If you want to have a private home, start making it happen by imagining your dream home. However, finding a house that really suits your needs is not easy. The good news is, you can create your own home design using a picture book. In addition, collect creative ideas and then use them to realize the dream of owning a dream home.
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Part 1 of 3: Looking for Inspiration
Step 1. Visualize the model of the house you want
Before you draw a house design, imagine a house that you would like to live in if the funds are available. The first step in designing a house is to determine the model of the dream house, instead of choosing building materials or arranging room divisions. By now, maybe you already have some favorite house models. So, start drawing it on a piece of paper.
Think about the details about your dream home and then ask yourself why you want to own it
Step 2. Look for various models of houses through architectural information resources
The second step is to look for photos of the house on a property website or architectural design magazine. That way, you can get an idea of the house models that are in high demand lately, decades ago, or abroad, for example wooden houses with traditional nuances or modern minimalist-style houses.
- Because people's tastes are constantly changing, house designs that were considered ancient (eg Art Deco and medieval) are back in demand.
- Don't get hung up on a particular house model just because it's in fashion. Choose a house model that suits personal preferences.
Step 3. Go to housing complexes for inspiration
Take the time to walk around some of the housing complexes in your city while looking at the models of the houses there. For now, you don't need to think about the need for funds to build a house. Instead, seek out as many ideas as possible for home designs.
- When looking around homes, take note of the attractive and unattractive features of each house. This information is very useful when you create a dream home design.
- Look for homes that are on the market. Take this opportunity to see the interior and exterior of the house firsthand.
Step 4. Take a photo of the house you like for your consideration
When you see a house that has an interesting design, take photos of each room from various angles. This way, you can see the building in detail by looking at the photos, instead of just glancing as you pass by. Use photos as a reference when choosing building materials so you can design a house in detail.
- Use a professional photographer's camera or a high-resolution cell phone camera to take pictures of your home to make the features you need more clearly visible.
- Don't forget to ask the landlord for permission before you take a picture of the property.
Part 2 of 3: Designing a House according to Your Needs and Abilities
Step 1. Prepare a realistic budget
Instead of asking, "How much does it cost to build a house according to the design I want?", ask yourself, "How much money is available to build a house?" This method helps you allocate funds with realistic calculations and determine the most appropriate home design. A realistic budget serves as the main guide when you design your home.
If you have never built a house, consult a professional financial consultant. He can help you budget and inform you about the possibility of getting a bank loan to build a house or rising costs, for example due to taxes on the purchase of building materials
Step 2. Prepare a book for drawing house designs
Buy a sketchbook with thick paper to store information, pictures, and imagination as a means of starting the realization of your dream home design. You may use each page to post photos, calculate costs, list the cell phone numbers of contractors you wish to contact, and record important information related to the construction plan of the house.
- Divide the pages of the book into sections using colorful Post-its based on the layout of the rooms in the house so you can easily find the information or images you need.
- Information and pictures will be collected in the book, so you can save time when looking for it because you don't have to flip through piles of sheets of paper.
Step 3. Consider your needs
After you've drawn up a written plan, it's time to determine what you need. For this, you need to consider several things, such as the division of space, privacy, and the shape of the building. Maybe you've thought about this aspect when looking for a home model, including meeting basic non-negotiable needs.
- When determining the division of the room, consider the needs of all residents of the house, such as the number of people, the age of each, and the relationship with each other.
- If you want to build a house as a preparation for a family, a small house with 2 bedrooms is not the right choice. You should build a rather large house so that there is still room if you need to add more rooms without neglecting the aesthetic aspect.
Step 4. Write down the things you want
For each main room, define what you want. For example, you might want to have a marble countertop in the kitchen, a sliding window in the living room, or a bookshelf in the sitting room. This is the fun of designing a house. Imagine the dream house in detail and then write down everything you want.
- Write down the things you want specifically. The more complete and specific the information you convey to the architect or contractor, the more likely you will have a home that truly fits your needs.
- When drawing a house plan, start by writing down the necessary items, but make sure they are within your budget and are really needed.
Step 5. Sketch the house plan
First determine the location of the main room, for example 2 bedrooms on one side of the ground floor with a bed and a bathroom between the two rooms. Prepare a large enough area in the middle of the ground floor for a family room or study room and then use the remaining area for the kitchen, laundry room, dining room, and warehouse.
- So that you don't get confused, complete the ground floor plan first before making the top floor plan.
- Make sure you accommodate the needs of all residents of the house by creating a house plan that has a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere.
Part 3 of 3: Completing House Plans
Step 1. Make a house plan using 3D software
Instead of using paper and a pen, take advantage of home design programs, such as Virtual Architect, Room Sketcher, and Home Designer Suite. Use the various features available to draw a house plan according to the design you created manually. If the plan of the dream house has been completed, give the plan to the contractor.
- Make a house plan as carefully as possible. Errors that occur when drawing do not cause harm and can be corrected. However, funds will be wasted if the house is built according to the wrong plan.
- If you want to create a good floor plan, we recommend using a paid online program. Also, you can use free programs, but the results are less than satisfactory because you can't access some of the features you need.
Step 2. Choose the most appropriate home location
Remember that the model of the house you want is not necessarily suitable if it is built in a certain location. Before sketching a dream house, you need to find out the situation and conditions at the location where the house will be built. When choosing a home location, consider the following: are there facilities available to meet primary needs? is there a gas station and supermarket near the house? how long is the trip to the office? This information plays an important role when you determine the location of the house.
- Keep in mind that building a house in hilly areas, uneven land, or lots of large trees tends to be more difficult because it is necessary to excavate before building the house begins.
- To determine how the location of your home affects the price or comfort of your home, write down things that bother you and then discuss them with an architect or contractor.
Step 3. Consult your plan with the architect
Listen carefully to his input and then consider his suggestions. Now, your role is to deliver the desired design. Architects are in charge of helping you realize your dream home and preventing common design mistakes.
- Usually, the architect will provide input on the structure of the building, the provisions that apply in the local residential environment, alignment with the model of the house in the vicinity, and other issues that need to be considered.
- Before hiring an architect, ask the amount of the fee he charges and the basis for the calculation, for example on a piece basis or per hour.
Step 4. Give the house design to the contractor
The design of the house is complete once you receive the house plan as desired. Currently, you just submit the design of the house to the contractor. Experienced architects can put you in contact with a reliable contractor and they will work together to build the home of your dreams.
Be prepared in case your design has to be changed because something went wrong or couldn't be done
Tips
- Prepare a detailed plan carefully as best you can before hiring an architect so that the work is lighter and faster. Also, it doesn't need to make many changes to the designs you make.
- Prioritize areas allocated to meet special needs, such as a wheelchair lane or a bathroom in the bedroom on the ground floor for the elderly.
- To save time, cut the paper to a scale to the size of each room and then place or move the strips of paper until you get the most satisfying floor plan. In addition, making house plans feels more exciting.
Warning
- Make sure the home design meets government regulations and local neighborhood regulations. In addition to meeting building standard criteria, you must comply with regulations in terms of licensing, electrical installation, installation of water pipes, fire prevention, and others. The design of the house must comply with applicable law in order for you to obtain a building permit (IMB).
- Do not change the design if the construction of the house is already underway. Drastic changes without careful consideration usually drain large funds and disrupt the designs that have been made.
