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7 Custom Home Design Options to Consider if You Work Remotely

Building a home can be a great opportunity to construct that home office you’ve always wanted if you work remotely. There are too many occasions where remote workers clock in from a kitchen table with stacks of paper around them. Maybe you have a makeshift desk in the living room where you work from the couch. Either way, designing and building your custom home can put an end to your less than satisfactory working conditions. 

Having a work area large enough to accommodate your needs can go a long way for people who work from home. Extra space keeps you more organized and leads to a higher quality of work in the end. Sure, you can buy expensive desks with different features, but why settle for that when you can customize your own office with extra bells and whistles? 

If you’ve been thinking about constructing a home and you work remotely, we’ve got the perfect article for you. Keep reading for seven design options for your custom home if you work remotely. 

  1. Built-In Desk and Office Area

If you live in a home where it may not be necessary to have a private room where you can block out noise, you can take advantage of this inconspicuous design. A built-in desk and office area are perfect for a quiet home for a retiree or parents who have children that have already left the nest. 

The desk can be built directly into the wall to suit your height—select stylish and sturdy cabinets, cubbies, and shelves to house all of your supplies. Pick a color to match your home’s theme, and you’re good to go. 

  1. Lighting the Area

Regardless of the type of office you build, we decided this had to be on the list because of its importance. The lighting in your work area is extremely important. Take advantage of new construction by building brilliant light fixtures to brighten up your remote work area. 

You can design larger, main overhead lights for nighttime work. Another idea we like is smaller, built-in desk lamp style fixtures for mid-level on the wall. 

  1. Noise Proof

If you have a home with younger children, you know the pain of trying to do computer work with screaming toddlers. It can be nearly impossible and leaves you frustrated beyond belief. If you’re designing and building a new home, this is your chance to remedy these situations. 

Reserve an area of the home for a soundproof room. Specialty wall materials can be installed to block out noises from the inside or out. Alternatively, you can design the office in a completely different wing or area of the home. A backyard home office can be built separately or build an addition onto the garage.

  1. Under the Stairs

Underneath the stairway is a cute, cozy place to design your home office. If the requirements of your remote job are minimal, you can easily design a small office space beneath the stairs. You can choose to leave these open or install a small sliding door to allow for more privacy. Take this idea to another level and incorporate a built-in desk like the office from idea number one. 

  1. Attic Space

For some reason, we feel like this would be a great option for a writer. If your custom home has sufficient attic space, consider using it for a remote office instead of just storage. If your home is a higher elevation and there’s a view to take in, make sure you position the main portion of the office next to a window. Taking advantage of a breathtaking view can be a great way to inspire you to get into your work. 

  1. Pocket Office

Pocket offices are growing in popularity. You might not need a luxurious, sprawling property to make this design come true, but they’re relaxing and stylish either way. These offices are installed in cutouts along the walls, similar to how a breakfast nook would be arranged. Position them in front of windows to get the benefits of natural lighting. 

  1. The Style of a Study

We reserved the best for last. Add the highest levels of style and build yourself a classy study full of all the typical elements you would expect of such a design. Build custom shelves along the walls for your favorite books and literature. Pick your favorite lighting and include a luxury touch on the ceiling design. Finally, don’t forget the large oak desk. This is important. 

Resources

https://www.schumacherhomes.com/custom-building/posts/today-s-home-office-4-tips-for-designing-a-productive-comfortable-workspace/
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What Makes a Custom Home Different Than a Spec Home?

There are two levels of being a homeowner. Many people work hard to reach the point of buying a previously owned home built by someone else. There’s nothing wrong with this, and it’s certainly an achievement that anyone can be proud of. 

The next level is reserved for people who hit exceptional financial goals. The highest level of homeownership includes the owner designing the house themselves, customizing it on every level, and having a team of construction workers complete the process. 

For homeowners that have homes built, there are two main categories that this type of construction falls under. There is a custom home, and there is a spec-built home. The latter is also known as a speculative build. 

The main difference between the two is that a speculative build is designed and constructed with the goal of flipping the house for a profit. A custom-built home is normally intended to house the owner for a long period of time. This could be considered a type of dream home, with all the bells and whistles the owner drew up over time as they worked towards achieving this goal. 

Differences Between the Two

Speculative Build

A speculative build has less thought put into it by the owner. Normally, a speculative build is designed based on current home-building trends. Consumer preference is normally adhered to when these homes are constructed since the intention is to sell them as fast as possible so the owner can turn a profit.

These homes are most often built in larger developments or sub-divisions. Many of the design and layout elements of the home will be fairly generic. 

Custom Build

The custom build has a lot more planning involved. The owners take a much more hands-on approach during the planning phases of the home. Owners will plan out every element from the land the house goes on to the foundation design, the electrical and plumbing layout, all the way down to the most basic finishing touches. 

