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Building a Home: 10 Decisions You Will Never Regret
While planning your build, consider these tips to ensure you end up with the house of your dreams, now and into the future
As exhilarating and fun as it is, building a house can also be a challenging and nerve-wrecking process, for any of the hundreds of decisions you must take can make or break your dream home. So take a deep breath, grab a cuppa, forget trends and have a look at my recommendations for a house that will make you happy for years to come.
Once you have secured your block of land, make sure the design of your home takes into consideration its location and maximises its assets. As an example, having a large window that overlooks surrounding trees can make a significant positive difference to the feel of your home and to your lifestyle.
2. Maximise natural light
Look carefully at some of the beautiful Australian homes featured on Houzz. Do you notice a common thread? They all have wonderful light. Light, and even more so, natural light, is the best decorative element for any house. It gives warmth and depth, it changes throughout the day and throughout the year, creating different atmospheres, and it makes the space look cleaner, airier, healthier. But natural light doesn’t benefit only your room, it benefits you, too. A house that receives an abundance of natural light is immediately inviting and uplifting. Recent scientific research has also revealed that daylight enhanced environments increase productivity and comfort, and provide the mental and visual stimulation necessary to regulate human circadian rhythms. And did I mention that utilising natural light can lead to substantial energy savings?
Look carefully at some of the beautiful Australian homes featured on Houzz. Do you notice a common thread? They all have wonderful light. Light, and even more so, natural light, is the best decorative element for any house. It gives warmth and depth, it changes throughout the day and throughout the year, creating different atmospheres, and it makes the space look cleaner, airier, healthier. But natural light doesn’t benefit only your room, it benefits you, too. A house that receives an abundance of natural light is immediately inviting and uplifting. Recent scientific research has also revealed that daylight enhanced environments increase productivity and comfort, and provide the mental and visual stimulation necessary to regulate human circadian rhythms. And did I mention that utilising natural light can lead to substantial energy savings?
3. Have fewer rooms but larger ones
When looking for a home design, pay great attention to floor plans, review each and every room and ask yourself: “Do I really need this room?” Many new affordable houses comprise four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a home theatre, a study nook or playroom, but for the majority of them, this comes at the expense of size.
Contemporary living is all about open plan, where kitchen, dining and living happily coexist in the same space. This has become the centre of the home where the whole family gathers, entertains, watches television, and so on. As such, it fulfils many functions, so are any other living areas needed? Formal lounge? Theatre? Playroom? It all depends on your lifestyle, but you might want to think about this before you sign off a building contract, so you can amend plans to a room distribution that really works for you.
When looking for a home design, pay great attention to floor plans, review each and every room and ask yourself: “Do I really need this room?” Many new affordable houses comprise four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a home theatre, a study nook or playroom, but for the majority of them, this comes at the expense of size.
Contemporary living is all about open plan, where kitchen, dining and living happily coexist in the same space. This has become the centre of the home where the whole family gathers, entertains, watches television, and so on. As such, it fulfils many functions, so are any other living areas needed? Formal lounge? Theatre? Playroom? It all depends on your lifestyle, but you might want to think about this before you sign off a building contract, so you can amend plans to a room distribution that really works for you.
Kids’ rooms are very often the smaller rooms, and yet, they are probably some of the most lived-in spaces. That’s where kids dream, read, play, run amok, jump, share secrets, have friends sleep over… If you are a young family or intend to start one, you might want to increase the size of the children’s rooms so they can better adapt to their growing, boisterous needs. The bonus: larger rooms for them to play in means less toys lingering all over the living room floor.
You don’t need to have cathedral ceilings to enjoy the abovementioned benefits. Simply raising your ceiling height by 20-30cm will have a significant visual impact.
5. Install dimmable lights
Dimmable lights let you adjust the intensity of light to suit your needs. In a bedroom, they can create a soft, relaxing, romantic atmosphere, as well as provide more intense light for tasks that require it (selecting clothes, applying make-up).
Dimmable lights let you adjust the intensity of light to suit your needs. In a bedroom, they can create a soft, relaxing, romantic atmosphere, as well as provide more intense light for tasks that require it (selecting clothes, applying make-up).
If your kitchen is part of an open-plan space, dimmable lights are a must. They can give you the perfect lighting for preparing food, but can be turned down to a soft glow when you dine, entertain or are simply not using the kitchen but still need some lighting.
6. Pump up insulation
Insulation standards have increased in Australia over the last few years but there is still a long way to go before we attain the same requirements as European countries. While, in most parts of Australia, we don’t get to experience extremely cold temperatures, we are exposed to very high temperatures for lengthy periods of time. Most houses rely entirely on air-conditioning, but good insulation could drastically reduce the need for cooling, further increasing comfort and reducing electricity bills. When building, ask about the insulation included in the contract, investigate more efficient glazing and ask about additional roof insulation. The extra expenses will really pay over time.
Insulation standards have increased in Australia over the last few years but there is still a long way to go before we attain the same requirements as European countries. While, in most parts of Australia, we don’t get to experience extremely cold temperatures, we are exposed to very high temperatures for lengthy periods of time. Most houses rely entirely on air-conditioning, but good insulation could drastically reduce the need for cooling, further increasing comfort and reducing electricity bills. When building, ask about the insulation included in the contract, investigate more efficient glazing and ask about additional roof insulation. The extra expenses will really pay over time.
