by Garth Epp
Building or planning to build a new home can be a stressful decision making process. There are so many angles and considerations to think through and the entire process can often be overwhelming. The pressure of wanting to ‘do it right’ can sometimes cripple the decision making process all together.
In today’s world, people are moving faster than ever before. Between school, work, children, paying bills, running errands, and all the other responsibilities of life, it is no wonder everyone is stressed. There is nothing more fulfilling and inspiring then to start and end your day in the place you love most. Your home should be that type of place, a place where you feel inspired and rejuvenated. Living within such an atmosphere helps promotes greater personal heath as well as healthier relationships. Of course we know that there is much more to living a fulfilled life then living in our dream home, but it is much easier to face some of the challenges of daily life when we are relaxed and rested and your home plays a huge role in the whether you feel rested and relaxed.
Most people desire to build their own home because they want to create a home that reflects themselves and the lifestyle they wish to live. Essentially they want to create their own relaxing sanctuary that they can retreat from the business of life, relax and rejuvenate themselves.
If you are in the fortunate position of planning to build a home there are some important considerations to think over before the building begins that will help you create type of relaxing, homey atmosphere you desire.
I want to share with you some important factors to consider that will help you create the home of your dreams and help your new home promote an atmosphere of relaxation and be inspiration for yourself, your family and guests.
It is also important to include completing the project before moving in your budget considerations and planning. This includes basements and landscaping. It is also very discouraging to look outside your dream home or walk down stairs and face unfinished work. It can be very emotional and overwhelming to be constantly faced with these unfinished tasks and steel the joy of moving into and living in a new home.
It is not a surprise that people find it much more relaxing to live within a home environment that is de-cluttered. Once again, clutter can create an internal stress and it is hard to let the troubles and stresses of daily life subside when we are living in clutter. Plan plenty of storage space within your new home. This is commonly under estimate. I would suggest adding an additional 10-20% of storage space more then you think you will need. It will not take long and you will be very glad that you did.
It is a good idea to create some small personal retreat areas where you can rejuvenate and relax while having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or just sit down with the daily paper or a good book. I would suggest to plan on including some of these special places in your new home. Sitting areas on a loft or near a large window or sky light or a balcony or sitting area off the master bedroom are often considered great places. Decks, verandas and patios are also hugely popular for this purpose, but remember to create spaces within these features that are out of the main traffic flow or ‘off the beaten path’ so they can be small places of refuge.
Incorporating indoor waterfall fountains have also been more popular in recent years as these features bring a special ambiance of serenity and peace with the gentle soothing sights and sounds of flowing water. Seemingly, these features were once reserved for government and corporate facilities have now become very main stream and are fantastic mediums to create an atmosphere of relaxation and wonder for both residence and guests into a home.
The process of planning your dream home should be enjoyable and exciting and although the process of planning and building can add some stress to daily life hopefully once the project is complete you will be rewarded with enjoying the excitement and benefits of all your hard work. Many of these ideas are incorporated in most luxury house plans, but make sure you evaluate your plans closely to make sure they fit specific desires and lifestyle goals. Use some creativity and you will be amazed to see what some ingenuity will create as you think outside the box. All your hard work will pay off in the end and you will be inspired and look forward to coming home to your personal sanctuary at the end of a long busy stressful day.
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