Tag: Layouts

Building a Home? Consider Giving These 3 Areas Some Extra Customization

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Photo by Gabby K from Pexels

As you make plans to build your own home, give yourself room for some customization. Your budget may not allow you to customize everything so will need to consider your priorities. Here are three key areas you should focus on to customize your home to make it more functional and enjoyable.

1. Customize the Kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of the home. This is not only where meals are made but where homework gets done, meetings take place and daily check-ins with family members occur. The kitchen is also a major selling feature of your home when you’re ready to move somewhere new. This room is worth spending some time and money customizing.

In the kitchen you might consider a variety of custom features:

  • Energy-efficient appliances

  • Custom cabinetry and countertops

  • Elegant sink fixtures

  • Spacious pantry and storage options

  • Useful kitchen islands

The more custom features you can add in the kitchen, the more functional your home will be to meet your needs.

2. Finish the Basement

Many floor plans include unfinished basements. If you have enough budget, take the time to customize this space based on your needs. A basement becomes a perfect family recreation or theater room. You can also make it your spot for entertaining, craft projects, or home school and office space.

Adding a bathroom during construction, or at least the plumbing for one, is always easier than trying to add this plumbing later. Setting up a wet bar makes getting a snack simple. All of these features will increase the functionality and convenience of the basement for you to enjoy while also adding significantly to the home’s resale value.

3. Add Customized Storage

Storage is one of the most important yet overlooked features in a new home. As you consider custom options for your space, make sure you add ample storage. In the kitchen you will want a pantry to store canned and boxed goods. You may also want specific cabinets for larger pots and pans or appliances. In the bathroom make sure there is shelving or a linen closet to store toiletries and towels. Consider built-in shelving and cabinetry or walk-in closets for bedrooms. All of these features will cut down on the amount of furniture you need as well as conserve precious floor space. If the home has two stories, talk to the builder about adding under-the-stairs cabinets and closets to utilize this extra space. You can never have too much storage and building gives you the chance to add quite a bit before you even move into the home.

One of the benefits of building your home is the opportunity to customize it, but you may need a little direction to see where to start. By focusing on these three areas of your new house, you ensure that you get the most out of your new-build home

No Renovating Needed: Easy Ways to Divide Up a Room

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Sometimes decorating a large room is difficult. With so much space, knowing how and where to arrange furniture and accessories can seem daunting. One thing that can make the process easier is dividing the space in half or into smaller pieces. Rather than call your contractor about building a new wall, we’ve gathered some easy and inexpensive ways to divide up a room.

Shelving Units

Backless, cubby-style bookcases are a popular trend in both storage and interior design. One of the best things about them is that they allow partial visibility to whatever is behind the shelf. If you put a shelving unit like this in the middle of a room or perpendicular to a wall to create a corner, you can define the space without cutting off airflow or light. This will also keep both parts of the room connected, but comfortably separated.

There are plenty of choices for shelving units to divide a space, but you can also create a bolder division by using a bookcase or shelving unit with a back or two sides. Floor-to-ceiling modular bookcases make a solid definition without adding an actual wall. Whichever style you choose, you’ll appreciate both the definition it adds to the space and the myriad options for storage and decoration.

Indoor Trellis

Trellises have ever been a popular and simple way to divide an outdoor space or add privacy. However, using a trellis indoors can be just as helpful. Houseplant lovers can encourage climbing or trailing plants to cover the trellis with natural greenery and liven up the space while creating depth. Those who prefer not to keep live plants can also use artificial vines to mimic the same outdoor look.

A trellis can also make a bold statement all on its own. Try staining a wood trellis with a rich, dark mahogany color or even black paint. You can also opt for a metal trellis for a more industrial angle. Regardless of whether you use plants, an indoor trellis can divide up a space easily and inexpensively.

Rug Placement

Not every room divider has to be vertical. In fact, strategic placing of area rugs can make an enormous difference in the flow and structure of a large space. If you want to define two specific areas, for example, place two different rugs with space between them. The empty floor space will create a natural division that’s unobtrusive and easy to change if necessary. This method works especially well for separating a living room from a dining room or office nook.

You can use rugs of different sizes, colors and styles to make an even bolder separation. However, keep in mind the scale of the space and the furniture. You don’t want to go too far and make the space feel crowded by using too many oversized pieces.

A large space is like a blank canvas and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. One of the best things you can do to help solidify your decorating and design plans is to divide up the space. Using these tips you’ll be able to section off a large and intimidating space into manageable pieces with specific functions and aesthetic. Best of all, without building an entirely new wall, you can save money and give yourself the freedom to change your layout in the future.