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Rules to Follow When Building a Family House

22/8/2022

The time has come for you to build your family house - congratulations! However, before you and your loved ones start celebrating, it is essential to understand that building a family house is a process that will consume a lot of your time, energy, and of course, money. Thus, arm yourself with these before you start!

"You should build a house that not only works for you now but a house that will work for you in the future too."

When building your family house, you will not only have to think about the foundation, roof, plumbing, electricity, etc., but also about your house's functionality and your family's needs. Moreover, you should build a house that not only works for you now but a house that will work for you in the future too. Therefore, you shouldn't rush into anything and try to plan out every step carefully. Although there are many things to consider when starting this building journey, don't worry - we are here to help you out. We will tell you what some of the most important things to have in mind when building your family house are.

The Right Layout is Crucial
for your home

When building a family house, your top priority should be the layout. To do that, you will have to ask several questions such as:

What layout helps the family be together more?
What layout provides privacy for each family member?
What layout allows me, a parent, to keep an eye on my children at all times?

Of course, there are many questions you should ask yourself, but these three are the most important ones. Thus, be sure to have the answers to them before you start building your family house. Moreover, another thing you should consider when starting a construction project as big as this one is hiring the right people for the job! For instance, if you need help creating the perfect layout for you and your family, you can hire an architect. Hire a contractor if you need somebody to help you build your house. And, if you need somebody to help you decorate it properly, later on, hire an interior designer. Even though you might be able to take on some of these tasks yourself, working with professionals can save you a lot of time and money.

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk

"Working with professionals can save you a lot of time and money"

Storage, Storage, Storage!

You have the luxury of designing your entire family house. So, make sure every corner fits your and your family's needs. However, remember that your needs now may not be the same as your needs in the future. Your family will grow, you will all acquire more stuff, and eventually, you will run out of space.

One way to avoid the 'space' problem is to build a house with many storage options. And, when we say storage, we don't just mean attics, basements, and garages big enough to store all of your items. No, we mean being more creative and creating home storage areas that will help you organize the space. Those areas include walk-in closets, pantries, mud rooms, laundry rooms, etc.

Make Your Kitchen the Center of the House

Making the kitchen the center of the house may be one of the most important rules to follow when building a family house! The kitchen design is critical if you have small children. For them, this kitchen will be the space where they will do their homework, work on their art and craft projects, and talk to you about their problems. Moreover, this kitchen will be a place where you will enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning and where you will spend your nights entertaining your best friends.

Photo by Terry Magallanes

"Kitchens are the most important part of any family home!"

So, consider all this when choosing the best kitchen style for your home! Our advice is to go for an open-concept living space where your kitchen, dining, and living room will be well-connected. But, put a particular emphasis on the kitchen - and make it as big as possible.

A Well Designed Yard is a Must For Your New Home

While designing and building your family house, don't forget to leave some money in your budget for the yard as well. If you live somewhere in a warm climate or anywhere where there are four seasons, you will use this yard as much as any other area in your house. So, make sure it is functional!

"Having a functional and an 'entertaining' front or back yard will make all the difference to your new home."

And, besides functional, make sure it is a place where your whole family can enjoy spending their free time. For instance, you can design a house with a patio if your property isn't big. And, if the property is spacious, you can incorporate a pool, a barbecue area, a shed, a sitting area, a playground for the little ones, etc. It doesn't matter whether you plan on building a starter or a forever home; having a functional and an 'entertaining' front or back yard will make all the difference.

Choose Hard-Wearing Materials and Finishes

Once you are done building your home, you can relax because the most challenging part is over. But, you won't be able to rest for long, as you still have to equip the entire house with the right furniture. If you have enough money in your budget, it is always better to go for custom-made furniture prices (especially for kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms).

But, when choosing materials and finishes for your house, choose those that are easy to clean, that last long, and are not prone to wear and tear. For instance, choose tiles for your floors, wood for your dining room chairs (no fabric!), easy-clean materials for your sofas and beds, etc.

