Deciding to build your dream house is a major decision.
However, making the decision is only the first step.
You need to carefully plan your home design in order to ensure you reach your goals.
Here are a few points you need to consider as you make your plan:
Budget for your dream house
One of the most important things you need to think about when exploring home design ideas is your budget.
This will enable you to explore the best home design choices within your price range. Once you have an idea of budget, you can begin to arrange finances. You will probably need to take out a construction loan and a new mortgage.
Image source: Ward-Young Architecture & Planning
Even if you are going to be building months or years from now, it is never too early to learn what size loan you qualify for and what your options for financing are. Getting a good estimate of the costs will allow you to adjust your building plans to meet your financial needs.
Location and Plot of your future dream house
You need to pick out the land you will be building on before beginning your new home designs. Once you’ve chosen your land, start to look at home images and a variety of home designs. This will assist you to explore the choices available. Your new house design will need to fit into both your budget and your chosen site.
This is true for any kind of home, whether it is being built in a residential development or on a site with ocean views. Check things like soil condition, zoning, drainage, and local building codes.
Use Professional Design and Contracting Services
Don’t cut corners on the building of your house. Hire a team of professionals to do your plumbing, such as these plumbers in London. Also, find experts to design and build the home. It might even end up looking like the one in the following video. Of course, you’d need that extra cash, of course.
Some of the most important hires will be a builder and home designer or an architect. You probably want to pick out a designer or architect from the start. An architect will be able to present you with house models and beautiful house designs within your budget.
When you have an architect design your home you’ll know where you can spend or save. From a simple house design to a villa plan, an architect will assist you with all your residential building plans.
Image source: Jeri Koegel Photography
Once you have your architectural house plans, it’s time to begin choosing the builder or contractor. See if you can find good references from friends and relatives for all these services. Ensure your designer contracts with an architect about his or her fees and services.
Make a plan for a dream house
Start looking at the building rules of the local government. Combing those regulations with your own needs and wants, you can make an initial plan for your dream house architecture with the help of a professional architect.
Talk about the design of the house with your family. You could explore different elements of your home structure.
Give some serious thought to talking to close friends and relatives, as well, as they may see some flaws or needed additions that you haven’t thought of, especially if they have already had a custom home built themselves. Once you have your plan settled, take it to the local government for consent and approval.
Image source: Arthur Rutenberg Homes
Create a Contract Agreement
Once you get approval for your house plan, make sure you get a written contract that has been signed and dated by the builder or contractor and the designer or architect.
These new home construction contracts describe the project in detail and include an account of a listing of all parts that will be incorporated into the finished house. Make sure you alter the contract if you or your team make any changes once the project gets underway.
Some Important Notes about Building Permits
You will have to pay a permit fee before you can get your building permit issued. DO NOT begin construction until you have revived the building permit.
Experts in the building industry will counsel those interested in building a new home on the legal requirements of local building laws. Many soon-to-be homeowners delegate the work of getting a home to fit within regulations to their professional designer or architect, builder, or project manager.
Image source: Village Architects AIA, Inc.
Whenever you hire a registered architect or designer, they need to organize all plans and provisions to meet building code performance standards.
The builder then needs to construct the house, the plans, and stipulations so that the final product matches that which was approved by the local government. House planning and construction is a team effort.
You will be found accountable under the Building Act if your home does not meet the prerequisite standards. Make sure you employ trusted and tried experts who understand all the building regulations and keep up with the newest rules and standards.
Planning dream houses
Take the time to plan and research. It will save you time and money later on, when making changes becomes much more costly in price and effort.
Carefully research all aspects of home building, including materials, ideas, designs, designers, contractors, and building regulations.
It is much better to take the time at this stage before the money gets spent and materials start moving, than to rush and regret it later.
Image source: KUBE architecture
Our Planning Guide
A building (or renovation, if you have found your nearly perfect dream home already built) project can be a unique challenge. You will experience a lot of frustration, but ultimately also a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction.
Our guide can help you avoid some of the problems that tend to come up. Your project should be an overall enjoyable experience that can be an additional source of pride.
Overall Tips and Reminders for building dream houses
- Be prepared for the project to require a lot of time and money.
- There will be times of major stress and frustration.