7. Add storage
Storage is one element we can never have enough of! When building, think about adding storage to every room. Start from the entrance: is there somewhere to store your shoes, handbags and coats as soon as you step through the door?
Storage is one element we can never have enough of! When building, think about adding storage to every room. Start from the entrance: is there somewhere to store your shoes, handbags and coats as soon as you step through the door?
Consider installing storage that doubles as room partitions. In the above bedroom, the walk-in robe is separated from the main bedroom not by a wall but by a tall storage unit.
8. Add additional power points
Power points are another item that are often overlooked. Obviously, thinking about them is not as fun and glamorous as browsing for wallpaper or paint colours, but don’t underestimate the power (pun intended) these little flat plates can have!
Our modern life is run by electrical items of all sorts and, as a result, more power points are needed than ever. In the bedroom, as an example, you might want at least two power points on each side of the bed to cater for a table lamp and a phone charger.
Power points are another item that are often overlooked. Obviously, thinking about them is not as fun and glamorous as browsing for wallpaper or paint colours, but don’t underestimate the power (pun intended) these little flat plates can have!
Our modern life is run by electrical items of all sorts and, as a result, more power points are needed than ever. In the bedroom, as an example, you might want at least two power points on each side of the bed to cater for a table lamp and a phone charger.
With the plethora of appliances used, permanently or occasionally, in the kitchen, a large number of power points is highly recommended. Think about what you use: fridge, dishwasher, microwave, kettle, coffee machine, blender, rice cooker, food processor, etc. It is important that you have enough power points in the kitchen to cater for your needs. Don’t forget to put power points in various spots, not just along one wall: there will be times when you need to use all the preparation areas of your kitchen.
9. Opt for a white kitchen
If you’re thinking long-term, nothing beats a white kitchen. It may not seem very original at first, but it’s one colour that defies trends, ages well, looks clean and is easy to accessorise. Styles and finishes vary greatly, so there is a white kitchen for pretty much anyone. If you feel a white kitchen is too ‘generic’ for you, consider picking unusual hardware, adding a colourful splashback, leaving a few ornaments on the benchtop, putting artwork on the walls or using stylish tea towels.
Be inspired by some of our favourite white kitchens
If you’re thinking long-term, nothing beats a white kitchen. It may not seem very original at first, but it’s one colour that defies trends, ages well, looks clean and is easy to accessorise. Styles and finishes vary greatly, so there is a white kitchen for pretty much anyone. If you feel a white kitchen is too ‘generic’ for you, consider picking unusual hardware, adding a colourful splashback, leaving a few ornaments on the benchtop, putting artwork on the walls or using stylish tea towels.
Be inspired by some of our favourite white kitchens
10. Simplify your floors
A house that is uniform, design-wise, is more likely to age well and be gentle on the eyes. This is particularly true for flooring. Try to limit your floor finishes to a maximum of three. You might choose tiles for the wet rooms and floorboards throughout, or you might have carpets for the bedrooms. In any case, use the same carpet in every bedroom and the same tiles in every wet room to keep the look consistent. You might even want to consider using one material only, such as polished concrete for a seamless look.
And a bonus tip? If you really love something – say, an emerald green kitchen or a dark, moody bedroom, forget my tips and follow your gut. It is your home, after all!
TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever built a house? What are your tips for a long-lasting loving relationship with your new home? Tell us in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
Renovation Rescue: 9 Terrace Design Challenges and How to Solve Them
8 Surprising Ways to Use Concrete That Won’t Leave You Feeling Cold
How to Present Your Design Ideas to an Interior Designer
Underrated, Alternative and Affordable Hard Flooring Options
A house that is uniform, design-wise, is more likely to age well and be gentle on the eyes. This is particularly true for flooring. Try to limit your floor finishes to a maximum of three. You might choose tiles for the wet rooms and floorboards throughout, or you might have carpets for the bedrooms. In any case, use the same carpet in every bedroom and the same tiles in every wet room to keep the look consistent. You might even want to consider using one material only, such as polished concrete for a seamless look.
And a bonus tip? If you really love something – say, an emerald green kitchen or a dark, moody bedroom, forget my tips and follow your gut. It is your home, after all!
TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever built a house? What are your tips for a long-lasting loving relationship with your new home? Tell us in the comments section below.
MORE IDEABOOKS
Renovation Rescue: 9 Terrace Design Challenges and How to Solve Them
8 Surprising Ways to Use Concrete That Won’t Leave You Feeling Cold
How to Present Your Design Ideas to an Interior Designer
Underrated, Alternative and Affordable Hard Flooring Options
We all know the saying: ‘Location, location, location!’ While we would all love to live in the hippest suburb, have incredible ocean views or wake up to the sounds of the birds among gum trees, we don’t all have the funds to secure such prime land. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t get the best spot we can afford. When searching for a block of land, think neighbourhood, infrastructure, access to commodities, but also think in terms of orientation, immediate surroundings, street noise, and so on.