When designing a custom luxury home, your options are practically limitless. That can be something of a blessing and a curse: It means you can achieve exactly the kind of home you’ve always dreamed of, but it can leave you feeling just a little bit overwhelmed.
Not to worry: When you meet with the design build team at SeBern Custom Homes, we’ll take the time to walk you through the options and lead you through a structured decision-making process, ensuring you select a layout that’s perfect for your family’s needs.
As you prepare for the meeting with our designers, here are a few considerations to make.
Decide on the Size
A good starting point is to determine how much house you’ll actually need.
If it’s just you and your partner, you may not want or need a vast, sprawling estate. And likewise, in a family of five or six, selecting a cozy bungalow-style floor plan isn’t very wise.
Think about how large your family is; think about whether you think it could grow, whether through another child or through an older family member coming to live with you; and, think about how often you entertain and host guests. These are the factors that can help you decide on the right size for your custom home.
Think Open vs. Closed
There are plenty of options and variables that can inform your floor plan, but one of the most basic decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want an open floor plan or a more closed-off one.
In an open floor plan, the rooms in your home aren’t as clearly defined; you have a lot more multi-purpose space, and greater fluidity from one room to the next.
The alternative is a layout where the rooms are more discrete and more private, and where every space has a clear purpose.
There’s no right or wrong answer here; it’s simply a question of what you and your family members prefer.
Remember, There are Always Pros and Cons
To ensure that you end up with just the kind of floor plan you need, and don’t have any regrets about it, it’s good to remember that there are always trade-offs.
Here’s a simple example: Maybe you feel strongly about having a lot of big windows to let in ample natural light. The pluses, including a brighter, more cheerful home, are obvious. Just be aware that you may also have some slightly higher utility bills, even with energy efficient windows.
Look at everything from all sides and determine what’s really important to you in your home layout.
Make Your Decision Based on the Layout, Not Finishing Touches
Whatever ultimate decisions you make about your custom home should be determined by the actual layout—after all, that’s the one fairly permanent aspect of your home’s construction.
If your designer shows you some plans and you get excited about them, but your excitement is largely due to something like the suggested carpeting or cabinet materials, that might mean you’re putting the cart before the horse. Those finishing touches are all negotiable. The layout is what you want to lock down before you proceed any further.
Think About Your Furniture
Another important consideration as you consider a custom home layout: Are you going to use your existing furniture, or spring for new furniture?
If it’s the former, then you’ll want to take those pieces into mind as you design the new floor plan. You don’t necessarily want to design rooms where your furniture will feel dwarfed, nor where it will look out of place.
Go with Your Gut
Here’s one more tip that might help you feel better about the custom home design process: At the end of the day, you’re generally better off listening to your gut.
Sometimes, your “instincts” are really your subconscious trying to tell you something. So, if you feel really good or really concerned about a potential floorplan, take those feelings seriously, even if you can’t totally articulate or explain them. There’s never any reason to choose a layout that you don’t feel positive about.
Start Designing Your Custom Home Today
These are just a few ways to consider your custom home design—and if you’re looking to build in the Chicagoland area, we invite you to give us a call. The SeBern Custom Homes team will take the time to walk with you through all the options and ensure a layout that’s just right for you and your family.
Reach out to us today to schedule an appointment with our design team.
To set up a free consultation, call SeBern Custom Homes today at 630-377-7767.