Designing a house is a dream come true for most Americans who want to own a home. It’s a dream that comes with multitudes of questions that need answers.
Are you more of a contemporary ranch or a classic Victorian? Should the kitchen/dining area have a breakfast nook or a window seat? And are you going to build the trick bookcase and secret room you wanted since you were 8?
Well, as tends to be the way, you need a plan before you can even think about breaking ground. Especially if you need to take accessibility concerns into account for or another family member.
And since homes, in general, are not built with the Americans with Disabilities Act in mind, designing from the ground up can be one of the best ways to make sure your particular needs are met.
To that end, here are the key points in building a house from scratch.
1. Come Up With a List of Your Living and Work Spaces
Before you can think about the bells and whistles, you need to come up with a list of your absolute must-haves. A kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms are all givens, but what else do you need to make a house a dream home?
This all depends on your lifestyle and needs. Common additions include home offices and studies, garages and basements, and spare rooms dedicated to hobbies or other unique purposes.
2. Design Your Room Layouts and Features
With your list of rooms in hand, now you can start thinking about the specific design and features of each. Again, this depends on your lifestyle.
If you’re accustomed to big family meals, a large kitchen and dining area is a must. If you spend any amount of time working from home, a quiet, comfortable area for that needs to be planned.
And for the essentials, this is where you set about your list of dream features. How big of a closet the master bedroom needs, the amenities in the bathrooms, and the specific shape and functions of the common areas.
3. Making It Accessible
With respect to accessibility, the front door is where most homes run into their first issue.
Some modern entrances only feature a small raised step leading up to the front door. Many more traditional designs include an entire porch or veranda that can rise several feet off the ground. Both can pose challenges for individuals with impaired mobility.
If this is your concern, but you’re unwilling to compromise on a specific vision for your exterior design, Wheelchair Ramps are the best compromise. They come in a variety of designs and materials and can be custom designed and ordered to best compliment the design of your dreams.
Designing a House for Your Needs and Your Loved Ones
Building your dream home is an adventure. And like any adventure, designing a house come with its own set of challenges. Particularly in respect to taking accessibility and mobility challenges into account.
But follow these key points, and you can have a home you can see yourself living well in for the rest of your life.
That said, not everyone is quite ready for such a major task. If you’re thinking of starting with smaller DIY projects, keep up with all of our latest interior design and home improvement tips and guides.