Home Design Tips for New Construction

While it’s certainly exciting to be building your dream home, it can also be overwhelming. In a custom home, there are so many details to be decided. And the options are limitless!

As an interior designer, I’ve worked on many new construction homes and I’m here to share my knowledge. Read on for top tips on how to make your home building experience more fun and less frustrating.

Understand the Process

Know in what order things will happen in your build, so that you know what the priorities will be at each stage. A good builder will give you deadlines well ahead of time – you don’t want to get a call from the plumber when he’s roughing in the pipes and suddenly need to pick all your plumbing fixtures in a couple of days. Start early with selecting materials and fixtures so that you can enjoy it and not feel pressured.

Most of us aren’t plumbers or carpenters or electricians, but if you’ve been through the construction process before then you’ll know a lot of it is common sense. You can’t run wiring through a concrete slab – so of course you’ll need to know where your floor outlets are located before the foundation is poured.

But if it’s your first time building, you can’t be expected to think about all the decision points beforehand. Don’t be afraid to sit down with your builder and ask them to “explain it like I’m five”. Preconstruction is a critical time and the more you can get done before you break ground, the smoother the build will be.

Have a Design Vision

As soon as you have your floor plan and other architectural drawings, start thinking about how you want the home to look overall. Pinterest boards are a great idea, and try to think about how you want the whole room to look rather than focusing on small details to start with. Then think about how each space will flow to the next and how you will bring consistency in the design from room to room.

If you have a cohesive design concept in mind from the outset, making your individual selections of material, finishes and fixtures will be so much easier. Say you decided on a rustic mountain style – then you probably shouldn’t go for that ultramodern backlit mirror in the bathroom.  Don’t make decisions in a piecemeal fashion – think about how each tile, faucet or cabinet fits with your overall vision.

Get Involved

Don’t underestimate how much work building a home can be for the homeowners. Many people don’t realize that a builder is there to build the house, not to choose every fixture for you – and often I have clients come to me halfway through their build when they become overwhelmed with all of the decisions they need to make.

If you have an interior designer on your team, they will take the lead on your design concept and selections – but if you decide to choose your own fixtures and materials, know that your builder will need you to make a lot of timely decisions for them to be able to build your home on schedule and to budget.

Design Features

Ok, so that’s all good advice for the design/build process – but what should I put in my home? What will be timeless and what is too trendy? How do I decide where to splurge and where to save?

Your number one priority should be getting the best quality you can within your budget. While “you get what you pay for” is generally true, there are so many great lower-cost options these days. Look for key indicators of quality – such as plywood cabinet boxes (not particle board) or plumbing fixtures with brass parts (not plastic). Did you know that major plumbing brands produce differently manufactured products for the big box stores than they do for plumbing showrooms? Or that quartz can discolor from heat if it’s placed too close to a stovetop?

When you purchase from specialist vendors such as plumbing showrooms or carpet stores, you’re paying not just for the product, but for their expertise. You don’t know what you don’t know, so ask plenty of questions and have them tell you the pros and cons of every product you’re considering, so you can make an informed choice.

A few popular items I’m seeing lately in new construction – that I think are here to stay – are heated towel racks, bidet seats or washlet toilets, and drawer microwaves. Other timeless design elements that have been with us for a while are stone backsplashes, wallpaper, built-in bookcases and mixed plumbing/lighting finishes. My final tip is to think about lighting as art. It’s not just about the fixture, it’s about where that light is going and what it’s highlighting – whether undercabinet, wall washing a fireplace or lighting a decorative alcove.