THE LAYOUT LINEUP LAST STEPS: DEFINING YOUR DREAM HOME

​Last week’s post outlined the first two steps to defining your ideal new construction home by rating your spaces and assessing storage needs. When defining the inputs for your dream home, it is important to consider not just the next few years, but the next few decades.

Here are the last two steps to take when defining the elements of your dream home:

Consider How Your Family Dynamics May Change. Many college grads are moving back home. A recent Gallup poll states that nearly 50% of 18- to 23-year-olds and 14% of adults between the ages of 24 and 34 report living at home with their parents.

​A recent study published in The Journals of Gerontology evaluated more than 4,000 Medicare beneficiaries and only 4.6% live in independent living facilities and 5.8% reside in assisted living facilities. In the past, many homes were built with ‘in-law suites’ to accommodate long visits by extended family.  Today, many adult children of aging parents are opting to care for their mother or father at home, so there is resurgence in the construction of a second master bedroom or ‘in-law suite.’

The beauty of defining your new construction home is that you can ensure there is enough space and an ideal floor plan to accommodate young adults moving back home who require privacy and older adults who may struggle with their mobility, vision, etc. Ascertaining needs ahead of time will help thwart issues that often arise from different sleep cycles; noise levels; social calendars and general activities so as to ultimately guarantee a happy transition for you and your loved ones.

Ponder Your Preferred Activities. As schedules are squeezed with more and more activities and commitments, many Americans are making the most out of their homes. Whether working out or playing hard, home is sweeter than ever.

Before building your new construction home, rank your family’s favorite at-home activities to ensure that the spaces you need will be designed properly. For example, home gyms are growing in popularity as more than 25 million Americans exercise at home1. Consider the ideal location for your exercise equipment. If you have young children who nap, the basement may be the best level for your home gym. If you’re past that phase, perhaps an upper level loft area will be ideal.

If your family enjoys activities such as table tennis, billiards, air hockey, etc., you’ll need to incorporate a space large enough to meet all of your family’s recreational needs. If you’ve always dreamed of a home movie theatre, consider its ideal location taking into account sunlight, privacy, sound, etc.

By contemplating how your family dynamics may change over time and considering your favorite in-home activities, you can guarantee that you are designing the home of your dreams. You will also prevent a lot of frustration and avoid potential costs which result when people change their minds half-way through construction. Once you’ve completed all four steps of the layout lineup, share the info with experts at Echelon Homes.

Article by: Jennifer Elkow