9 Tips for Choosing the Right Architectural Style for Your Custom Home

One of the initial considerations you need to make when building your custom home is settling for an ideal architectural style. This is the first thing people see after entering your home, as it sets the tone for everything. Your home’s architectural style should speak to you and reflect your personal taste while adhering to any deed and homeowner association restrictions that may be available in your neighborhood. This article will provide tips to help you identify a home architectural style that best suits you.

Take Your Home’s Location into Account

The best way to get started when choosing your home’s architectural style is to consider the location and setting of the property. Look at the natural environment and the features that surround your space, such as hills, trees, sprawling lawns, grass, and more.

Making the location and home setting your starting point will enable you to choose a style that fits naturally in its surrounding. For example, building an Adobe-style home in the middle of a bustling city block or developing a colonial-style home in the wilderness may look weird.

Look for Sources of Inspiration Online

Consider browsing the internet to identify digital images of home styles that appeal to you and save them to create a mood board of styles. This may involve sifting through magazines, periodicals, architectural sites, interior design Instagram pages, and sites like Pinterest to draw inspiration and fresh ideas.

Check out friends’ and celebs’ houses on social media platforms and identify what excites you. This will enable you and your custom home builder to understand your preferred architectural design features better.

Obtain Expert Opinion

If you can’t figure out whether to choose a traditional, classical or contemporary modern architectural style, you can seek help from a professional custom home builder. The good thing about working with Excel Builders is that they walk you through the journey and respond to all your queries and concerns.

You can even request your builder to share samples of their previous work with you. This will enable you to obtain fresh concepts you hadn’t thought about and visualize the finished product’s exceptional craftsmanship. Remember to check your custom home builder’s reputation and years of experience before hiring them to ensure you work with experts who will deliver your dream home.

Consider Existing Rules and Regulations in Your Area

Most communities and neighborhoods feature homeowners associations that regulate the construction of buildings, oversee property assets, and set rules to govern the maintenance and upkeep of the area to meet specific standards. Find out if there are restrictions to the kind of architectural style you can select and the laid-down guidelines for construction. Ensure you adhere to any deed limitations and obtain specific permits before settling for a style.

Check Out Custom Homes in the Neighborhood

Drive through the neighborhoods and capture photos of those custom homes that inspire you. Even if the area you are moving to doesn’t have a homeowners association, it is best to consider your neighbors when selecting your home’s architectural style. You can opt to match the style of your new neighbors and blend in subtly or prefer to stand out completely by having a unique style.

Seek Opinions From Friends and Family

Those close to you might know better about perfect home styles than you do. This makes feedback from friends and family important as you can get inspiration from their ideas and reach a well-informed decision. You can also visit their homes to check out some of the best architectural features and see what you can blend into your custom home.

Go for Both Style and Functionality

Even though you may choose a home architectural style for a specific aesthetically appealing exterior appearance, you should also consider functionality. Think about the things you plan to do while at home, such as individual hobbies, family barbeque time, study, work, and entertainment, and choose a style that compliments those activities.

For instance, a Mediterranean home style may be a perfect choice if you prefer spending much time outdoors, as it provides a nice blend of indoor and outdoor living. On the other hand, if you are experiencing mobility problems, especially with staircases, you can settle for a craftsman bungalow rather than a colonial two-story style.

Pay Attention to the Size of the Home

The size of the home you plan to build can dictate the architectural style to choose. Keep in mind that square footage and layout significantly differ from one home’s architectural style to another as well for the houses with the same architectural style. For instance, a ranch-style home features a single-story building, while a Georgian or Farmhouse-style house will most likely have two or more stories.

Build With the Future in Mind

No matter how attractive your house may be, it is not advisable to design it with architectural features that will make you incur more costs in the future. Ensure that you choose an architectural style that uses durable, reliable, and low- maintenance materials to lower future costs.

In addition, take into account the climatic conditions of your location and go for a style with materials suitable for the weather. The rule of thumb is to build a long-lasting structure, not just an accommodating space. 

Building a custom home will enable you to create a living space you truly love with your precise specifications. It will be best to select an architectural style that your entire family will feel comfortable about and that meets your specific needs. Follow the tips above to create your dream home.