10 Mistakes to avoid when designing your dream home
Designing your dream home is incredibly exciting but it can be easy to get caught up in minor details and overlook crucial aspects. As a result, the liveability of your designer home may be compromised. So, before you meet with an architect or custom home builder to discuss your dream home, make sure you know what common home design mistakes to avoid.
1. Not including an entryway
Neglecting an entryway is a common mistake in many home designs. An entryway is a crucial space in any home; it’s where guests form their initial opinions about your home. So, it should be an inviting and stunning space.
An entryway also provides a space for visitors, including guests and tradespeople, to wait without feeling like they’re intruding on your privacy. Additionally, an entryway improves your home privacy when the front door is open as passers-by can’t see directly into living areas. It can also be a great way to stop wind and rain getting far into your home when the front door is open.
2. Isolating the kitchen from rest of home
The kitchen is the heart of any home. It’s where meals are shared and you can spend time with family. However, if it’s isolated from the rest of the home, this can be detrimental to the entire flow of your home. Whether you’re hosting a party or just spending time with family, easy access to the kitchen means you can stay part of the action while putting together food and drinks.
3. Not enough workspace in kitchen
As you design your kitchen, remember that you need sufficient kitchen workspace. Without this workspace, it can be extremely difficult to cook, and you may even use your kitchen less as a result. However, ample bench space means you may be inspired to experiment with new dishes and create healthy meals for you and your family.
Remember, even if your kitchen is small, there are ways to maximise bench space. This may include smarter storage solutions, like pull-down cupboards, and making existing space extra functional, like being able to slide a workspace over your sink.
4. Lack of bathroom privacy
A bathroom needs to be accessible and convenient, while still remaining private. If not, people may feel uncomfortable using the space. This could be because windows offer a clear view into this private space or the space shares a wall with a living area and noise travels freely.
Thankfully, there are ways to get around this mistake. This can include using skylights to let in natural light while maintaining privacy or switching the layout to ensure bathrooms don’t back onto busy common areas.
5. Poor garage placement
However you intend to use your garage, where you locate it matters a lot. For instance, if you like to work on your car or DIY projects in the garage, it’s best to maintain some distance between your home and the garage. Otherwise, the noise may disturb the rest of the household.
On the other hand, if the garage is too far away, it can be a huge inconvenience. For instance, if you typically store extra food or your bins in the garage, this distance can become a daily frustration. Similarly, if you need to get to your car when it’s raining, you’ll appreciate the garage being closer.
6. Angular walls
An angular wall might seem like a quick fix to a number of home design problems, but it often ends up being more trouble than it’s worth. Angular walls are difficult to decorate and furnish around, leading to dead space. Additionally, angular walls can make you feel confined or distressed, which is the last thing you want from your dream home.
7. Poor ventilation
Your home needs to have adequate ventilation and airflow. If not, it can make your home stuffy, lower the air quality inside and even prove an ideal breeding ground for mould. A simple way to ensure adequate ventilation is to have plenty of windows you can open and there is good airflow through rooms.
If you’re concerned about security and windows that open though, you can use security screens to keep unwanted visitors out while letting fresh air in.
8. Not enough storage
Don’t overlook the importance of storage. Without storage, even a minimalist home can look cluttered. To avoid this problem, aim to have more storage than you think you need in every room. Try and think of unique solutions too to make the most of the space, like pull-down cabinets or using dead space for storage, like gaps between appliances in the kitchen.
9. Not considering furniture size
You also need to consider the furniture you want in your home while designing. You don’t want to discover once your dream home is built that your furniture doesn’t fit. Take measurements of your furniture and make sure they can be easily moved into the space and will fit there comfortably.
Remember to also consider furniture you may want in the future. Your home should provide some flexibility so if you decide to upgrade your bed or couch for a larger model, you can easily fit this new piece in.
10. Ignoring green design
Incorporating green design into your home isn’t just good for the environment. It can also save you money on power bills since you’ll use heating and cooling systems less often. Make sure your plans take advantage of green design, like good insulation to keep your home a comfortable temperature, solar panels to generate extra power and tinted windows to reduce solar gain.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to designing your dream home. Therefore, it’s best to follow the advice of your architect as they can ensure your home is perfectly suited to your wants and needs.