Building a custom home? Learn where homeowners wish they had spent more and where they could have saved based on real experience.
When the flurry of decisions has been made and the dust from construction settles, you will be living with your custom home decisions every single day. While this is often the most exciting part of the custom home building journey, this is also when people start to realize what they would do differently if they could go back in time.
Fortunately, most of these realizations focus on small changes, but at LaFollette Custom Homes, we want to help you avoid those mistakes where possible. This guide covers the best way to plan proactively to know what to focus on in the custom home-building journey.
Where People Wish They Had Spent More
The decisions that will come up repeatedly are the ones that affect your daily lifestyle. Here are the areas to spend more time and budget on.
Kitchen Functionality
Do you need to plan for more cabinets, or do you just need a strategic cabinet layout that works? Consider using deep drawers and a large kitchen island with built-in storage to maximize your storage without taking up more space. Most people spend every morning and evening in the kitchen, so it’s worth the extra planning.
Storage in the Right Places
Think about where clutter tends to collect in your current home. This may help you decide where you most need strategic storage in your new custom home build. Think of mudroom storage that collects coats and shoes after school, a kitchen pantry that maximizes vertical space, or a master closet that is tailored to your handbag collection. Having the right space is more important than having more space.
Windows and Natural Light
Planning for natural light in your custom home is one of the most worthwhile investments you will make. Including large windows that face the sun in your living spaces will make your home feel more open and serene.
Primary Suite Comfort
You will spend a lot of time in your primary suite, so it’s worth putting additional effort into making it a good place to be. Turn your morning getting-ready routine in your master bath into a luxurious spa experience with heated, large-format tile floors, a mirror-integrated Bluetooth sound system, frosted glass windows for natural light, and a freestanding tub for relaxing evenings at home. It doesn’t have to be overdone, just well thought out.
Where People Often Overspend
It’s just as important to know where in the custom home building process you need to cut back. Here are the areas that can be more budget friendly.
Trend-Driven Finishes
Whether you feel drawn to tile patterns that everyone is buzzing about, architectural molds that are in every Pinterest gallery this year, or rustic farmhouse finishes that your neighbor just installed, it’s important to remember that passing trends can often make your custom home feel dated as time goes on. Focus more on timeless finishes and incorporate more easily changed decor to express your personality.
Spaces You Don’t Actually Use
The reality is, you have limited time, resources, and budget when building your custom home. There is no reason to dedicate those resources to a formal dining room if it’s going to sit empty every day or a home wellness center if you are never going to use it. Just because a floor plan looks good on paper doesn’t mean it will serve you and your lifestyle.
High-End Upgrades in Low-Impact Areas
Every single square inch of your custom home does not need to make a statement. The rooms that you will use but will spend less time in can be more basic and timeless so they can easily be changed to fit your needs. These details will not affect how the room functions, so it’s better to keep it simple and put the budget somewhere else.
Quick Answer: Should I Spend More or Less Here?
If you’re stuck deciding where to invest, it helps to ask:
- Will I use this every day?
- Will this make my daily routine easier?
- Will I notice this a year from now?
If the answer is yes, it’s probably worth leaning into.
Build Your Dream Custom Home with Confidence
You don’t have to get every custom home decision perfect. In fact, no one does because perfection is impossible.
However, if you focus on how your home will be lived in, not just how it looks on day one, you’ll end up in a much better place.
Most of the time, the best investments aren’t the most expensive ones. They’re the ones that quietly make your day easier, over and over again. If you’re working through those decisions now, we’re always happy to talk it through with you and help you sort out what’s worth it and what’s not. Contact LaFollette Custom Homes to get started.
