What matters most to first-home buyers can be quite different to upsizers and downsizers, so it’s worth taking the time to get clear on your priorities.
“For first-home buyers, factors such as space to grow and affordability could be most important, while for upsizers it could be about having flexible rooms that can change as families change,” explains Ebony O’Brien, Evolve studio manager, Bold Living.
Whatever stage you’re at, there are some key design features to consider to get your home just right.
Here are six expert tips:
1. Choose classic and timeless
Regardless of whether you’re a first-home buyer on a budget, an upsizer solving for a growing family, or a downsizer looking for low-maintenance living, O’Brien says opting for a classic, timeless design will give you lasting value.
“I always tell clients to keep their house simple in terms of the major elements. With things like your kitchen cabinets and your bathroom tiles, go for classic styles and colours because you can always accessorise and add your personality,” she says.
Choosing a neutral design allows you to personalise the interior to perfectly match your style.
2. Focus on flexibility
For both upsizers and downsizers, opting for a design that offers flexibility to change how rooms are used as your needs change is key.
“Choose a floor plan where you can transform extra bedrooms into home offices or hobby spaces,” says O’Brien.
Growing families and multi-generational families will benefit from spacious living areas, multiple bedrooms, and separate zones for parents and kids.
O’Brien says the Bold Living 'Athena 351' design is a great example of this versatility.
“It has a kid’s retreat right next to three of the four bedrooms, a lounge, a family room, study room, and a large master bedroom positioned separate from the other bedrooms, ensuring the layout caters for all sorts of lifestyles,” she says.
Floorplans like the Bold Living Athena 351 allow for private areas for the whole family.
3. Factor in functionality
While you will want your home to be stylish, it also needs to be functional day in, day out.
For example, if you’re at the stage in life where you have kids bringing in dirt and mess from outside, or you’re an avid gardener, you might want a mudroom.
“The mudroom is basically like a ‘drop zone area’ often coming off the garage. They have benches so you can sit down and take off your boots,” she says.
Functional design can also mean preparing for any changing mobility needs.
Many Bold Living designs offer wider hallways and space around the toilets and showers for easy access, if, for example, someone is in a wheelchair.
O’Brien says the team also thinks of factors such as having the washing machine and dryer at bench height so there is no need to bend down.
“Then, you can do things like put shelves underneath the washing machine so you can put your washing basket on them,” she says.
Wider hallways can help make interior spaces for accessible and functional for homeowners.
4. Let the outside in
Whether you’ve got kids running around or are keen to entertain your family and friends, buyers at all life stages can benefit from choosing a seamlessly connected indoor-outdoor floor plan.
“It's about having a connection between the outdoor living area, indoor kitchen, dining and living space – those four areas being in one central place,” she says.
O’Brien points to the Bold Living 'Balwyn' design as a great example of an epic indoor-outdoor entertaining area.
5. Smart storage
Smart storage is essential for buyers at all stages on the home ownership journey.
O’Brien says the trick is choosing a design with storage where you need it most.
“At Bold Living, our designs feature built-in cabinetry so that you can keep your rooms free from clutter,” she says.
The team at Bold Living can recommend one of their existing floor plans with plenty of built-in storage, or you can work with their designers to customise your design.
Bold Living's designs include essential built-in storage and can be customised to include more if needed.
6. Know when to save and splurge
At different stages in the buying journey, it’s likely you will be working to different budgets, so O’Brien says the key is to prioritise your more urgent needs versus the bells and whistles you can add in later.
“A lot of first-time buyers like our 'Felix' design. It’s a popular, affordable house; it has at least three bedrooms, an open plan living area, and connection across the living, dining and outdoor spaces,” she says.
Buyers can view plenty of inspiring design ideas at Bold Living’s Evolve Design Studio in North Lakes, Brisbane, and see full Bold Living display homes across Southeast Queensland including Toowoomba, Caloundra, and Gold Coast.
English (US) · 