The Different Levels of Home Customisation

We’ve probably all heard of the saying “make a house a home”, but what does it really mean to us? For some people, it could mean making a house comfortable enough so that there are no outstanding issues that they have to fight with every day. Whether it’s a faulty lock on a door or a kitchen appliance that doesn’t work properly, some people would be content with having zero problems to worry about in their home.

On the other hand, some people consider “make a house a home” to mean customisation. They think about painting their home and decorating it with things that make it unique and special. This can involve a lot of manual work or it could cost a lot if you hire a contractor. However, it goes without saying that investing in your property can certainly make it feel more like a home, especially if you know what you’re doing in terms of interior and exterior design.

So in this article, we’re going to talk about different levels of home customisation and list some pros and cons based on the amount of money and time you can spend.

Home renovations and DIY projects

The first level would be home renovations and DIY projects. This is where you’ll be painting your walls, adding custom decorations and potentially engaging in some DIY projects to make your house stand out. In most cases, simple things such as painting your walls can be deceptive. While you might think all it takes is a can of paint and some brushes, there are actually some important things to keep in mind such as how much the paint costs, how much you’ll need and also covering your furniture and floors so that you don’t splash paint everywhere.

In terms of customisation, painted walls can be something that really changes the look and feel of your home. There are also some simple DIY renovations like swapping out your furniture or even replacing your floors that can be done with a bit of work and knowledge of the process. This knowledge can easily be found online with videos or articles about DIY.

In terms of cost, it can be fairly inexpensive to do these projects as long as you have the tools. If you don’t, we suggest investing in tools that will last a while and re-using them in the future for other DIY projects. It can also take a lot of time to finish these projects, but it’s generally something that improves over time as you get used to it.

Custom furniture and home features

Next, we have custom furniture and home features. This is something that will depend on your personal needs. It can range from bespoke furniture designs to a home extension or garden office build. These are things that can be completed as DIY projects to some extent, but they require a serious amount of work and knowledge. This is why we’d consider these as contractor-specific customisations that will generally cost a lot of money. However, since they’re done by a professional, they can actually be finished relatively quickly and you won’t need to put in much effort yourself.

These types of customisations can be incredibly detailed, so we only suggest this if you have something very specific in mind that can transform the way you use your home. For instance, something like a swimming pool installation can add a fitness and party option to your home. It requires some level of planning permission and you’ll need to dig up a lot of space in your garden, but it can be well worth the investment.

On the other hand, you could add or upgrade features in your home that can make living easier. For example, you could consider upgrading your cooling and heating systems to be more efficient and convenient. This will likely require stripping walls and adding different bits of hardware around the house, but it can prove to be extremely convenient and will enhance your living conditions.

Building a custom home from scratch

Lastly, we have the nuclear option for home customisation; building a home from scratch. Again, this is technically something that you can do on your own but we highly suggest contacting a specialist such as Hansen Living to help. With specialised contractors and expert designers, you can easily make your dreams come true with a fully-customised house.

In fact, if you have the money and time for something like this, the hardest part is actually thinking of a design that you like. There are so many options available and it can be challenging picking between designs and styles that you like. Even with a limitless budget, seeking inspiration for your dream house can be extremely challenging. As such, we suggest speaking with home designers if you can afford their expertise. They’ll show you all of the different options available and will explain some of the limitations that you might encounter with a bespoke home.

This is extremely expensive and you can expect to pay around the price of a luxury home for a completely custom project. Despite the costs, this is probably the most straightforward way to get a fully-customised house that meets (or even exceeds) your expectations.

What should you choose?

So what’s the verdict? What should you choose? It really depends on your circumstances and it’s not all about the money.

Someone with a lot of money might build a home from scratch, but that’s a project that could take several months and you might be content with your current location. For others, DIY renovation and furniture might be the ideal choice since it teaches them how to make modifications to customise their home in the future.

The choice is ultimately down to what you want from your home customisation project. If you’re willing to invest money into your home, we do suggest speaking to specialists if possible to ensure you get the best advice and customisation options. Otherwise, we suggest studying DIY concepts and performing small projects to build up your experience and skills.