Creating a custom home is an exciting prospect, and for many people, a dream come true. It offers the chance to design your home exactly the way you want it, right down to the very last detail. For people who are perfectionists, there could hardly be anything better.
As thrilling as the design process is, it can also be a challenge. Choosing the different design elements of a home takes time and careful effort, and the final decision has to be something you are 100% happy with.
This is perhaps most true when it comes to the home’s architectural style. This is the very first thing a person sees when visiting your home. It sets the tone for everything else that’s inside, and unlike interior design, it is not something that can be easily altered. This makes choosing an architectural style for your home one of the most important decisions you will make in the course of creating your custom home.
But with so many different architectural styles to choose from, it can make this all-important decision even more difficult. If you’re wondering how to choose the right architectural style for your home, read on for our detailed guide.
1. Consider the Setting of Your Home
If you’re at a complete loss about choosing between Mediterranean and Modern or Transitional and Traditional, then a good place to start can be to consider the setting of your home. What are the natural surroundings? Is it encompassed by trees? Does it have a large, sprawling lawn? Is it on a hill?
Using the setting as your starting point will ensure your house looks natural and fits in with its surroundings. After all, it might look strange if you built a Colonial-style home in the middle of the desert or an Adobe-revival house in the middle of a busy city block.
2. Create a Mood Board of Styles You Love
Another great way to settle on one style is to think about houses and buildings you’ve seen before that you were drawn to or seek out new sources of inspiration. Look at magazines, interior design Instagram accounts, homes of friends and celebrities, or even visit surrounding areas and take note of what you like and what you don’t like.
After you’ve found out what you do like, you can put it all together and create a mood board featuring all the architectural design details that you find aesthetically appealing. This will help both you and your custom home builder to get a better sense of your desired style.
3. Talk to Friends and Family
Sometimes, the people closest to you can know you better than you know yourself. This makes your friends and family the perfect sounding board to bounce ideas off of and take inspiration from. Especially if you’re unsure about what style you like best.
Whether you are planning on living alone, or designing your custom home for your family, it can be nice to get their input and another perspective.
4. Consider Any Rules You May Have to Adhere To
Many neighborhoods or communities will have homeowner’s associations. Their job is to ensure the overall look of the area is maintained to a certain standard, and they will help with any repairs and upkeep that may be necessary.
Because they want to keep the area looking a certain way, there may be restrictions on what kind of architectural style you can choose, so you will need to find out if there are any guidelines given. There also might be deed restrictions or special permits you need to obtain, and these factors should be taken into account.
5. Look at Your Neighbors for Inspiration
Even in the case that you are moving to an area that doesn’t have a homeowner’s association, you might still want to take your neighbors into account when choosing your home’s architectural style.
Whether you want to match your new neighbors exactly, blend in subtly, or stand out completely, looking at the houses that will be surrounding yours can be an unexpected source of inspiration.
6. Get an Expert Opinion
If you’re still stuck, then it might be time to call in a professional. One of the best things about hiring a custom home builder is that they will be there to help you every step of the way and answer any questions you may have. If you’re stuck between classic and modern architectural styles, why not ask your builder to show you some of their previous work.
Seeing the quality craftsmanship of the finished products may help to clarify some of what you’re looking for or give you completely new ideas that you hadn’t previously thought about.
7. Choose for Function as Well as Fashion
As much as home architectural styles are all about the look, you should make sure that whatever style you do end up choosing works for you on a functional level.
For example, if you have mobility issues, you might want to consider a Craftsman bungalow instead of a Colonial two-story. If you want to spend as much time outdoors as possible, then a Mediterranean style home might be best to provide the combination of indoor and outdoor living you crave.
Finding Your Ideal Architectural Style
The bottom line is that at the end of the day, those who choose to create a custom house do so for a reason. They want to be able to create a living space to their exact specifications, and a home that they will truly love.
This is why no matter what architectural style you decide to pick, you need to make sure that it suits both the needs and the tastes of you and your family.
If you’re considering a custom build, please get in touch today. See how we can make your dream home a reality.