Design Your Dream Home – 5 Secret Steps to Know

Buying a dream home feels incredible but when it’s about designing your dream home, it’s just the greatest opportunity. You have the liberty to create a beautiful space that you can call your own and that suits your taste, lifestyle, and preferences. But how do you do it the right way? Well, the process of designing a home starts even before laying the foundation for it or hiring an architect. It is the first and most interesting part where you develop an entire plan.

Yes, you will have an expert on board but there are a few things that you must take care of yourself, such as budget, fittings, theme, style, floor plan, interior, etc. Needless to say with so much on your plate, things may get complicated. You need not worry as we have listed five key steps to design a home like a pro and avoid costly mistakes. Take a look:

1. Plan your budget

Budget isn’t just about deciding on the amount of money you can spend to construct a dream home but involves assessing different elements and allocating a specific budget to each. It includes land, architect fees, construction material, interior and fixtures, furniture, plumbing, etc. This will be a lengthy, time-consuming, and complicated process so start working on it months before the actual construction starts. Also, set aside an additional budget for unexpected issues and situations as things may not always go according to your plan. Make sure to develop a realistic plan and if you need to apply for a loan, start the process soon.

2. Pick a house style

You need to be clear about the style of home you want for yourself and your family. You can either choose a home style from the options available in a catalog or hire a designer or architect for a customized 3D rendering model of your unbuilt property. Do you want a modern style home or a traditional one? Convey your thoughts to the contractor because other design plans are based on it. Traditional architecture consists of stone, wood, and stucco material, and tall roofs with small windows while modern homes have clean lines, large windows, and muted colors. You can also select from the colonial, farmhouse, Mediterranean, cape cod, and victorian styles.

3. Work it out with your architect

If you are hiring an architect, ensure that you share the brief and other important details with him before he starts designing the layout. Your brief must outline your vision and basic requirements for space and style. Remember that the more details you share with the architect, the better he’ll work to create a perfect home. Include information regarding:

• Budget and time frame
• Number of people who will live in the home
• If there will be any pets
• Lifestyle details, such as the garage, storage, relaxation area, etc.
• Number of rooms you require
• Floor plans

4. Choose the right floor plan for you

You have the option to create a floor plan either manually or by design software. In manual methods, you will have to draw or sketch the plan, which may not turn out accurate at times. Hence, people prefer using advanced software to create 3D floor plans. It ensures exact measurements of each room, wall, and window, and places them in the correct place. Moreover, 3D rendering enables you to fill the home with furniture and decor so you can visualize the final plan better and make the necessary changes. You can drag and drop different elements, move them around, and look at the model from different angles. A floor plan will also help you decide the rooms that must be adjacent to each other. It might take a few trials to create the perfect layout so be patient.

5. Choose materials and furniture for your dream home

This may be the most fun and favorite part for many homeowners. The last and one of the most critical stages is to go to the market to buy construction materials and furniture. Most people leave this responsibility to their contractor, especially for material but it is highly recommended that you visit the market once to evaluate the price and ensure quality. Also, this is a nice way to fill in the time till you get permits. Consider every element, from fixtures and windows to countertops and paint. Take some advice from the builder regarding preferred suppliers that suit your budget.

Conclusion

Designing a home is fun and exciting but it is also strenuous and challenging. You are building your dream home and want everything to be according to your vision but getting every feature in place may need a lot of hard work and frequent discussions with family members and builders. However, getting organized can make this intimidating task hassle-free. So, stick to the steps mentioned above, be realistic, and it will be smooth sailing.

Author Bio: Rahul Agarwal is the Co-founder & Chief Business Officer at Styldod, where he has taught a computer to do interior design! Styldod provides the most hassle-free & inexpensive virtual staging solutions for real estate agents so they can sell their listings faster, and for higher prices. Rahul was also a co-founder of Mebelkart (which is acquired by Ask Me). He’s your everyday IIT Kanpur nerd who pushes the boundaries with his innovative entrepreneurial stints and is also a sound startup investor & advisor. Rahul attributes his success as a professional to the discipline he has learned from his district hockey days, being a swimmer and a gym enthusiast.