We all want to be happy in life, and this includes our living arrangements. We have all pondered the idea of ‘Buying My Dream Home’, although not all of us have committed to that dream.
Many think that a dream home ultimately means it is out of their budget, but this may not always be the case as houses come in all shapes and sizes. You may just find your perfect home where you’re least expecting it!
Creating A Dream Home Wish List
You should always have dreams, and one way to start making those dreams a reality is to create a wish list of what features your dream property would have. Our homes are the biggest asset we have, and so you should put as much planning into them as possible. This includes when looking for a new home.
Remember, at this stage; it is a wish list, so write down the first thoughts that come into your mind. It may be that you want a large mature garden or even a swimming pool! Whatever you think you would want your dream home to have, then write it down. Give your list a title such as ‘Buying My Dream Home’. You can keep adding to it as and when you want.
You may think that your dream home is connected to a certain style of property, a Cotswold cottage or Victorian terrace, for example. One of your priorities may be that the dream home needs parking for two cars. Albeit this is a practical wish, it’s still based on your dream home and is equally important.
Keep Searching For Inspiration
Now that you have your dream home wish list, you should keep searching for inspiration. In this digital age, finding inspiration isn’t difficult. Social media like Instagram can help you find inspiration. Browsing through property and lifestyle magazines will showcase inspirational properties which you can take ideas from.
You may like what a neighbour or friend has done to their property, and this can be added to your wish list. You may use Pinterest and start collecting images of your perfect home. Visual ideas always seem more real than just writing something down.
Location, Location, Location
We have all heard the term numerous times, and there is even a property TV show with the same name, hosted by the endearing Kirsty and Phil. For many, location counts for everything. This means their dream home will focus a lot on where the property is as opposed to what features it has. For those fortunate enough, then they may be able to choose their dream location and either buy or build their dream home. For everyone else, there may be sacrifices to be made. It is worth noting that you may have to juggle essential vs desirable. Essential being a must-have and desirable being something that you would love as a feature.
If you can’t manage to buy a home in your dream location, then try and get the next closest fit. You could even try and consider completely new areas which you may not have considered before. Taking a walk or drive through new areas may give you some additional ideas of where to live. However, school catchment areas may be the driving force behind your desire to live in a certain area.
Making A House Your Dream Home
You’ve found a great location and managed to find a house that ticks lots of boxes on the wish list you had fun creating. You’ve had a great property buying journey and have now moved into your new home. Unless you managed to buy a house that checked all your dream boxes, then it’s not time to get creative and turn your recent purchase into the home of your dreams.
A common myth is that creating your dream home is going to be costly. We know that exceptional changes can be made with a little effort and lots of creativity. Again, look around for inspiration, especially from popular craft makers and DIY gurus. It may be that you have to decorate from top to bottom so we would normally say to decorate the living rooms first, such as lounge, kitchen, hallway etc as this will give a great first impression to those visiting your new property.
Don’t rush making changes to your home. Look for inspiration, and then have a clear idea of what changes you are going to make. More importantly, how those changes interact with each other.
Connect With Nature
Outdoor spaces come in many guises, from acres of mature gardens to having a city balcony. Outdoor spaces allow us to detach from the internal living environment and connect with nature. You may have young children and outdoor pets, so a garden is key to your dream. Being able to relax in a leafy garden is lovely, but not everyone will have that luxury. Whatever outdoor space you have, you can be creative just as much as you would inside your home. Bringing plenty of potted plants into the space and bringing nature to you should be possible in most small spaces, including balconies.
Remember that if your dream home doesn’t allow for a large garden, then look around for locations that have nice parks or beaches. If we look at Pontcanna, then many houses don’t have sprawling gardens. However, they do have beautiful outdoor spaces on their doorsteps, such as Llandaff and Pontcanna Fields.
Summary
We all want to live in our dream home. We also have to be realistic in terms of our budget. However, you can still make a house a dream home. Just use some imagination and creativity. Having an estate agent like Leanne Kent Property can help you find your dream home by looking at all possibilities and allowing our agents to inspire you.
Dream big and make your dream home a reality.