Organized List of New Home Build Must Haves
Did your Must Haves make this list?
Are you looking for ideas and features to include in your new home?
As a home designer, I wanted to know what people are looking for in their homes. So I asked the smartest, most helpful people I know: my Instagram friends! They/Y’all really came through with some stellar lists and ideas.
Must Have Items you may not have thought of
I think this list is so valuable for those moving or thinking of building to give them ideas for things they may want or need and haven’t really thought to ask their realtor or builder. It’s also very useful for me to make sure I’m putting these items into the homes I’m designing too! If you contributed by answering my survey questions, THANK YOU!!
The list below is categorized and consolidated. For example, in my survey, multiple people said they wanted outlets in the pantry, but I only list it once. I do point out some of the more popular answers on my lists below, meaning many contributors mentioned those particular items in my survey.
Without further ado, here’s a list of
First up, The Exterior Must Haves!
Exterior Must Haves:
- Charming
- Front porch (The #1 answer) (AKA Farmer’s Porch)
- Hardie board/ board and batten/wood siding
- Wrap around porch
- Screened in porch
- Big back deck/patio for entertaining
- Pool
- Landscaping
- Lighting
- Stone
- Welcoming front door
- Porch swing
- Not boxy
- Flat driveway
- Pretty garage
- Trees
- Curb appeal
- Texture/multiple/mixed materials like stone and siding
- Dormers
- Nice, plentiful windows
- Side-facing garage
- Painted white
- Wood garage doors
Kitchen Must Haves:
- (Large) island (with seating) (This was the #1 answer in the kitchen category)
- Loads of storage
- Lots of counter space
- Mostly drawers (instead of cabinets in lowers)
- Pull-out shelves in lower cabinets
- Window(s) over sink
- Walk-in (large) pantry (with outlets inside, see also outlet category)
- Hidden garbage (and recycle cans
- 2 dishwashers
- Industrial (XL) refrigerator/freezer
- Natural light
- Special cabinets with storage solutions, ex: KitchenAid mixer, coffee maker, paper towel drawer
- White cabinets
- Wood accents
- Good flow/no bottlenecks
- Farmhouse sink
- Pot filler
- Cabinets up to the ceiling
- Built-in griddle
- Open shelves
- Double islands
- Instant hot water tap
- Built-in refrigerator/cabinet or panel-ready refrigerator
- Charging drawer
- 2 side by side ranges/double ovens
- Side by side full sized refrigerator and freezer
- Dark/Moody cabinets
- Eat-in nook
- Built-in microwave (microwave drawer)
- Ice-maker
Storage Must Haves:
- Under the stairs storage
- Basement as storage
- Mudroom/Lockers for purses & backpacks, drawers for shoes
- In garage for bikes and toys
- Walk-out attic
- Big pantry
- Drop zone near garage entry
- Storage for holiday decor
- For off-season clothes/ High-up closet rods that pull down
- Safe Room
- Food Storage/Bulk/Costco
- Linens
- Coat closet/storage (for family, not just guests) by garage/mudroom
- Storage above garage with stairs, not attic ladder
- Mudroom with laundry area in it
- A decor walk-in closet/room
- Every bedroom needs a walk-in closet
Bathroom Must Haves:
- Double vanity in primary bath
- Deep/soaker tub
- Space for hamper
- Separate tub and shower
- Water closet/separate toilet room
- Walk-in shower (with bench)
- Not builder grade faucets
- Nice lighting
- Laundry chute from upstairs bath
- No glass shower doors to clean (this was mentioned multiple times, people are tired of cleaning glass doors)
- Natural light
- Lots of drawers
- Sconces on each side of mirror
- Shower niche/storage for shampoo, etc out of sight
- Claw foot tub
- Heated floors
- Bigger tile, therefore less grout to clean
- Exterior (pool, lawn) access to one bathroom
- Shiplap
- hidden outlets (for hair dryers, etc)
- Tall counters
- Steam shower
- Storage for cleaning supplies in each bathroom
- Tile surrounding toilet (This contributor says its a “game changer” … I agree it would definitely be good for boys’ bathrooms, just sayin’!)
- Spray wands in every shower, if only for easily cleaning the shower itself
- Linen closet
- Cabinet above toilet for TP, etc.
