What are some things to think about when designing your own home?

Question

Eg:

Do you need a formal dining room?

Do you want an open kitchen/living room, or separate?

How many bedrooms/bathrooms?

What are the kinds of questions you think are important before building/choosing a home?

Answer 1

Storage, storage, storage!

dh and I have closets in every bedroom, both bathrooms, the living room and the laundry room! We also have a ton of cupboards as well as a full basement, yet somehow it's not enough! and we're definitely not pack rats!

Answer 2

Just think about you're own family and what's important to them. If you're all never home to have dinner together don't have a separate formal dining room, if you've got kids give them a bedroom each, but not a huge one and have a large area that extends from each of their bedrooms as a rumpus room. It will get them out of their rooms and create less clutter and mess in the bedrooms. The bathrooms you've got the more that needs to be cleaned. Once again if you've got kids they could have a separate bathroom, but if its the main bathroom that guests use too you'll want to make sure they keep it clean.

In short, think about the activities you enjoy, your family's habit's, where you spend most of your time now in your house. Don't just go HUGE because you can. Make it functional, that is most important. Also, see what works and what doesn't work at your friends places, thats normally a good indication.

Answer 3

Will you want a real "spare" bedroom for overnight guests?

Which way would you want the house facing?  The morning sun on which side?  Sun in the kitchen in the morning, or sunset on the front porch in the evening?  If on a corner, where will the headlights of turning cars be shining onto your house or into your windows?  On which sides are there likely to be other homes built?  Do you want to face them, or away from them?  What areas would you want to keep clear for additions to the home, or for other buildings in the future?  One floor or more?  Basement or not?  Shingle roof or metal roof?  Fireplace?  More than One?  Swimming pool?  Door k***s or lever handles?  I'm sure I'll think of more...