Are you in the process of designing a custom home? While the initial thrill of “building your very own home” is worthy of excitement, the process can become pretty daunting. Now, the entire world of home design is your oyster, and that world may feel overwhelming.
Selecting the right DeLand design and build team is a significant step in the right direction. We’re here to keep your process streamlined, efficient, and focused on what’s most functionally important for you (the aesthetics are worked out once the “skeleton” of the home design is complete).
However, the general public is pretty savvy, so researching current home trends and most requested home features is an excellent way to ensure you’ve covered all the bases.
Have You Thought About These 3 Popular Home Features?
We’ve prioritized this list of what current homeowners want based on the demands we see here in Volusia County, and it coincides with recent research published by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
We’ve also added a list of things to consider when building a custom home to keep your design process streamlined and realistic for how you use your home and protect you from getting too carried away in the infinite realm of possibilities.
1. Larger homes with dedicated spaces for live/school/work area
There is no doubt that the pandemic affected how we view our homes, including a shift in how we use our homes. For families who had to work and do school from home, adding some square footage to accommodate dedicated work/school spaces is a priority.
There are all kinds of ways to incorporate extra square footage or efficient design improvements to accommodate dedicated spaces to work or do school from home, including;
Adding a home office space
Home offices don’t need to be large, but most people prefer a room with a closed door, a built-in desk, drawers, cabinet/bookshelf space, and a window whenever possible.
These are all worth considering in your home design. We can create an efficient home office or make the space large enough to be a guest room. If you don’t want a full-sized room, consider installing a murphy bed that folds down when needed but keeps the office open when not in use.
Building homework spaces into bedrooms
We can turn a corner of the children’s bedrooms into tidy school spaces – like a child’s version of your home office nook.
Even without distance learning, some children fare best when they have a place of their own to work – free of the noise or business of central living spaces, such as the kitchen or family room.
What about a kitchen office nook?
If you have an open floor plan or a long/oversized galley kitchen, you may prefer carving out some space for a designated office nook. It may be your home office, or it may turn into the “general home office space” for both adults and children as needed.
Either way, it is a thoughtful way to integrate a conveniently located office space and – if you’re the parent – allows you to keep your antennae attuned to what the kids (and their friends) are up to.
2. The laundry deserves its own space
Even if you don’t feel the laundry deserves its own space, you are probably one of the majority (87%!) that wants a room dedicated to laundry, laundry, and more laundry.
If you’re finally able to design your own laundry space, consider whether any of the following supports your household function:
- Fold-down racks for drying clothes (energy saving and necessary for more delicate fabrics)
- Organized cupboards and drawers for storage
- A sink or mud tub
- Ironing board and room for a steamer
- Pet area (food storage, beds, paw washing station)
- Catchall area for kids (if your laundry room has exterior access, this is a great place to have cubbies, hooks, shoe storage, etc. for occupants)
A well-designed laundry room doesn’t have to take up much space if you don’t want it to, but it can be one of the most functional rooms in the home.
3. Functional and comfortable outdoor spaces
Again, we have seen a notable increase in requests for more functional outdoor spaces (particularly porches and patios) in the past couple of years. Of course, the more time you spend at home, the more space you want – and that includes expanded or more functional outdoor areas.
Our beautiful year-round climate makes patio and porch design even more important, complete with:
- Ceiling fans to provide airflow and to keep insects out of the area
- Lighting (including safety, task, and ambient)
- Comfortable places to sit, gather, and eat together
- Outdoor kitchens
- A balance of beautiful hardscaping and landscaping features
- Water features and fire features
- Internet connectivity (to expand the work/school-from-home options
- Pools or recreational spaces
- Designated pet areas
The open floor plan concept can be extended into the outdoor areas to create a more seamless flow from the home’s interior to its exterior spaces.
Other highly-requested home features include:
- Highly-customized kitchen spaces
- Hardwood flooring
- Separate formal living rooms
- Energy efficiency in every aspect of home design
- Smart automation both inside and outside the home
Tips for Creating a Custom Home Plan for Your Lifestyle
Don’t get too carried away looking online for top trends and home features. Your custom home should be the ultimate reflection of your lifestyle, using trends and recommendations as ways to glean ideas that resonate (or not!) for you.
To move through the first design planning phase, we recommend using a “where have we been, where are we now, and where do we want to be in the future” approach.
1. Think about the places you’ve lived in the past
Go through every home you’ve ever lived in and make a note of the things you miss and the things you couldn’t stand. That helps to frame your personal lists of “needs and wants.”
2. Take stock of where you are now
Some of the most pressing issues right now (such as a space for kids to do homework) might not be so pressing if the kids are in high school and soon to flee the nest. If a current want/need is relatively temporary, your design and build team can help you figure out a way to honor that without creating a permanent space or layout that doesn’t serve you down the road.
3. Where do you see yourself(selves) in the next 10, 15 & 20 years?
Will you be empty nesters sooner rather than later? Should you be thinking about a multi-generational space for parents/in-laws to stay? Do you plan to age-in-place? Does a current health condition/prognosis mean you’ll need mobility assistance down the road?
The more you think ahead to what you’ll need in the future, the more innovative and timeless your resulting custom home design will be.
Ready to work with one of DeLand’s most trusted and high-quality custom home builders? Schedule a consultation with Fogle Constructors and we’ll make sure your home reflects exactly who you are.
