When you’re building a new home you start off being excited and hopeful. And then the planning stage starts to overwhelm. There are a lot of choices to make and sometimes in a rush we forget to stop and think about the luxuries that will make this home your very own.
You have the opportunity to include every single thing you’ve been dreaming of. The world of home luxuries is immense and you can blow a budget quite quickly. In the event that you’re building but you haven’t stayed up to date with the world of luxury homes, I’ve got you 100% covered. I’m going to help you decide what’s a must-have and what’s a pass.
20 LUXURY MUST-HAVES FOR YOUR NEW HOME
LUXURY MUST-HAVES – STRUCTURAL
10 foot ceilings
8 ft Solid Wood Doors vs Hollow Doors
Large Windows
Heated Floors Throughout
Built-ins and Wall Mouldings
You might not have even considered the fact that you can make your home more of a luxury experience from the very beginning.
Before the framing even begins you need to be thinking of how you’ll make the most of this exciting time.
10′ CEILINGS –
Why not start by upgrading to 10’ ceilings? This is going to have a massive impact in the way the space is perceived as soon as you enter a room. Taller ceilings just look luxurious.
SOLID WOOD DOORS –
Hollow core doors are a builder’s delight because they’re cheap. You don’t have to use them in your custom build. Upgrade all, or just some, to solid doors. You can also increase the size from the standard 6’6” height to 8’. This is another splurge but will make a huge, dramatic impact.
LARGE WINDOWS –
Maybe upgrading windows is what you have in mind. You can change all the windows from the typical and go with oversized windows. If budget prevents from allowing you to add them throughout the home, don’t worry. Well placed windows in larger sizes can look fantastic even with only a couple.
HEATED FLOORS –
If you live in a place that experiences cold winters like I do, this is a must-have when you’re building. Once you have them you’ll never want to live without them again.
BUILT INS –
When I walk through luxury homes I notice the stunning built ins immediately. You can be so creative with this. If you’re building a large home, custom built ins are often necessary to keep the rooms looking balanced. If you have an oversized room, both in height and width you may end up needing something with massive impact to counter all the empty space.
MOULDINGS –
And while you’re at it, add some mouldings. This is another luxury splurge that doesn’t need to be placed everywhere. Just use it in hallways, dining and living room and the luxurious feeling will resonate throughout the house.
LUXURY MUST-HAVES – OUTDOORS
Outdoor Kitchen
Covered Patio with Fireplace
Your outdoor space can and should be as luxurious as the space you’re creating indoors.
An outdoor kitchen may seem frivolous but you’ll be so happy you did it when summer rolls around.
You won’t be stuck indoors getting food and drinks ready while your guests enjoy the beautiful summer day.
Doing it all at the same time as your build means you can use the same materials in your outdoor kitchen that you use for the rest of the exterior.
WANT TO KNOW HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE? READ MY BLOG POST ABOUT OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING IN WINTER.
LUXURY MUST-HAVES – BEDROOM
Fireplace in the Primary Bedroom
2nd Laundry Room off Primary Bedroom
There’s not a lot you can do with a bedroom to upgrade it and make it more luxurious.
A fireplace is a must-have. You may not use it very often but it adds such an aura of elegance to your space.
And what a beautiful sight to fall asleep to every night.
If you’re accustomed to lugging your laundry baskets up and down stairs, do yourself a favour and add a second laundry room off the primary bedroom. You still may not love doing laundry but it won’t feel as cumbersome.
LUXURY MUST-HAVES – KITCHEN
Walk In Pantry
Pro Style Gas Range
Full sized Fridge and Freezer (side by side)
This is likely an area you HAVE been considering. There are tons of luxury options for you to consider but appliances are a biggie.
Go for the most luxurious that your budget will accept.
It’s especially important if you’re looking at something that’s oversized like a pro style gas range. It will be very difficult and very expensive to try to add that in after the fact because it’s much larger than standard appliances. Your bank of cabinets will need to be completely reconfigured if you wait until a later date. And you know what that means? It’ll likely never happen! Treat yourself now.
Take time to plan out your walk-in pantry because so often my clients dream too small. This can leave them disappointed later and the last thing anyone wants after a long build process is to feel disappointed.
LUXURY MUST-HAVES – BATHROOM
Walk Through Shower with Heated Towel Racks
Steam Shower
Freestanding Tub
Tiles are the most common upgrade in a bathroom and by all means you should go for it if you love the look of walls of marble.
Just In case you haven’t thought of this, a walk-through shower is a dream and why not include heated towel racks.
It’s the little upgrades sometimes that leave us feeling the most pampered.
LUXURY MUST-HAVES – MISCELLANEOUS
Separate Mudroom from Laundry Room
Dog Wash Station
Built-in Speaker System for Music
Walk In Wine Fridge
Home Gym
Indulge, indulge, indulge. I love when my clients have fun with their custom build. These are some of the most fun areas that will bring a smile to your face after it’s all said and done.
You don’t need to have it all (although if you can afford it, I would highly recommend it!) but pick a few based on the needs of you and your family.
Have a dog? Love to work out? Love to entertain? There’s a luxurious indulgence for everybody!
What’s the one thing you need before you decorate, renovate or build? This post is a must read if you are doing any of these things.
And most of all, enjoy the process. This is a very unique and special time in your life. You may never get the experience again so try to make the most of it.
