Building a new home is an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience, but it does require a lot of planning. From the layout to design finishes, choosing what to include when building your dream home is an important part of the process as these customisations will be with you for years to come.
To help choose the inclusions that will give you a truly unique and personalised home to suit your ideal lifestyle, here’s a deep dive to help inspire your process.
Essential home inclusions
Below, we’ve compiled some essential inclusions to consider when building your new home. Some are geared toward comfort and convenience and others are focused on maximising your investment so that you get the most out of your property in years to come. When weighing up what inclusions to consider in your new home, it’s always best to think about longevity. You want a home that will grow with you and that will support your future needs as well as your current ones.
1. Structural inclusions
A good home design considers all aspects of the building process, from the floor plan and orientation to the site features and sustainable design principles.
If you’re choosing a home from an existing home design, there are certain inclusions and optional extras that you should consider, as these upgrades will offer excellent value in terms of comfort and lifestyle as well as a great return on investment when it comes time to sell.
These optional extras begin in the initial floor plan/orientation. One great example is the inclusion of an outdoor living space and garage. Having a dedicated all-season alfresco area outdoors provides an extra space within the house to enjoy socialising and entertaining in. It can also serve as a great retreat, particularly if you have kids or plan on expanding your family in the future. Similarly, choosing to add-on a garage space or carport provides greater flexibility for both parking and indoor space – it will also increase the value of your home.
2. Energy efficiency measures
Building a new home with energy efficiency in mind can save you money and potentially maximise your property’s potential to grow in value. There are many inclusions that can help your home be more energy-efficient. To start with, the orientation of your property will play a big role. This is the direction your main living areas are facing in relation to the sun and wind patterns, leveraging natural elements to ensure your home is kept warm or cool. For example, if you build a north-facing home, you will receive more sunlight in winter when the sun is lower in the sky. This is the direction that seems to be the best choice when building in Australia anecdotally. This is something to discuss in the planning phase of your build to ensure that your new home is built with passive design features in mind.
Other energy-efficient inclusions to consider are solar panels and a rainwater collection tank. While the initial setup of a solar power system may be a little costly, it does pay off over the long-run as you’ll be using more of your own power than relying on a grid.
3. Plenty of storage
You can never have too much storage! A very common new homebuyer regret is not having enough storage space. While many people acknowledge the need for wardrobes in bedrooms and pantries in kitchens, they overlook adaptable storage for things like linens, holiday decorations, seasonal clothing and recreational items. Not having the storage needed for these items leads to a cluttered household which isn’t quite the picture most of us have in mind when it comes to a dream home!
Here are some ways to include more storage in your new home build design:
- His and hers walk-in wardrobes: Opt for his and her walk-ins or closets to maximise your storage and provide a more functional bedroom.
- Custom shelving: Think about rooms where you can add extra storage such as the kitchen or living room. From built-in shelves to extra cabinetry or appliances that are built into cabinets, customising your storage solutions has a ton of utility and will keep clutter to a minimum.
- A basement or attic space: Adding a basement or attic space to your new build is a fantastic way to add more storage and usable space to your home. Here, you can store all those seasonal or recreational items that you only use once in a while. A basement can also serve as an extra room for guests or entertaining.
- Garage storage: A garage isn’t just for storing cars. In your new home build, consider adding plenty of cabinets and shelving in your garage to store things like tools and equipment.
- A laundry room: Having a separate laundry room can amplify your storage space. Besides keeping the washer and dryer, a laundry room can also be a place to store essential items such as an ironing board, vacuum, step ladder and power cords.
4. Smart home technology
If you’re building a new home, you might as well make it a smart home. From self-programmable thermostats to home security systems and voice-operated appliances, making your new home a smart home will give you added convenience and security; adding to the safety and comfort of you and your loved ones. Extra inclusions such as smart lighting can also help to conserve energy and save on those power bills.
5. Modern appliances
Modern appliances are a must in every dream home. From top of the range dishwashers, ovens, stovetops and range hoods to a double sink in the kitchen. These inclusions will make your home more functional and enjoyable to live in. You can also achieve greater energy efficiency with new appliances. Choosing a new home builder that partners with only trusted brands will ensure you’re getting the best quality products that will maximise the liveability and style of your home.
Along with sleek, modern appliances, consider reinforcing your home’s style by selecting or customising your fittings and fixtures including tapware, door handles and bathroom furniture. You can take your overall home style into account when it comes to selecting appliances, fixtures and finishes. For example, if you are after a Hamptons style home, you may wish to choose provincial style handles on your cabinetry in a gold or black finish.
6. Extra power outlets
New homes should include extra outlets as well as plenty of USB and wireless charging stations. Not only does this accommodate the modern lifestyle and our increasing reliance on smart devices, but they can be integrated into furniture and central gathering places like the kitchen for on-the-go convenience.
Adding wireless charging stations alongside USB ports also gets rid of the need for messy cords and cables lying around the house. When choosing the location of your power outlets, take into account the areas you will be spending the most time in (such as the kitchen and living rooms) as well as any areas you know you’ll be wanting to add a lamp or an office desk. For bigger homes, multiple outlets around the place will add convenience when it comes to vacuuming or even consider a ducted vacuum system.
Additional inclusions you may consider
Essential inclusions for a home vary for each homeowner and the list can be endless. Depending on what is important to you, consider inclusions that will make your lifestyle convenient and personalised to your family needs.
Other inclusions to think about:
- BBQ gas outlets
- Ducted air-conditioning
- Mirrored sliders to bedrooms
- Colorbond® roofs
- Security screens
- Timber hardwood floors
- Stone benchtops
- Tiled niches in bathrooms
- Kitchen island
- Walk-in wardrobe
Choosing the right add-ons for your dream home
When building your dream home, there are plenty of things to consider. While it may take some extra time to plan what inclusions to add, doing so will help to increase the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your home. At the end of the day, you want a home that you feel comfortable in and one that makes life easier for you.
To help you on your new home build journey, reach out to one of our experienced consultants or download our brochure to get inspiration on your new home. We’ll work with you to ensure you’re getting a home design that perfectly fits you and your lifestyle.
