10 Steps for Designing Your Own Home

Picture yourself in the perfect home, designed for your family and lifestyle. With these 10 easy steps, building that beautiful dream house can become a reality. From sparking inspiration to choosing a builder, keep reading to learn how to get started on creating your own oasis.

1.    Inspiration for Designing Your Own Home

A little inspiration can go a long way when it comes to designing your dream home. Let your favorite home decor magazines and renovation TV shows act as just the beginning. Lots of inspiration and potential exist right in front of you: Take a closer look at family or friends’ homes for more possibilities. These people will be honest with you about their home’s perks and what they wish they had reconsidered. It's time to get creative, express yourself, and start making those future plans come to life.

2.    Visit Model Homes

Tour stylish model homes designed by builders like Pulte Homes, who are at the forefront of creating gorgeous new spaces with all the latest trends. From open gathering rooms to spacious owners' suites, you'll get plenty of ideas for how to make your house feel just right. Don’t overlook the possibilities that flexible spaces bring, such as being able to convert to a home office, guest bedrooms, or in-law suites. Model homes might also have examples of how to finish your basement into something functional and stylish.

3.  Check Out Communities

Building a home isn't just about the architecture; it's also an exercise in finding your perfect new home community. Ride or walk through prospective neighborhoods at different times of day and different days of the week. Consider the sights and sounds to ensure they fall within your non-negotiables (see step five). Observe the neighbors and note if they seem friendly. Take note if there are spaces for children to play safely.

4.  Create a Home Design Budget

After you've spent time wandering model homes, talking to local builders, and visiting new home communities, it’s time to set a budget. While high-end designs can be inspiring, financial constraints are real. Once you’ve decided where your wiggle room lies, you can start identifying all of the numerous ways to reimagine high-end prices for a more budget-friendly, yet still stylish, option.

5.  Set Priorities for Your Dream Home

To make your dream home a reality, brainstorm the perfect space for every need. Maybe it’s an efficient home office or an immersive movie night experience. If you’ve always wanted a magazine-worthy designer kitchen, list out all of your must-haves, like gourmet appliances and plenty of storage with a gorgeous walk-in pantry, lined with shelves. If you have family members moving with you, invite them to offer their ideas and opinions, too.

6.  Pick Your Dream Home Builder

After acing your open house visits and having a stellar list of options, prioritize a homebuilder with an amazing reputation and solid work guarantees. Don't forget to discuss the homebuilder's warranty for a worry-free experience.

7.  Pick a House Lot

Picking the perfect lot for your home is an exciting step in the homebuilding process. Depending on the neighborhood, you may have the opportunity to choose between a scenic lake view or that coveted corner lot. Whatever you’re looking for in terms of location, make sure you take some tours of the property, so that when it’s time to decide on where this new adventure will start, you and your family won’t have any doubts.

8.  Review Floor Plan Designs & Personalization Options

Builders often have stunning floor plans to sift through to find the one that works best for you and your family. From single-story ranch-style layouts to two-story homes with plenty of space, you can find something that fits both your lifestyle and your lot. Don’t forget that builders can always make customizations to their existing floor plans. So if you want adjustments or any extra touches, such as a massive laundry room upstairs or added storage in the basement, they're typically more than happy to accommodate.

10.  Follow Through to Completion

As a savvy homeowner, it's important to stay tuned into every aspect of building your house to ensure what you’ve asked for is being delivered. You don’t want to miss a potential opportunity to switch out something to bring more charm into your home, like picking a beautiful granite countertop instead of window treatments. Maintain consistent communication with your builder to guarantee you get exactly what you envisioned when entering this special journey. When you work with Pulte, you’ll have a Construction Manager working with you to help keep you up to speed every exciting step of the way in our Build Quality Experience™.

Ready for some inspiration? Explore Pulte's new home communities and take the next step to discover your dream home today.

For more design tips, homeowner lifestyle articles, and the scoop on local hot spots and attractions, browse the Pulte Homes blog to get inspired.