- Let your work colleagues know that you are working on this major project. You will need to have some understanding from your managers as the project will make demands on your time. You will likely be called to the site to make instant decisions on unexpected details.
- Remember that our guide is not meant to replace a professional project manager, and it is absolutely not a replacement for building inspections. You will need to undergo these inspections under the Building Act.
- Our guide is here to help you understand the steps and requirements that go into home Hopefully it will help stimulate ideas and remind you of something you should be on the lookout for.
- Be Ready for the Project to Take More Time Than You Expect
- It is very likely that your project will take longer than your builder will estimate and much longer than you think it will. Be ready for frustrations, delays, and small irritations. If you’re lucky, this will be all you’ll have. Good planning will keep these issues to a minimum.
- How long the project will take will be affected by the availability of the builder and sub-contractors.
- Weather and availability of materials will also impact the timing and cause delays.
- Understand and accept these issues before you start. This will help reduce stress levels.
- Have regular follow-up conversations and meeting with builders and sub-contractors to help make sure the work moves as quickly as possible and identify any problems early on.
- Build a good relationship with your builder. It can be the difference between work going smoothly and a very rough project. Make sure the lines of communication are regular, clean, and courteous.
- Solve disputes with a discussion first, arbitration and mediation second, and legally as a tragic last resort.
Image source: Echelon Custom Homes
Dream house design
The design is often the most fun and exciting part of building your new home. This is your chance to create the beautiful house of your imagination, then put it on paper. Designing and constructing your own home provides an opportunity to begin to bring your dreams into reality. It is also one of the most vital parts of the project.
A solid design is key to a successful project. Your home design will evolve and change over time, which should be discussed with you and your designer. Between the two of you, discuss, digest, think over, and rework ideas until you arrive at the best solution.
Take your time with this process. You can begin by selecting a range of beautiful house images and creating a storyboard so that you and your designer are on the same page. The best house designs are created when owner and designer communicate efficiently.
What Design Should You Choose for Your New Home?
Once you’ve decided what you want, what you can afford, and how you are going to pay for it, you can decide what your home is going to look like. It is wise to hire a professional for this process. It can seem expensive, but a professional brings in a lot of experience, imagination, and knowledge.
Successful home architecture relies on a professional eye. House exterior designs such as walls, gates, and even garden plans benefit from professional consultation as well.
Image source: Milc Property Stylists
You will find his or her advice almost priceless and likely necessary to build the best home you can. You will also find a professional will provide tips on ways to build within your budget.
A good way to start off the process is to write a design brief. You should do this whether you are building, remodeling, extending, or renovating a house. A design brief will provide the foundation for your home plans. It will be the blueprint for making sure your new home will have all the functionality and style you want.
Your design brief should be created by you and your designer.
You need to start with an assessment of the constraints and opportunities you have, like the positioning of the house based on the site conditions, the views, planning requirements, local government housing regulations, and local conservation issues.
This early stage will allow you to identify any areas and aspects that will require further investigation. If you stay focused on you needs and desired outcomes, your design brief will be one of the pivotal elements contributing to the success of your project.
Image source: Jurtz Homes
The initial development of your design brief will go through a lot of drafts as you hone it through near-constant reappraisal to address the aesthetic, function, completion date, and completion budget.
The completed design brief will serve as the starting point for your building designers plans, the measure that test designs throughout the project, and the basis from which the end result can be judged.
A lot of people have a preference for a certain architectural style. This can be keeping the finished building with the features of an existing building, contemporary, high tech, or ecological.
Image source: Mitchell Barnett Architect PC
A good way to learn the aesthetic possibilities of an architectural style if to study already existing buildings of the same style. Some of the best inspiration out there can be found online. Pinterest or just a Google search are all great for learning more and finding great ideas.
While looking for your dream house images, it may be helpful to create folders of different styles or designs. You may want to create a folder for duplex house designs or modern houses. You could also look at exceptional designs by, for example, creating a folder for the best small houses in the world.
If you have a specific home theme, such as Indian bungalow design, add a Pinterest folder to combine your results. Search for interior and exterior images to assist you with building on your ideas. You could, for example, create a folder for ground floor house designs, dream house interior design, house maps and front house designs.
Smartphones are a great help for making sure you can get an image of anything that inspires you at any time. If a friend, a home on the street, or a show model has a feature you like, just snap a few pictures.