Maybe these materials and finishes are not your favorites, but they are a must in family homes. Trust us, you don't want to argue with your little ones anytime they spill or chip something, and you don't want to waste a lot of your money on replacing every piece of furniture every once in a while.

Building the Best Home For Your Family

As you have seen, there are some rules to follow when building a family house. Of course, whether you will follow these or not is up to you. But, we strongly advise you to give them a thought - after all, we talked to many families about this, and they all agreed that all the previously mentioned 'rules' are a must.

Author

Angie Collins is a moving consultant currently working with Homegrown Moving Company where she helps people prepare for their local and international relocations. In her free time, she enjoys writing articles for her blog that covers topics such as moving, renovating, redecorating, etc.

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home.
("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.

This article is a guest post and the owners of this website take no responsibility for the content or it's originality. The website publishes this article in good faith with the undertaking from the author and supplier that the content has not been plagiarised. Please report any errors in the article to the website owners. Should you prove the content is not original the article will be immediately taken down.

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8 Attic Remodel Ideas you’ll Love

2/8/2022

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(Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)

"attic remodel ideas you can use as inspiration"

Most people will use the attic as an additional storage space. Everything we want out of sight ends up either in the basement or attic. However, these spaces have a lot more potential than we think. People especially tend to overlook the attic because of its shape. It's usually dark, cramped, and far away from the rest of the house. This makes it suitable for storing old clothes, toys, and other stuff but not for much anything else. This is not always the case! You can turn most of the attics into functional rooms that will give your house additional square footage. If you're looking for new home improvement projects, here are eight attic remodel ideas you'll love.

What to check before adding an attic to your home

Every attic is different. Its shape depends on the whole structure of the house. Chances are, some remodeling ideas may not be suitable for your home.

People tend to focus on aesthetics and forget about structural aspects. Building a new room with furniture will add an extra load, so you must check with professionals whether your house's foundation can endure it. So, be sure to check potential construction obstacles and other overlooked aspects of a home remodeling project before you start.

Eight attic remodel ideas you’ll love

1. Playroom
Let's be honest; kids need a lot of space! Most houses don't have separate areas where children can play. Spacious backyards are great for when the weather is nice, but what about cold winter days or rainy falls? They need an indoor place for playing as much as an outdoor space.

You can easily transform your attic into a great playroom. Start with colorful walls and furniture. You can even install a chalkboard wall! Bring a few tables where they can draw or do their homework. Add chairs or lazy bags and bring a lot of toys. You can be creative as you want!

2. Home office
Today, most companies offer their employees to work from home. This seems like a fantastic benefit until you realize your house is super crowded and you don't have a separate room where you can work in peace. If this sounds familiar, building a home office is one of the attic remodel ideas you'll love.

Luckily, a home office usually doesn't take much space, so the size of the attic won't be an issue. The least you need is a spacious desk and a comfy chair. The rest is up to you! Also, a few home office remodeling tips can help you make this space more productive.

(Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)

"Secluded and quiet, the attic is a good space for a home office"

3. Bathroom
Are you tired of waiting for your turn for a bathroom in the morning? When you purchased your house, did you think it was more or less ideal, but it would be perfect if it had one extra bathroom? If the answer to both questions is yes, you should consider turning your attic into a bathroom.

If the attic space is small, aim for a simple design. Place a shower head on the ceiling and put a glass panel as a divider. Install a skylight to bring more light inside. Also, if your attic is above the bathroom, it will minimize the distance between new and existing plumbing. This will reduce costs and potential wall damage when you install new pipes.

4. Bedroom
If you dreamed of having a guest room, this is one of the attic remodel ideas you'll love. Converting an attic to a bedroom is a great way to make an additional sleeping area for your guests. Create a relaxing and cozy space your friends and family will appreciate when they visit.

Since it is the attic, it's a good idea to use light colors, like beige or white. If there's not enough natural light, consider installing a skylight. Match the color pallet with the furniture to create an inviting atmosphere.

