Whether you’ve built a home before or it’s your first time, getting inspiration for the build is usually the hardest part. Whether it’s deciding what style to go for or what kind of entryways you need, home builders of all types sometimes just need a little kick in the right direction.
Here are some design ideas to inspire your next build:
Arches Galore
Whether it’s a beach house in California or the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, arched doorways and vaulted ceilings are a great way not only to give your house space, but a unique touch.
Arches have been a staple in many cultures for centuries, as the design itself promises stability and elegance in its simplicity.
It’s important to note that there are several different styles and shapes of arches. First, you have the Roman style, which is your most classic and commonly used in home building. Similar to the arches that you’ll find in the Coliseum, these are semi-circles over doors or windows.
You also have Segmental, which as the name suggests is only a semi-curve, stopping before it completes. You have Gothic, which most people will remember from Gothic churches, with their very noticeable point at the top.
Tudor arches are much wider than Gothic, but still have a point on the top. And lastly, the Moorish arch (or Horseshoe), is a bit more unique but curves longer than the typical Roman arch to create a horseshoe effect.
Go Modern
Modern architecture is on the rise and its clean lines and re-purposed materials have been a huge hit in North America.
Some qualities you should try incorporating to give your build a modern touch are large open spaces, use of natural light, using green or repurposed materials, and mixing both horizontal and vertical lines.
When looking at the exterior of your home, go for large windows on the unobstructed side of your house to let the most natural light in throughout the day. Go minimal on window treatments like curtains or blinds, to ensure nothing is keeping out the light.
Small touches that make a huge difference are the angle of your roof or materials used on the siding. Make sure you take inspiration from more industrial buildings to get that super unique look.
Using Lightwells
Speaking of natural light, something that can really enhance your living space is using lightwells to your advantage. A lightwell is an unroofed area in your house, used in architectural design to bring in natural light and fresh air.
The lightwell design isn’t a new idea by any means, but just like the arch, has been around for centuries. In Ancient Greece, Greek people naturally used these types of spaces to open up their homes and bring in as much light as possible.
The effect of a few simple lightwells can transform a home and bring in a feature that is fun and interesting.
Leverage Nature
Though we may have thought moss covered homes and trees in the living room are more a thing for movies, several cutting-edge architects from around the world are looking at how to use foliage in their designs.
A home in Buenos Aires, designed by Bam! Arquitectura incorporates a whole garden on the roof and walkways.
Not only does this bring an occupant closer to nature, but it also brings a very interesting and ground-breaking style to the design.
These kinds of unique touches bring your home into the future too, with more and more people looking to limit the amount of loss of green life around them when building a home.
Copy And Paste
The most unique designs today are not necessarily new ideas, but simply a new take on an old idea.
Take the new trend of treehouse style homes, like this inverted roof one in China, that bring a childish idea and make it new and stylish instead. Or for the seaworthy, people are even making lighthouse style homes to replicate their favourite beach fronts and keep their home fresh and unique.
The trick is to find a design that means something to you and put a spin on it.
Take your favourite castle from England and grab small elements from it to incorporate in your new home. Like industrial buildings? Incorporate a garage door as a focal point of your living room to give it a unique spin.
Overall, if you’re looking for inspiration for your new build project, get out there and look around! There are so many people doing cool things nowadays, that sometimes you just need a little bit of an idea before you’ll get the lightbulb moment you need.
What kind of design inspires you when home building? Let us know in the comments!
