7 Things People Overlook When Designing Their New Home

Building a new home is an experience unlike any other you will have. You spend months going over plans and drawings and contemplating samples and swatches, and you are left hoping it all comes together seamlessly. Despite all that planning, however, there are some things that often get overlooked. 

1. Future Repairs and Maintenance Needs

When you build a new house, you can get so caught up in the immediate future that little things down the road get overlooked. One of those is considering what happens when your appliances and built-in systems need maintenance and repair. Take steps to prolong their usefulness by changing filters and keeping them clean. Water softener systems can help remove scaling that can build up in refrigerators, winemakers, dishwashers and washing machines. Be sure to accommodate oversized items, too. If you are planning to have commercial-grade appliances installed in your new kitchen, for example, make sure you can get them in and out through the existing doors. 

2. Access to Storage

You have probably heard a hundred times that you want to have more storage space and closest than you think you could possibly need. And that is great advice. You also need to think about how you are going to access that storage. It is great that you want to add flooring to your attic storage space, but if you have to climb up a ladder and through a narrow opening in the garage to get to it, will you really store stuff there? Plan for full staircases to attics, or add a storage closet off the garage instead. 

3. The Path of the Sun

Think about your normal daily routine and align your house to match it. If you enjoy sleeping in, don't put bedrooms facing to the east. Have the kitchen and family rooms on that side instead. Also, think about how much natural lighting you want in living areas at different times of the day. Keep in mind that the sun can heat up a house quickly. Large south-facing windows can maximize that in a cooler climate but will add to summer cooling costs in warmer ones. 

4. A Well-Planned Pantry

A pantry is no longer a place just for storing food. Make it a truly useful place by adding a few extra touches. Some small appliances can find a home there if you add appropriate storage and power sources for them. Installing a counter will help make it an added workspace for when you need a little more room. Include several outlets and USB ports for charging devices that get regular use in the kitchen. Motion sensor lights are a great feature for when you have your hands full of groceries that need to get put away. 

5. Traffic Patterns

Every family has its own behavior and traffic patterns. In general, the rooms that will see the most use should be in the most accessible parts of your new house. Choose floorplans that match your lifestyle and be sure to choose flooring that can withstand the high traffic in those rooms. 

6. Ambient Noise

Sounds affect how you perceive a room as well as how you behave in it. This is something that often gets overlooked, especially if you choose a house plan before you have found the perfect location. If there is a source of consistent loud noise in the neighborhood, such as a major highway, train track or community gathering place, you probably want to orient the bedrooms away from there. However, if the noise is generally only during the day, it won't affect your sleep as much.  

7. Outdoor Connections

You have everything inside planned down to the last switch and connection. However, adding outdoor connections for utilities now will save you a lot of time and aggravation later on. You should have easy access to water and electricity from most areas of your yard. If you are planning to install a fire pit or outdoor kitchen down the road, have gas connections installed in those locations.  

Listen to the professionals that are helping with your new home design Remember, though, that you are the expert at your family's needs and preferences. Think toward the future and consider your personal lifestyle to choose the best features that will matter most to your family.