File these images and use them to inform our design brief. Using inspirations can help you make sure your preferred design aesthetic is consistent at every stage of the project.
Pick Out a Building Plot
Finding the right site can be a difficult and painful process. Don’t panic, however. More than 13,000 people manage to pull it off every year. Modern developments have made it a lot easier. There are a lot of online resources that can help you.
Old fashioned word of mouth is still one of the most powerful tools you can use in your search, however. Let the locals know you want to join their community. Strike up a conversation about what you’re looking for and you’ll be surprised by how much information current residents provide.
Arrange Your Finances
Early on in your planning process, probably the very first thing you do, is getting the funding together for your self-building project. Having your finances in order from the very start can be vital in sealing the deal on your plot and other expenses.
You can now find widely-available self-build mortgage options through various brokers. These often work on a stage payment basis. Funds are released at key points of your project’s building process, either in advance or in arrears, depending on the plan you choose.
Image source: Sicora Design/Build
Keep your Budget Realistic
A lot of reality design shows are deceptive. A custom home project does not necessarily turn into a money pit. In fact, most don’t. Most self-builders are very sensitive about their budgeting. They set firm and realistic figures for the project before they start beginning their design stages.
Create a contingency plan for your budget. Typically, these contingencies are set a wise 10% of the overall budget for the project. This money is a bit of a ‘rainy day fund’. Only use it for unexpected costs that occur during the project, like additional foundation requirements or unavoidable delays.
If you still have this contingency fund at the completion of the project, use it to upgrade some of your final additions, like landscaping schemes or interior finishes.
Image source: Peter A. Sellar
Decide on a Building Route
It is common for first-time self-builders to use a packaging company to guide them through the designing and building process. These companies typically offer both customizable standard home designs (such as small duplex house plans) and bespoke design options.
Others use an architect and main contractor or professional project manager. A lot of these people like to manage the project themselves to save on money.
By doing this, self-builders can keep close tabs on labor and materials.
Package suppliers and architects often favor a certain construction system, like timber frame or brick and block.
Don’t let them intimidate you if you have strong views on a certain build method, however. Take the lead. You are paying for the project and it will be your home in the end.
Image source: Maienza – Wilson Architecture + Interiors
Sort Out the Essentials Early On
Before you begin moving on a project, once your design brief has been finalized and your budget is set, make sure you have all the right permits and approvals. This includes—but is certainly not limited to—building control approval, planning permission, and a number of special permissions.
Also make sure the money you spend is well-spent by getting the right warranties, contracts, and insurance policies. Even if your contractors already have insurance policies, you sill need to get specialized self-build insurance. A lot of newer companies offer this insurance particular, so take a look and see which one works for you.
Prepare the Plot
Before you start building anything, you need to make sure the plot is ready. Get the groundwork ready. Clear vegetation and level the plot as necessary. Set out trenches accurately.
The main contractor or even a dedicated ground-working crew can manage this stage very well, as well as handling the foundation pour and drainage. Once you’ve prepared the plot you’ll be able to work on the next steps towards your dream house goals.
Image source: Miller + Miller Architectural Photography
12 Step Design Guide
If you opt not to write a design brief, the steps below can provide you with a good outline of your project:
1. Budget and Value for Money
Design and cost are closely tied together. You need to make sure your project comes in within its approved budget. Your plan should be focused on getting value for your money; don’t waste money if it can be helped.
Take into account both capital and operational costs, including maintenance for key components, like heating the house, and whole-life or life-cycle considerations. Include a contingency budget, typically 10% to 15% of your budget for unforeseen items, delays, and issues.
2. Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Adopting internationally recognized standards will be a big help in minimizing the whole-life costs of your home. These standards make the most out of solar gains and optimize a building’s energy use.
Think about other environmental impacts like water use. Your environmental footprint for activities like car travel should also be a consideration throughout the duration of the project.
3. Location, Site Layout, and Context
Your site layout is the foundation of a good design and timely, budget-conscious project. Some of your site layout considerations should include access, services, natural light, topography, views, natural light, wind, drainage, vegetation, soils, and neighboring buildings.
A home should contribute to the making the places we live, work, and play healthy and sustainable. Remember to factor in the people and community around you when you plan your layout and overall design. Interiors should also be a product of their purpose, place, and time.
