“I wish I had thought of…”

Most people who take on a new build have at least one regret after they move in. It could be as simple as the positioning of light switches, or maybe they have come to despise their hastily chosen blinds or had no idea the bathroom tiling would be so cold underfoot. Much of this does come down to budget and forethought - and much of it can also be brought to your attention by a skilled design professional. However, it is important to sit down and do some real thinking and dreaming before that first meeting.

Consider your dream home. Even if it’s not going to be a reality with the budget you have to play with, think about what it looks like. What is the exterior cladding and roofing? What colours are used? What textures do you like to feel underfoot or beneath your fingertips as you walk around?

Writing a brainstorm or even drawing a picture can help to get some of these details clear in your mind. If you’re building together with a partner, have them do the same and compare and contrast your visions. Hopefully there will be similarities and points you can play on. Write these down to take to your meeting.

Borrow and Steal

Many of the best ideas have already been hatched. It’s okay to copy them, or you might find they provide a springboard for a whole new idea. Buy some architecture magazines and bookmark your favourite pages. Browse home websites and screenshot images that appeal to you. These can all be used to create a moodboard for your new home. 

Did you know that you can also pin all the images you like from the COLORSTEEL® website and create your own moodboard, that you can then share with your family, friends, designer and building team. You will quickly see a trend and your theme developing. This is very useful for explaining your desired aesthetic to your designer.

If something particularly tickles you, take some time to consider what you like about it. Is it the colour, the materials, the form of the house? It will be important to know this before you sit down at your meeting. 

Get Touchy Feely

When it comes to your moodboard, don’t stick to virtual. Get up close and personal with the textures and materials you like the look of. Request samples, browse flooring and bathroom and kitchen stores, pick things up and turn them over and run your hands over them!

If you’re able to take away samples, collect these together and bring them along to your meeting. Even if some of these are completely out of the question, budget-wise, a good designer or builder will know of alternatives with a similar aesthetic.

When it comes to COLORSTEEL® cladding and roofing, there are several options to consider. You might want to take a closer look at COLORSTEEL® Matte to see if it would work for your project. Profile is also important, as each of these can create a different sense of finish. Requesting samples from our website can help with these decisions and assist with colour choices too.

Broad Ideas Make Good Beginnings

Remember those light switches? They are important - but they will probably be a question for later meetings. You can be prepared, anyway, by having a broad idea of what spaces you would like to have in the home and what you want to do in each space.

Will you have a dedicated laundry room? Will you use existing furniture and where do you envision it being placed? While details can be changed later, it is helpful to have a good idea of what you want from the outset to avoid a lot of expensive back and forth.

Don’t worry if your moodboard seems to have a lot of variety - or if your samples look like a mishmash of styles. Your architect or designer can help you to narrow things down. The important thing is you’ve taken the time to put some thought in before embarking on this rewarding and exciting journey.

And importantly, remember that your ROOF shapes your home and is a huge visual part of your homes exterior design. Design your home from the outside in is a trend taking shape. Accents of your exterior visual design, can form an integrated part of your internal design - splashes of the same colours inside - your bathroom tiles, your kitchen splash back or bench. Think integrated from the outside in.

Design in Colour?

Make your design dreams a reality. Order your free COLORSTEEL® samples and see your selections come to life from your screen, straight into your home. Inspiringly Easy.

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View your moodboard