’s easy to make changes on paper but not so easy to make changes on-site when a contract has been signed and drawings are already council approved. Builders provide valuable input early on, ensuring your home is constructed according to your design without delays, avoidable issues or unnecessary variations. Avoid approaching multiple builders for quotes, as this can lead to a focus on the lowest price rather than quality. At Buildscope, Peter and Jacqui work with a highly skilled team of professionals to ensure your building journey is seamless and your home is built to the highest of standards. We work closely with you and the architect from concept to handover and believe in a collaborative approach for achieving your dream home outcome.
Balance Social Media with Real-Life Experience
While social media is great for inspiration, real-life experiences are invaluable. Visit display homes to see what flows well and what might not suit you, but don’t get lured in by sales professionals who have no experience in building custom homes or will be nowhere to be seen if you go to contract with the builder. Use social media for ideas, but understand that not every design will fit your floor plan. Consult with suppliers, professionals, and recent homebuilders for their insights. At Buildscope, we offer walk-throughs of our current projects to help clients visualise their dream home realistically, seek inspiration and to also inspect the quality of our builds. By following these tips, you’ll create a floor plan that is functional, aligns with your budget, and is perfectly suited to your lifestyle.
For personalised advice, get in touch with Peter and Jacqui as they are loving chatting about the building journey and are passionate about making your design ideas a reality.