Designing Your Forever Home

1. Designing Your Forever Home A forever home is something that smart homeowners aspire for. While dream homes have long been the standard by which people held their property options against, an increasing number of new home buyers are leaning towards custom homes in Dayton that are designed to last a lifetime—homes where families can live forever and ones that can accommodate their growing family, see them through their busy midlife, and even as they grow old and face the many physical limitations that aging bring. This is where universal design comes to play. UD as it is commonly referred to, is a specialized school of design for products as well as environments that are universally usable by most, if not all people, regardless the level of their ability or disability. Universal design can effectively increase a home’s value by making entryways, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and the rest of the home accessible, and therefore more appealing to many home buyers. UD brings together different principles of accessible, adaptable, ergonomic, and green design, which makes it the perfect model to follow when shooting for a lifespan design for a home. Many custom homes in Dayton follow the universal design model, allowing home buyers more options of homes in which they can see a lifetime. Below are things that will help you distinguish a forever home from a run of the mill, traditional development along with design principles you can follow as you plan your own: Forever homes utilize universal design principles in creating spaces that are appealing to all and can be used by everyone. In essence, they combine accessible and ergonomic designs while making areas more adaptable through seamless styling. This can mean anything from a gently sloping, step-less entryway to lever handled front doors and less floor level changes throughout the home’s main level—all of which promote better usability and ergonomics without screaming “handicap access.” Forever home designs also promote flexible use of spaces. Many custom homes in Dayton that are designed with lifetime use in mind adopt open floor plans, which enable homeowners to get creative with their use of different areas, especially on the main floor. Another design secret to remember when planning a forever home is keeping things simple, with intuitive use in mind. This means taking complexity out of the equation so that people of all ages and cognitive functioning can comfortably and safely live in the home. This can mean drawer and cabinet pulls that are easy to grip and open, smart shower handles, adjustable shelving, and customizable home components.