Handy Home Hints

| 25 August, 2020 | 3

A blade wall consisting of Shale coloured bricks

One of the top reasons our clients choose to build a brand new home is that they can design it any way they want. But, it can be a bit overwhelming when there are so many possibilities. That’s why we’ve listed our Handy Home Hints for your new design and interior style to help give you clarity.

Budget Hints

Ask yourself “is this my first home or my forever home?”

If you’re planning on building a bigger home in the future when your kids are older or your lifestyle has changed, your first home doesn’t need to have every item on your dream list. That free-standing bath in the ensuite can come later in life, along with the state-of-the-art shower.

Prioritise the harder stuff first

If you have a budget you’re sticking to, you might find yourself having to choose between items to include now and items to include later. Our advice is to include the items that are harder for you to install after you’ve moved in. For example, it’s much easier (and cheaper) to incorporate a recessed ceiling when your home is being built. In comparison, installing overhead cupboards in your kitchen can be easily done when you’ve moved in.

Home Design Hints

Tall garages for tall cars

If you have a 4WD, work ute, or a roof rack, you might want to consider raising the height of your garage ceiling. This will give you more space where you need and peace of mind when you’re parking your car.

Design your workspace

If you intend on working from home, think about what space you will need. Do you require a separate home office or is an IT nook suitable? Do you want the office at the front of the home so clients don’t need to walk through the house, or prefer the rear so it’s further from the street?

Easy access

If you have limited mobility or are building your forever home (and old age will catch up with you!), you might want to incorporate design features that make it easier to move around. For example, hobless showers remove the raised step getting in and out of the shower. A wider front door and entrance hall give more space for wheelchairs or mobility accessories. Our parent company- The Prime Group- have built NDIS approved homes for people with disabilities, so we can advise you on appropriate design features.

Create a Frankenstein design

Move Homes has over 30 standard home designs for you to choose from. But if you find yourself torn between them, you can incorporate features from different designs. Perhaps you like the scullery of the Cypress, the rear Main Bedroom of the Mahogany, and the workshop in the Vine. Otherwise we can create a custom home design for you!

Think of your storage requirements

Often overlooked but incredibly important, having sufficient storage space can make or break a home design. Linen cupboards, extended Laundry benches, and extra Kitchen drawers are the most common facilities. But we’re also getting clients extend their garage to include a dedicated storage area or include a roller door between the garage and backyard (so they can easily move large items).

The spark you need

Like storage space, having a sufficient amount of powerpoints in well placed locations doesn’t sound sexy. But you know what else isn’t sexy? Having extension cords all over your house! It’s important to have an electrical plan that suits your needs. This can include adding powerpoints to your kitchen bench, installing spare electrical outlets in the ceiling for future pendant lights, and positioning an alarm for maximum security (we think your electrical plan is so important that it’s worthy of its own blog).

Interior Design Hints

Use the 60/30/10 rule

When it comes to colours, experts recommend you use the 60/30/10 rule. 60% of your home will be in one colour, mainly the walls and large furniture pieces like rugs or sofas. 30% is in your secondary colour, so this could be window treatments, trims and furniture. The final 10% is in an accent colour and is great for pillows and other smaller items that will tie the whole scheme together.

Flooring to suit your needs

There’s plenty of different flooring options that come as standard for every Move Home (check out our blog for the benefits of each). If you’ve got dogs, vinyl and hybrid planks are popular options because they’re easy to vacuum and mop.

Look for inspo

In case you needed an excuse to be on social media, checking out websites for inspiration can help define your style. Many of our clients send through their favourite snaps so we know exactly what they’re after. You can check out our Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook pages for #homeinspo.