Everyone dreams about owning the perfect home. You can always buy an already built house, but chances are, you will have to look long and hard to find exactly what you envisioned. And even when you find it, its location might be a deal-breaker. This is why many families today build a custom home, tailored specifically for their needs.
Indeed, when you are building your home from scratch, you have a lot of freedom when it comes to the design. This is especially important when you are planning on expanding your family or already have little ones running around. However, you might not know where to start. So, to help you out, here are a few tips on building your dream home, with your kids in mind.
Make it safe
When it’s about your family, safety is a top priority. When building your family home, you have to put a lot of thought into the materials you are going to use so that they are completely safe for your children. Needless to say, non-toxic should be your go-to keyword when it comes to the paints and furnishings in your home. If you are just welcoming a little one into the world, baby proofing is also going to be on your to-do list and you might want to keep this in mind when choosing your furniture.
Think about security
Besides safety, another one of the biggest concerns is the security of your home. Your home should be the place where you feel completely safe and at ease, so it’s essential that it’s actually protected. Security systems that include alarms and cameras are becoming a necessity today. You can even consider implementing the features of a smart home so that you can keep track of all security issues remotely, too.
Add enough space
We usually need more room than we initially think, especially when we have kids with a growing need for independence. Adding square footage after a home is built can mean building a home extension, which could be a renovation project that is quite big and pricey, so it’s better to think ahead and include some extra space in your home now. In addition, it’s not only your children that are going to need space: it’s also their stuff. Your kids are going to keep accumulating toys that will take over your entire home if there is not enough ample storage built into the design.
Craft a good layout
It’s not enough to have space, you also have to use that space well. This is where the layout of your new home comes into play. For instance, you’re going to need a large kitchen and dining area to spend quality family time together, cooking and eating. Your children’s friends are also going to be frequent guests so leave plenty of extra space at the table. You might want to place playrooms far away from studies and other quiet areas. At the same time, you might want to go for an open plan for the living area so that you can keep an eye on your kids. The layout might be the trickiest part, but new home builders have a lot of different options, so don’t worry, you don’t have to come up with this alone.
Add outdoor space
Kids love to play outside, which is important for their health and development. So the ideal family home include a backyard, too. Here, too, you have to keep space and safety in mind. For instance, enclosing the yard is going to be necessary. Also consider that while the space might look large as an empty plot of land, sooner than later, you’re going to be installing swing sets and other playthings that take up space. Your kids might also take up sports they will want to practice in the backyard, so don’t skimp on this one.
Be economical
Finally, finances are a concern for most people and this is even more prominent when you have kids. So, it’s a good idea to think about saving from the get-go. If you build your home with eco-consciousness in mind, you will be able to save a lot in the future. In addition, the aforementioned smart home features can help you in saving money too by optimizing your use of electricity.
Building a home from scratch is a long process and it requires a lot of thought and input from the experts, if you want to do it right. However, nothing will be more rewarding than walking through the doors of your dream home that is just how you want and need it to be.
Author Bio: Maggie Holmes is a passionate blogger keen on writing about fashion, home design, pets and wedding. Her exclusive hobby is to surf the net to find amazing articles that can inspire her with some fresh ideas for article writing. She loathes being a common person who wastes her time. Follow her on Twitter.