If you’re designing your dream home, now is your opportunity to pull out all the stops in terms of comfort, convenience, and luxury. The right features can simplify your day-to-day life, boost your property value, and help your new house feel truly like “home” for you and your family.
Your custom home designer can thoughtfully incorporate any features and amenities you prefer directly into your design for a seamless fit. Explore the top 10 must-have features in modern custom homes, then reach out to Schar Construction to start designing your new living space.
1. A Functional and Beautiful Kitchen That Makes Cooking Effortless
Many people view the kitchen as the heart of the home, and with the right design choices, this space can feel comfortable, spacious, and conducive to stress-free meal preparation. You might incorporate custom kitchen features like:
- A large central island with a built-in sink and cooktop
- Built-in appliances that seamlessly match the kitchen’s design or are hidden behind cabinet doors
- Plenty of storage to keep clutter off the counters
- A walk-in pantry that keeps food items organized
- Custom cabinets that maximize functionality and aesthetic appeal
- Beautiful countertops and backsplash that tie the design together
2. A Spacious, Conveniently Located Laundry Room
Doing laundry doesn’t need to feel like a chore when you have a designated laundry room that is spacious and conveniently located in the center of your home. Your custom home builder can incorporate a laundry room into the main floor and leave plenty of room for storage, drying racks, and even a folding station with cubbies for each member of the family.
You can avoid going up and down stairs to do the laundry and seamlessly incorporate this chore into your day-to-day routine.
3. Flexible Rooms That Grow With Your Family
Your family’s needs will change over time, and your custom home design should be flexible enough to change with them. A family with young children might need a playroom; once the kids have grown, that room might turn into a homework space or hangout room for friends; then, it might transition into a home office for Mom or Dad.
Your designers can incorporate one or more “flexible rooms” into your design that you can easily alter and customize over time to suit your family’s growing needs.
4. A Dedicated Mudroom or Drop Zone With Built-in Storage
Part of maintaining a peaceful home is keeping clutter out of sight. When shoes, jackets, and bags litter your entryway, your home can feel chaotic and disorganized. Incorporating a designated mudroom or “drop zone” into your home design gives you and your family a purposeful area for getting ready and storing shoes and coats out of sight.
Your designer can integrate built-in storage and benches into your mudroom design to make getting out the door easier and prevent clutter from building up in your entryway.
5. Smart Home Technology That Maximizes Convenience
New smart home technology is making everyday tasks effortless and enhancing the safety of homes. Talk to your custom home builder about adding any of this tech to your design:
- Smart lighting with flexible brightness and hue settings
- Smart thermostats and smoke detectors
- Home automation systems that connect appliances, lighting, and other features to a central hub
- Advanced security systems, motion sensors, and doorbells
- Whole-home audio systems
- Smart kitchen appliances
Smart technology often connects to mobile apps so that you can control settings from anywhere. Turn lights, appliances, and security systems on or off from your phone and receive real-time updates about safety concerns.
6. A Luxurious Primary Bathroom
Sharing a bathroom with a partner sometimes means getting in each other’s way during your morning routines or taking turns at the counter. In your custom home, you can create a spa-like, luxurious primary bathroom with separate sinks and vanities, a claw-foot tub, a spacious walk-in shower, and plenty of room to move around.
Whether you prefer a “wet room” design that seamlessly flows between shower and sink or a separate toilet closet that maximizes privacy, your designers can craft the primary bathroom of your dreams and make morning routines relaxing from here on out.
7. Dedicated Home Offices for Remote Work
If you or your partner works from home, a designated office space can make a world of difference in productivity. Talk to your custom home builder about incorporating an office space that is separate from the main living space, helping you maintain quiet and focus while the rest of the family is home. Your office can include features like the following:
- Large windows to maximize natural light
- Built-in shelving and storage features
- Soundproofing to minimize noise from other rooms
- A neutral backdrop for taking Zoom calls
- Plenty of room for a spacious desk
- A separate exterior entrance, if you meet with clients or coworkers from your office
No more working at the kitchen table or cramming a desk into your bedroom; you’ll have a completely separate office space that helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance. Your designer will work with you to create an office that fits your workflow.
8. A Comfortable Outdoor Living Space
When designing your custom home, don’t forget about your outdoor space! The building stage is the perfect time to design an outdoor living area that complements your family’s lifestyle and thoughtfully integrates all of your preferred features. Consider amenities like:
- A fully functional outdoor kitchen
- An in-ground pool with a water feature or a separate jacuzzi
- Plenty of yard space for playing soccer with the kids
- A backyard playset with swings and a slide
- Stone paths leading to separate areas of the yard
- A comfortable patio for hanging out and hosting
- A stone firepit or built-in gas fireplace
The possibilities are endless in your dream backyard, and your designer would be happy to help you explore what works best for your family.
9. Thoughtful Hidden Features for Convenience and Security
Your custom home certainly doesn’t need to be cookie-cutter. It can include thoughtfully incorporated “hidden” features that look cohesive, secure your valuables, and maximize storage. Examples might include:
- Pocket doors
- Concealed safe rooms
- Hidden pantries
- Under-stairs storage
- Bookshelf-hidden rooms
- Appliance storage for coffee makers or toasters
10. Aging-in-Place Considerations That Make Your House a Forever Home
If you want your custom home to suit you and your family for decades, consider integrating aging-in-place features into the design now, like:
- Zero-entry showers
- Ground-level guest suites
- Wide hallways and doorways
- Nonslip flooring
- Step-free entrances
- Plenty of lighting
These features don’t need to look obvious or impact how you use your home now. They’ll simply make transitioning into your next stage of life more seamless.
Start Designing Your Custom Home Today With Schar Construction
Building a custom home means you have full control over every element of your new living space, whether you prioritize an energy-efficient design, convenient amenities, luxury finishes, or all three. With Schar Construction, you gain a team of expert designers and builders committed to bringing your dream home to life.
Ready to start building your custom home in Eugene, OR, or want to learn more about our process? Schedule a consultation today by calling 541-255-1624.
