A Guide to Creating a Custom Home Design Wish List

You’ve heard the old adage, “What’s the best way to eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Author Todd Stockner adds this valuable caveat to the time-honored bit of advice: “Before you eat the elephant, make sure you know what parts you want to eat.” While designing and building a custom home fulfills long-held dreams for many, there’s no denying that there can be a bit of elephant-eating indigestion in the process. Breaking down your design wish list into smaller pieces will help you identify the parts most valuable on which to focus your time and budget. Take the right steps and ask meaningful questions to create your ideal custom home design wish list.

Tips for Creating Your Custom Home Design Wish List

If you aren’t sure where to start on your elephant of a wish list, don’t worry. Once the ideas start flowing, you likely won’t be able to stop them! Begin creating your custom home design wish list by applying the following tips.

1. Copying is the sincerest form of flattery.

Whether you talk to friends, consult with professionals, tour model homes, or browse Pinterest, crowd-sourcing is a great way to garner new ideas. Keep track of the ideas you like as well as those you don’t so that you can refer back to them later.

2. Write down everything you’ve ever dreamed of in a home.

Almost everyone has some vision of a dream home, and if you’ve been thinking about investing in a custom home for long, you certainly do. Sit down with a piece of paper and write down everything you’ve always wanted in a home–from layout and architecture to finishes and furnishings. If you can, sketch it out, or keep a journal of clippings and articles. It’s great to visualize your options before making final decisions.

3. Create a budget.

Unfortunately, there is always a bottom line. Calculating and committing to a budget will guide your selection process. Of course, the purpose of a wish list is simply to remind you of everything you want, so don’t be afraid to brainstorm. You can always cut back later as budget dictates, and add items down the road when the budget allows.

4. Separate niceties from necessities.

Once you have created your dream custom home design, categorize everything as a “nicety” or a “necessity.” In other words, what are your needs vs. your wants? See if you can combine your wants and your needs. For example, you might want an entertainment area but need a high-quality kitchen. Try to combine your entertainment area and your kitchen by adding nice seating, a bar, a TV, etc.

5. Spend time researching building materials.

It is important to add building styles and materials to your wish list. Do you want a modern home or a rustic one? What type of flooring do you prefer? Do you want a garage, porch, arched doorways, spiral or straight staircases, etc.? Get a good idea of your perfect layout and dream materials.

6. Ask practical questions.

When creating a wish list, ask plenty of questions, both of yourself and of qualified experts. Doing so will help you determine which part of the elephant you really want to eat!

• What did you like the most about your previous home?
• What did you like the least about your previous home?
• Which room is the most important to you?
• Do you have an architectural style in mind?
• What type of floor plan are you drawn to?

How Can Sheffield Homes Help?

At Sheffield Homes, we have answers for your home design and building questions. With more than 40 years of experience in the residential construction industry, we’re here to help guide you through the home building process, every step of the way. Call us today at 303-420-0056 to begin planning your custom home in the Denver metro area or in northern Colorado.