There are unlimited ways to customize your home, and while you may feel overwhelmed by the decision-making process, now is the time to embrace the opportunity. Think about adding unique features to your house that are both aesthetic and practical — everything from an organized mudroom and storage-focused kitchen to a functional office and efficient laundry room.
WG Wood Products manufactures full-depth cabinetry with an extensive selection of solutions made of solid wood. We leave the entire customization process up to you to match what works for your space. Here are five benefits of customizing your home and seven must-have home features to inspire and guide you.
5 Benefits of Customizing Your New Home
With unlimited possibilities, designing your new home should be fun and exciting. Customizing your home allows you to curate an enjoyable space that also aligns with your long-term needs. Five benefits of customizing your home include:
1. Personalization
When you design a custom home, you can create a space that matches your personality and aligns with your short- and long-term wants and needs. Your blueprint will include a floor plan of the bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms and garage. It will also detail the roofing, doors, siding, windows, flooring, light fixtures, appliances and custom cabinetry you’ll install.
2. Site and Lot Evaluation
You have the freedom to choose where you want to live, along with the size and environment of your property. By evaluating different sites and lots, you can build within your budget and control which materials, appliances and features you want to incorporate into your home.
3. Universal Customization
A universal design refers to a home built for the different stages in your life — for both immediate and future needs. Incorporating universal design allows you and your family to live in your home for a lifetime by combining functionality and aesthetics.
4. Quality
Building a home with top-quality materials can save you in the long run because they will require less maintenance. High-quality materials are more durable and last decades before needing to be replaced. As the construction industry continues to excel forward into new technologies and methods, you can take advantage of working with higher-quality resources.
5. Energy Efficiency
Every aspect of your new home can be environmentally friendly and energy efficient, including:
- Modern geothermal cooling and heating systems
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Solar panel roof
- Smart technology
Design a home that meets current energy standards to reduce energy consumption and costs.
Custom home building is beneficial on various levels. It is important to partner with a builder and other contractors with a solid reputation and good rapport with previous clients. Choosing your partners carefully will make the process more streamlined and exciting as you determine your must-have features.
7 Must-Have Features for New Homes
Building a house means everything is in your hands, like adding cool kitchen features and creating an interesting office design. With these seven design features in mind, you can build a low-maintenance, high-performance house.
1. First-Floor Mudroom
Forget about the tiny, frustrating coat closet. Your first-floor mudroom is a drop-zone for shoes, jackets, bags and sports equipment. You can design an open space with ample storage and organization, such as built-in shelves and lockers to store keys, wallets, purses and dog leashes. You can also include towel hangers and a drain area to wash feet and muddy shoes.
A well-organized mudroom helps you deal with clutter by organizing everything in one area, making life more manageable and reducing tracked dirt throughout the house.
2. Home Office
Home offices are more popular now than ever with so many people working from home. Whether you work from home full time or need a space to occasionally focus on a project, complete homework or start a new business idea, building a home office can make all the difference. Having a dedicated space is much better than trying to concentrate on the couch or at the kitchen table.
Curate a room that helps you stay focused while keeping you inspired with built-in cabinets, tables, desks or bookshelves. They’re a simple way to increase the level of sophistication while keeping you organized.
3. Dedicated Laundry Room
Make laundry day more convenient with a dedicated room on the floor with the most bedrooms. This will help avoid multiple trips up and down the stairs, making the day more efficient. You can fashion a convenient and easy-to-use space in your modern home that’s also comfortable and productive with new home built-ins like shelves, recessed cabinets and a sorting table. Think about beautiful customized cabinets to store laundry supplies — they’re a smart custom design option that keeps your room neat and tidy.
4. Game Room
Having a dedicated game room is great for everyone in the family but especially if you have kids. It can be a family-designed space recognizing everyone’s personalities with special touches. A game room keeps equipment out of your living room and other shared spaces and in a dedicated space. You can even add a home theater with surround sound speakers, cool visuals and ambiant lighting. Ensure you have enough power by installing outlets everywhere.
5. First Floor Master Suite
While you can include a master bedroom on the second floor if that’s where the other bedrooms are, you may want a more accessible first-floor suite with wider doorways and other features. Consider universal customizations that look to the future and increase your home’s value. A bedroom on the first floor can accommodate guests, older family members and perhaps yourself down the road. It can also be helpful if someone is injured short-term.
6. Large Master Bathroom
The master bedroom is your personal space to unwind and relax, and a large ensuite bathroom can do even more to help you recharge. Design a space that suits you best, whether that includes dual vanities, magazine holders, recessed toilet paper holders, luxurious linens or beautiful wallpaper. This is also a space where you can add built-in cabinetry to keep your bathroom space neat yet sleek and beautiful.
7. Luxurious Kitchen
Designing a luxurious kitchen means the possibilities truly are endless. Your kitchen can include features like:
- Double islands
- Breakfast nook
- Walk-in pantry
- Wine cellar
Double islands or a breakfast nook helps maximize your kitchen space while creating the perfect place to enjoy a snack or where the kids can do homework. Walk-in pantries add another dimension for optimal storage, organization and convenience. Store larger items and canned food in the pantry to keep the rest of your kitchen clutter-free, and install a spice rack for your smaller items. You can even opt for a wine cellar or so-called “Costco door,” a small door connecting your pantry to the garage, making unloading groceries easy and hassle-free. This door can also act as a limited-access alcove for package deliveries.
Other Customizations
You can include endless customizations for your home. Your must-haves might differ from another family’s. Other customizations for your home to consider include:
- Central vacuum system
- Hidden rooms
- Outdoor living spaces
- Detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
- Laundry chute
- Heated floors
When it comes to maintaining a tidy home, a central vacuuming system makes it easy and convenient, and anyone can use it. Building a smart home is one of the most popular ways to design a new home. You can easily integrate technology like Wi-Fi-controlled security systems, lights, locks and a programmable thermostat.
Cabinetry Is a Must-Have for Each Room
Whichever part of your home you’re customizing, built-in shelves and cabinetry are an absolute must. In your kitchen, you can integrate statement cabinets to create additional storage for food, appliances and dishes. In the office, you can add a bit of warmth and texture to keep you inspired and keep your papers, books and documents organized. Customized shelving in the master bedroom, game room, laundry room and mudroom can fit the style of every room while maximizing storage and organization.
Customize Your New Home With WG Wood Products
Don’t settle for ordinary shelving that doesn’t quite match your new home’s design. Our unique solid wood cabinets solve storage and organization challenges in your house while making a statement. With naturally finished solid wood — never MDF or particle board — WG Wood Products can customize the size and style of our recess, in-the-wall cabinetry and storage solutions.
Learn more about what we offer, reach out to a WG Woods Products representative or request a quote to start customizing your new home’s cabinetry.