4.Light
Do what you can to make sure all interiors benefit from the area’s natural light. Good designs will make the most of natural lighting. Natural light benefits architecture and energy consumption, certainly, but also can improve the physical and psychological health of all inhabitants of a home.
Good natural lighting will improve everyone’s mood, reduce fatigue, increase productivity, and reduce eyestrain. It also provides contact with the outside living environment, an often forgotten psychological need.
If you are remodeling or redecorating your interior, look at the possibilities to exploit or increase the use of natural lighting. Think about where you spend most of your time. Consider whether the rooms in the house are used so that you get the most of their natural lighting conditions throughout the day.
5. Complexity and Size
Oddly shaped and larger houses will need more time at the design stage, as well as more time spent supervising during the construction stage. Their size and shape add to their overall costs, as well. Take the time to look into what feature you really need and what features you can do without for an effective, practical budget.
6. Function and Universal Access
Homes are shaped by needs. Deciding on the purpose of a space and maximizing its use is an important aspect of design. Think ahead and keep flexibility in mind. Homes fulfill a lot of functions, being places to work, eat, relax, entertain, and sleep.
Prioritize space requirements depending on the space every activity requires. Create a wish list before you start designing, as you can be surprised what you can achieve in small spaces if you put your mind to it. Make sure all access and exit points are ample and that the house will be a good fit for everyone, regardless of age, disability or size.
7. Interior Layout and Flow
Once you have decided on the correct use and size for every room, think about how they work together. Open floor plans are very popular, providing a greater sense of space, connected areas, good natural light, good visibility, and the connection between the indoors and outdoors.
The most successful floor plans combine the kitchen, dining, and living areas. This works very well for families, and some choose to connect a playroom with a view that can be easily conversed in a study or ground floor bedroom.
The downside of an open floor plan is that there is less privacy and more noise. Smells from the kitchen can be a problem, so you might want to get a good extractor fan. No matter what kind of floor plan you choose, continuity of style in the flooring, ceiling, and woodwork will tie the home together and flow visually.
8. Measurements
‘Measure twice and cut once’ is a motto to live by. Make allowances for walking, working, and storage so you have a truly functional home. Measurements are incredibly important for every room, but even more so for kitchens, bathroom, and dining rooms to allow space for furniture, plumbing, and appliances. Pay close attention to the minimums and maximums found in a space and play with arrangements of furnishings on a scale model.
9. Architectural Preservation
If you are remodeling or renovating, look into the protected status of the home. Your area might have codes protecting design elements of homes of a certain age or style or in a certain area. If you are working on a home protected by these regulations, make sure you include them in your planning process.
10. Privacy
A lot of households have people coming and going constantly, of all ages and noise levels. Make sure everyone has their space and include areas designed as quiet zones in your plan.
11. Materials
Get building materials from reputable sources when you can. Check for forestry certifications when buying lumber. A good seller will give you all the details you want on their sources and environmental impact.
12. Comfort
This is the ultimate goal of your design process. You’re building a home that is comfortable for you, that makes it easy to fulfill your needs and desires. Workflow in the kitchen, garage, studio, or any other workspace should be optimal. It should be easy to move around and storage should be accessible.
Image source: Michael Abraham Architecture
Dream house photos to check out
I don’t know how you are imagining your dream house, but in my opinion, the perfect house needs to meet two conditions: very large spaces and a lot of green areas all around.
People often dream about houses that they would want to have at a certain time in their life. Buying or building a house at a young age is quite difficult but that doesn’t mean that youngsters aren’t allowed to think about this. Simple small house plans can be a great step in the right direction.
If you had ever thought of your dream house, the one to reflect your personality and your needs, here are 39 pictures with modern house designs that I am sure will leave you speechless, but in the same time will help you get inspired to design your home.
This is the perfect place for a party in a warm summer evening. Having all this space image how easy it is to call all your friends at home and to have a great time
Ending thoughts on dream house design
Building your dream home is an exciting and intimidating prospect.
Take your time, plan your budget, work with professionals, and you can find yourself on the road to living in your own perfect, custom house.
If you liked this article about dream houses, you should also check out these articles:
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- 10 Things Every Dream Home Has In Common
- Dream House Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea: Can Siurell Villa
- Dream Home Interiors by Open Design