(Photo by Laurence Katz on Unsplash)

"If you've always wanted to have a spare bedroom for guests, this is attic remodel idea you’ll love"

5. Media room
Streaming platforms made movies and series more accessible. Nowadays, people prefer to watch films and TV shows in the comfort of their own homes. Maybe you already hosted a movie marathon or gathered your friends for a premiere of a new episode of your favorite show.

Considering this, it's not surprising that home theaters are becoming increasingly popular. If you're looking for a place where you can recreate a cinematic experience, think about turning your attic into a media room. It doesn't require much work. Install the home theatre system, bring a comfy couch (or two, depending on the size of the attic), and you'll have a perfect gathering place for your next binge-watching of a new show.

6. Luxury closet
If you're a fashion enthusiast with many clothes, chances are you've thought about turning some room into a closet. The problem was that you didn't have a spare room to serve this purpose. Also, you probably overlooked the attic.

You can quickly turn this space into a closet. All you need is a few shelves (or more than a few) and a mirror. Also, you can use multipurpose furniture, like a sofa with storage space (more space for shoes!). There are plenty of creative storage ideas for your home, which you can use in small areas, like the attic.

7. Hang-out room
If you just need additional space where you can hang out with your friends or have a party, adapting the attic is a great solution. This is also very suitable for teenagers. Like kids need space for playing, teenagers need a place for gathering (preferably far from their parents). And when they're not at home, adults are welcome to use it too!

Of course, there are more room renovation ideas you can use to transform your attic. It can even be a multipurpose room! For instance, a hang-out room with shelves stocked with books can also be a library!

(Photo by Stephen Munley on Unsplash)

"The attic can be turned into an excellent hang-out room!"

8. Home gym
We all know that exercising is good for our health. However, a lot of people have trouble incorporating it into their life. Some of the obstacles are the inconvenient location of the gym or expensive membership. Also, some people prefer to be alone while working out. You can solve these problems by turning an attic into a home gym.

Keep in mind that the best option is to turn it into a Pilates or yoga studio. Heavy gym equipment is hard to transport to the attic and may be too massive. However, station bikes or treadmills are suitable. It all depends on the workouts that you prefer.

Creative Attic Remodel ideas for everyone

As you can see, there is plenty of creative attic remodel ideas you'll love. However, make sure to check potential construction obstacles and also calculate your budget. Some of the renovations can be expensive, depending on the current condition of your attic. Nevertheless, we guarantee it's an investment worth your time and money!

Author

Matthew Tipton is decluttering and interior design enthusiast who enjoys finding a new use for his old belongings or creating extra space in his home. He is currently a moving consultant at Evolution Moving Company DFW, providing clients with tips on preparing for relocation. In his free time, he’s most likely enjoying a stroll through the park or cycling.

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

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Rules to Follow When Building a Family House

The Right Layout is Crucial
for your home

Storage, Storage, Storage!

Make Your Kitchen the Center of the House

A Well Designed Yard is a Must For Your New Home

Choose Hard-Wearing Materials and Finishes

Building the Best Home For Your Family

Author

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

8 Attic Remodel Ideas you’ll Love

What to check before adding an attic to your home

Eight attic remodel ideas you’ll love

Creative Attic Remodel ideas for everyone

Author

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

Author

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Construction Books

Construction services

Rules to Follow When Building a Family House

The Right Layout is Crucial for your home

Storage, Storage, Storage!

Make Your Kitchen the Center of the House

A Well Designed Yard is a Must For Your New Home

Choose Hard-Wearing Materials and Finishes

Building the Best Home For Your Family

Author

​Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

8 Attic Remodel Ideas you’ll Love

​What to check before adding an attic to your home

Eight attic remodel ideas you’ll love ​

Creative Attic Remodel ideas for everyone

Author

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

Author

Archives

Categories

Construction Books

Construction services

The Right Layout is Crucial
for your home

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

What to check before adding an attic to your home

Eight attic remodel ideas you’ll love