Owners normally aren’t in a hurry to sell a custom home. Years of thought and planning are put into the design. Because of this, these homes are normally resided in by the owners for a very long time. It may end up being the final home they live in. Retirees make up a large portion of the population that has custom homes built.

Pros and Cons of Each Build

Pros of Spec-Build

  • Fast construction
  • More affordable
  • It can be more appealing to buyers because of the trendy designs 
  • Builders take care of permits and all the legal details

Cons of Spec-Build

  • Not as many location choices
  • Fewer design options

Pros of a Custom-Build

  • You choose the land and area the home is built on 
  • The entire house is customed from top to bottom based on your design requests
  • You know what materials and work was put into the house 
  • If you decide to change certain elements, it’s easier to make changes or additions to your own design

Cons of a Custom-Build

  • Can be more expensive
  • Requires a lot more planning and pulling permits on your own

What’s the Best Decision for You?

If you’re planning on building a brand new home, you’ll have to make the decision between a spec-build and a custom-build. It might seem like a tough decision, but answering a few important questions can help you make your decision. 

  • Do you plan on profiting from the home immediately? Is it an investment property?
  • How long do you plan on living in the home?
  • Do you have the budget to design and finish the construction of a custom build if you plan on making the home permanent?

Custom homes can be a great decision for retirees and homeowners that plan for a more rural environment. However, spec-builds can be great for younger homeowners who want to invest and profit quickly, allowing them to build their portfolios. Take your time planning it out, and go with what suits your budget and future the best!

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The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Custom Home in DFW

Building your custom home in Dallas-Fort Worth can be one of the greatest joys of your life, as you watch your dream take shape. But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if you go about it the wrong way. When you are this close to such a major life goal, you do not want to have any regrets.

To help you love the process just as much as the finished product, we have put together this list of the Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Building Your Custom DFW Home.

Not Building a Complete Team from the Very Beginning

You already know that you need an expert team of experienced professional specialists to help you shape your vague vision and turn your dreams into a custom home you can be proud of. When you bring everybody together from the very start, you can create a collaborative approach that has the entire team cooperating and communicating under the shared umbrella of a common philosophy.

Look at it another way — every time you bring someone aboard, one-by-one, later in the process, they tend to have their own individual ideas. They will want to make late-stage changes that take you farther away from your original plan and that will end up costing you more money. –

Relying on Your Builders for Inspiration

Your team is there to listen to you, advise you, and guide you as your custom Dallas home becomes a reality. They may give you choices, but it is not their job to give you ideas. The dream is yours, not theirs. In fact, the more unsure you are about what you want, the more likely they are to nudge you towards safer, more conventional options that they can build faster.

That takes the “custom” right out of it.

So where can you find inspiration?

Literally…everywhere. If you see a design feature in a magazine, a website, a television program, or another home that catches your eye, show it to your design team and open up the possibilities. 

Compromising on Location to Save a Few Bucks

We’ve said it before, and it will always bear repeating — the site on which you choose to build your Dallas custom home is the single-biggest factor that determines your ultimate long-term happiness. 

Because you or course want to save as much money as possible, it can be tempting to start with the lot, a seemingly-controllable expense. But that is actually short-sighted and does not serve your best interests.

The right property:

  • Contributes to your home’s unique character
  • Allows you to add more custom amenities and features
  • Protects your privacy
  • Gives you access to better schools, shopping, and entertainment
  • Supports a better work-life balance
  • Increases the resale value of your home

In fact, according to Realtor.com, living in a neighborhood with the wrong features can affect the resale value of your home by up to 22%.

Choosing a Standard Plan When What You Need is a Custom Design

The custom home of your dreams should truly be one-of-a-kind, designed with the unique needs of you and your family in mind. While you might think that you can save time and money by modifying a pre-existing standard floor plan, the end result often falls short of expectations.

Even worse, when you make too many modifications because you are trying to force a fit, the savings you were hoping for disappear in unnecessary delays and expenses.

Trying to Direct the Work of Subcontractors

When you visit the construction site while work is going on, you might see dozens of workers going about their jobs. It can be tempting to want to give them instruction as they work on what will ultimately be your custom home. After all, you want things to be perfect.

But here’s the most important consideration about the subcontractors hired to work on your home — leave them alone.

While it might seem counterintuitive to say that you cannot instruct someone hired to do work on your home, keep this in mind — these subcontractors were brought in by your builder to accomplish specific tasks. If you come in and start giving directions, you may actually interfere with the plans and schedule already in place.

The one person who has all the information necessary to keep everything running as smoothly as possible is the builder who is overseeing the entire construction process.  Therefore, they are the only person who should be directly communicating with the individual workers. If you have legitimate concerns, share them with your Dallas custom builder and let them address any  problems.

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