The leaves are off the trees and it’s time to bring out the coats, hats, and gloves. Winter weather is officially here and while you might not be in the midst of planning your forever home right now, it’s important to keep this time of year in mind when you do start designing. We put together a short list of a few things to think about when planning your home to make it the best space it can be all year long.
Plenty of Storage
For families with children or extended family living in the home, there never seems to be enough space. Additional storage is always appreciated when planning the structure of your home. Don’t just think about the interior of the house. Plan extra shelves and storage in the garage for storing out-of-season equipment like snow blowers, rakes, and shovels. Also, don’t forget about all of those outdoor activities kids love when snow hits the ground. Create plenty of space to house things like sleds, snow pants, extra hats and gloves and other winter gear in a place that is accessible when you need it, but out of the way during the warmer months.
Multi-Use Mudrooms
No one appreciates wet and muddy boots dragging water and grime through the home. The path from the front door to the place to store shoes in a lot of homes often takes people through carpeted living rooms or transitional hallways. Limit the amount of the outdoors coming in through the winter with a spacious, strategically placed mudroom. The mudroom is perfect for peeling off layers of winter weather protection. You can even add a washer and dryer to this space to limit the wet socks and sweaters from entering the rest of the home.
Featured Fireplace
A beautiful fireplace is for much more than visual appeal. A feature fireplace really adds a layer of warmth and coziness to a home on a cold winter day. When designing your home, think about the best place for a fireplace and how it fits into the overall design and flow of the home. Think about where your family will spend time and where a little extra heat will make the biggest impact. Family rooms, entertainment spaces, or gathering spaces are all great options for adding a fireplace. Just picture Christmas morning, kids clamoring around the tree while a fire crackles in the background.
Heated Driveway
Arguably the worst part of the winter is shoveling snow. For us Hoosiers, the winter rarely comes without a least a few heavy snow days, so how do we combat the inches on the driveway? One way is with a heated driveway. You can add a heating feature below the driveway before pouring the concrete. This will help melt the snow as it falls and prevent the headache of shoveling just for more snow to fall and cover the driveway again. Make winter a little easier by easily pulling in and out of your garage without fighting inches of slippery ice and snow when you need to leave for work. The commute is long and difficult enough without needing to spend a half hour just trying to get out of your own driveway.
Natural Light
As winter creeps in, the days get shorter and daylight is a luxury, not a guarantee. To make the home feel a little less gloomy during the winter months, be sure to add plenty of opportunities for natural light to flood into the home. Avoid interior rooms without window access and you might even add skylights in rooms that demand privacy like bathrooms or bedrooms. You can never have too much natural light in the home, and strategically placed windows make the most of the little light we get in the dead of winter. This goes a long way in not only the feel of the home but the overall happiness of those who live within it. Studies show seasonal affective disorder does impact many of us, so living with light helps improve mood in conjunction with plenty of sleep, exercise, and a balanced diet.
Energy Efficient
For the person paying the bills, increased utility bills associated with keeping the home comfortable when temperatures dip into the single digits is a huge part of planning for the future. You will thank yourself later for choosing energy efficient materials and systems for keeping the temperature just right and the bills down. Do your research carefully before deciding on appliances and think about the long-term saving in price comparisons.
Winter is one of the most magical times of the year and offers so many opportunities to be with family and friends. We all want to feel warm and cozy inside while snow falls and winter wind howls outside. When it comes time to plan your custom home, sit down with a Hamilton Homes design consultant to make sure your home has everything it needs to be the place you want to come home to all year long. Ready to get planning?! Let’s talk about your inspiration, dreams, and needs for the perfect custom home!