How to Create a Beautiful Home Design from Scratch

First things first, which means acquiring the financing to create a beautiful home from scratch. Once you have decided you are going to pursue your home design, a budget is going to be your main concern, before anything can happen with actual construction. You have to ask yourself the question, what can I actually afford? 

You obviously want to find the best prices for any of your construction material expenditures and other charges, but you also have to consider the amount of money necessary to simply get started in the home building process. Whether you have savings, an inheritance or other financial assets, the amount you have in hand is what is required to address the amount of square footage you can afford. 

So, if you are building your home from scratch, especially for the first time, it might be a good idea to engage a financial planner to discuss a budget and all of the extraneous costs involved with building a home from the ground up. For example, you need to consider real estate fees for acquiring property, the actual cost of the property itself, sales tax on any major materials, architect fees, permit costs and other expenses that you may not be aware of, or have not been brought into the equation. A planner should be able to break down all the hidden costs to you and how to arrange for financing. 

A planner should also be made aware of exactly what you want included in your home design in order to analyze those budgetary costs, which means coming up with your design and a list of must-haves for your home. 

So, before you embark on your "made from scratch" dream home, sit down and make a list of all the features that you would like in it. If you want a large open living area, a kitchen with a built-in island, special windows and doors, three or four bathrooms, walk-in closets, a laundry room, patio or deck and other upgrades, all of these listed items should be included to make sure you don't miss anything. Also, be aware that you need to keep the needs of your family in mind so you can accommodate their wishes and include their requests in your list. 

Just remember in drafting your feature list, you want to reevaluate the items on it for their practicality and affordability as well as what makes sense with the kind of structure you are creating. For instance, you probably don't need a designated mudroom in your home if it's going to be built in a desert or area that is dry throughout the year. 

You might want to keep a notebook type of organizer with your home design plan in it to keep track of everything related to it. Set aside sections in the notebook for each area or room of the house, and the desired features for each space. Make room for small samples, like fabric swatches, paint chips, flooring choices, furniture selection pictures, windows, doors, draperies, and other items related to the rooms. 

Mark each section of the notebook with identifying tabs for classification of other details, such as your budget and financial planning, architectural expertise, real estate agents, property purchase agreements, contracts, permit applications, general contractors and subcontractors, materials acquisition and purchases, and anything else related to the construction of your home. 

Once your list is complete, rough out a sketch of your floor plan. Take your draft and transfer it to a user-friendly imaging software. If you are happy with the design, you need to run it past the eye of an architect for getting your plan into a blueprint and legal format. An architect can also refer you to a contractor that can be of help in implementing your design and initiating construction. 

Before you start digging your foundation, be sure that your design follows building code guidelines in the area where you plan on constructing your dream home. Any plans must comply with the law. Local, county, state and rural building codes need to be followed and building permits obtained. In addition to any construction standards, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire codes must also be followed and met. 


Creating a beautiful home from scratch is a multifaceted endeavor and requires considerable organization and research along with adherence to legalities to initiate such a project, but if you are willing and able to follow through with the right steps, you can create a home of your own making and fulfill the dreams of a lifetime.