Starting your custom home build is an exciting adventure. You are creating a space that will fit your needs and be everything you dreamed of. You get to choose and design the space you desire. From an open-concept kitchen to the laundry room with built-in drying racks, you get to customize everything and anything you want. When you are designing your home, it is easy to get caught up in the interior and the fun spaces you get to see every day, so you may forget about the exterior. The exterior of your home is not just curb appeal, but it is also a functional space to keep in mind.
Your home exterior is an extension of your home. Think of your driveway, fencing, entryway, and walkway, all those things set the tone for your home. When designing your home, it is important not to forget about the exterior since you can fully customize this as well. If you are stuck on where to begin, here are some tips to help you get started.
Key Considerations for Your Exterior
The 3 main factors to consider when designing the exterior of your home are size, function, and looks. Taking those into account will make the planning process a lot easier and not as overwhelming.
Driveway
Your driveway is arguably the most important exterior design to keep in mind. If you are an avid garage user, the driveway may not be as important to you, but if you like to park in the driveway here are a few things to consider.
Size
How big do you want your space to be? A good rule of thumb is to allow at least 2 cars to fit, but depending on your family size, you may want to go bigger. Also, think about potential guests. Is there additional parking for them? Or will they have to park on the lawn?
Function
Not only does size matter but so does the functionality of it. What is the primary function of your driveway? Are you going to use it for parking and parking only? Or do you want to be able to add a basketball hoop outside for your kids to play? Functionality and size tend to play hand in hand so don’t forget to keep them in mind.
Looks
After you have figured out the hard part comes the fun. How do you want it to look? What materials do you want to use? Concrete? Gravel? Natural stone? The look of your driveway should match the exterior of your home to give it a cohesive look.
Garden/Lawn/Backyard
Just like your driveway it is important to think about the greenery around your home. Although this may be a later thought it doesn’t hurt to think about the options you have. You can always leave the space open for the mean time and come back to it in the future to customize it.
Size
Your outdoor space will typically be the last thing you focus on. With the remaining space, you will have to decide how you want to design it. When designing your outdoor space, you first must worry about the function of it.
Function
Your outdoor space tends to become an extension of your home to entertain. Some key factors to think about are weather and activities. Do you live in a sunny area that gets warm quickly? If you do, you might want to add a pool. Or do you live in a colder climate? In that case, you might want to add a covered backyard patio with the option to put up wind blockers. Knowing how you want to use your space will help determine the size that you will need it to be.
Looks
The best part about designing your own home is the fact that you get to design it the way you want. Ideally, you would want your exterior to match the style of your home. But your options are endless, and you can design it any way you want to.
Put it into Action
Planning and designing your custom dream home can be a long tedious project, a project you most likely won’t be able to do on your own. Once you have an idea of what you want your home to look like, your next step would be calling the professionals. Professional custom home builders like Hepler Homes have the experience and expertise to make your dreams a reality. Getting in contact with our custom home builder will ensure that all of your needs are met.