Designing your dream home interior & exterior: How to get started

If you're designing a custom home interior and exterior, there are countless options available to you. Sometimes the amount of options and freedom can be more overwhelming than working within a strict template. Luckily, there are some simple ways to approach the process to make it easier to design your perfect living space. Here are some tips for designing your dream home's interior and exterior:

Start with the basics

The best place to begin when designing your dream home is to consider your necessities. How many bedrooms will your home need? How large of a kitchen should it have? Think about the function of each room and the space you need.

For exterior design, these questions might include what building materials to use, where the home should be on the lot and other big-picture issues. By keeping a broad focus and focusing on necessities rather than details, you can design a comfortable and functional dream home.

Add architectural features

With the basics taken care of, the next step in designing your dream home interior and exterior is to consider architectural elements. These elements can include features like window size and shape, ceiling height and trim. Have you always dreamt of a home with floor-to-ceiling windows? Maybe you have always wanted a home with elegant archways rather than basic interior door frames.

If you have trouble coming up with these features, explore different architectural styles and pinpoint the elements you enjoy. For example, if you love craftsman and farmhouse-style homes, consider adding exposed beams both indoors and out. If you prefer the colonial style, incorporate pillars into your home's façade.

While it's not always possible to get everything you want in a dream home design, keeping these tips in mind will help you prioritize your wants and needs. By starting with the basics and focusing on architectural elements, you create a perfect canvas for the remainder of your dream home design.