- A bathroom for each bedroom
Laundry Room:
- Sink (popular answer)
- Folding counter
- Broom/mops/vacuum closet or cabinet (with outlet)
- Cabinets for cleaning supplies
- Big and bright
- Dog (kid/husband (ha!)) shower/washing station (popular answer)
- Hanging rod
- Washer/Dryer in Owner’s Closet
- An Upstairs W/D for upstairs bedrooms
- An island
- A place for pet bowls, food storage, litter
- A place to iron
- Built-in hampers
- built-in (fold away/slide-out) drying rack
- Cabinets for laundry detergents
- Close proximity to mudroom/combined with mudroom
- Basket storage for clean (folded) clothes that are waiting to be put away
- Place for extra refrigerator or freezer
- Connected to Owner’s Closet
- Brick floors
Special Outlets/electrical:
- Under counters in kitchen
- Plenty of outside outlets
- Eave outlets for string/party lights and Christmas lights
- On mantel for holiday decor
- In Pantry for small appliances, stick vac, dustbuster
- On wall behind wall hung TVs
- Coat closet for cordless vacuum
- Inside drawers in bathrooms for toothbrushes, hair dryers, etc
- Outlets in bedroom closets (for iron, steamer, charging, etc)
- Floor outlet near sofa
- Outlets in storm shelter, designated safe place/ Safe Room
- Under Kitchen island by seating
- Outlets in drop zone (for charging)
- Inside appliance garage, coffee cabinet, special KitchenAid cabinet
- Use Smart outlets wherever possible
- Outlets with USB jacks
- Nighlight outlets in bathrooms
- Under each window for electric holiday candles
- Each end of the stairs for lighted Christmas garland
- Behind Owner’s headboard for charging/lamps
- Inside Mudroom lockers
Miscellaneous/General:
- Big windows/Lots of natural light
- French doors
- Foyer (not just walk right into Living Room)
- Mudroom
- Kitchen with lots of windows
- Basement
- Primary/Owner’s bedroom downstairs
- Fireplace
- Sunroom/Screened porch
- Open concept
- Pantry with window(s)
- Office that can double as guest room (Murphy bed)
- Hidden printer drawer, large
- Lots of character/doesn’t look newly built/cookie cutter
- Modern light fixtures and hardware
- 2 living areas
- No formal Dining or Living Rooms
- Outdoor entertaining space
- A place for the piano
- French doors that go out to porch
- Mudroom with doggie bath
- Large open living spaces
- A good vent hood for stove/range
- “Costco” door from garage to pantry
- Home office space
- Closet from bedroom
- His/her closets
- His/her toilets
- Ample closet space
- Workout space
- Indoor gardening space with access to backyard
- Outdoor shower
- Gameroom
When I was typing up this list, I realized many, if not most, of the items on this list are incorporated into the Floor Plan I created for my own family home. My FLOOR PLANS are now available for sale as a complete construction set. Here’s a LINK. More photos of my home can be found on Instagram @the.old.barn . I’d love to see you there and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
If you’re in the process of planning a new home build, congratulations! This is an incredibly exciting time that comes with lots of decisions. We hope this article helped give you some ideas for items and features to include in your new home build.
Remember, be sure to check out this other articles about saving money while home building so that you can stay on budget and get all the features you want without breaking the bank. Do you have any other suggestions for items or features to include in a new home build? Let us know in the comments below!
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[…] front porch is definitely to most seen part of the house but its also protected by the deep porch […]
Great taste…
Sight lines in floor plans are fantastic.
[…] your “Must-haves” will help you prioritize your list. This Post about New Build Must Haves might be a good place to […]
We are building in the Spring do you have a projected date when you will have the new floor plan finished?
We are interested in purchasing that plan. And also do you have any pictures where the Pecan Grove Cottage has been built. I would love to see the size on the exterior.
Thank you
Angie Newton
Hi! We are hoping to have the third plan (Willow Ranch) ready around the end of November/early December. The Pecan Grove is currently under construction by a few people, but it’s pretty new so none are completed yet. On my Instagram, I have a highlight bubble of client projects where you can follow along on their builds and progress.