Planning Your Home Design
- Start with Reflection: Before sketching any designs, take time to discuss with friends and family what you need in a new home. Consider how you would improve your current home and what features you'd like to retain.
- Tailor to Your Needs: The layout and heating system should be customized to fit your family's current and future needs. This list of priorities will guide your architectural designer.
Practical Considerations
- Be Realistic: Assess whether extra bedrooms or multiple reception rooms will actually be used. Consider if a smaller, more efficient space could better suit your lifestyle.
- Tiny House Movement: Some self-builders opt for tiny houses (16 to 40 sqm) for financial and self-sufficiency reasons, focusing on what’s truly necessary.
Challenge Traditions
- Modern Design Choices: Don’t feel constrained by traditional design elements like chimneys, which are no longer necessary in modern homes designed to require minimal heating.
Long-Term Thinking
- Future Saleability: Remember that your home will eventually need to be sold. Avoid building something too large or costly to maintain, as this can make it difficult to sell later on.