5 Steps To Plan Your Forever Dream Home

Are you at the stage where you’d like to downsize, move to a new location, or have a vision of simplifying your life? These five steps will help you make intentional decisions when planning your next move. Whether you are planning a forever home, a dream home, or remodeling an existing home, you don’t want to make costly mistakes.

I’ve always dreamed of having an old white farmhouse with a large front porch decorated with a swing, rockers, and baskets.

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I spoke with a young friend a few days ago. She is planning a new permanent home for her family. As we talked, I shared the 5 Steps to Plan A Forever Dream Home that my husband and I used while planning our farmhouse. 

With the experience of building and living in several different homes, we finally got everything we wanted in our forever home. On my About page, you can learn why we decided to move to the country and how that move brought me full circle.

Hopefully, these tips will be helpful to you or someone you know planning a new home or a remodel.

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What Are The 5 Steps To Plan A Dream Home?

Step 1 – Make a List of Must Have

When you decide to downsize, remodel, or build a new dream home, there will always be some hard choices. The intention of our move was to be debt-free and live a simple lifestyle. To do this, we had to be budget-minded. You need to ask yourself, what can we live without, and what are our priorities in our permanent home?

As we began our list, a large open kitchen was at the top of our must-have list.

We love to entertain, and in our previous home, everyone was always in the kitchen, so we designed the house around the DIY Large Island. It allows guests and families to congregate without being on top of each other.

Planning your forever dream home involves taking an inventory of all the things you love and would miss about your current home. Where do you spend your time, and what could you live without?

I mentioned many times that if we could just take out the middle of our house, the living room, dining, and foyer, we’d have the perfect home. Therefore, removing underutilized spaces was a priority.

Make Two Lists (Well, Actually 4 or More)

Everyone living in the house should have a list, depending on age.

One is a MUST-HAVE list, and one is a WISH list. The wish list should include things that you are willing to compromise on. This is particularly important if you are on a budget.

One item on my wish list was a fireplace on our screened porch. However, at the time, I determined that the $10,000 expense wasn’t a MUST-HAVE.

I feel things always work out for the best because we are actually glad we didn’t add the fireplace. We enjoy this view so much, and would have been obscured with the intended fireplace.

Where Will Your Forever Dream Home Be Located? – Step 2

This is a question that should be given serious thought. Now that I think about it, it actually should be step one!!! There isn’t a need for the 5 Steps to Plan Your Forever Dream Home if you don’t know where it will be.

If this is your forever home, you want to be sure you build in a location where you want to stay. I have seen many people move to their dream locations only to return to their hometowns within a few years.

We lived in town most of our married life.

I grew up in the country and honestly never thought I’d want to return. After we began to restore the ponds, we chose to move into a mobile home on the property and spend weekends there. When we didn’t want to go home at the end of the weekend, we realized, “maybe we could make this our forever home.”

Ask These Questions!

• What is your dream location? If possible, spend some time there. I realize that everyone can’t do what we did, but you can do your research.
• What is your location like during different seasons?
• Will you be happy away from your family or friends?
• What activities will be available year-round?
• Will your children be happy there?
• You may consider renting a home in a new location before you build or buy a permanent home.

Had we decided to make this move when our daughter was still in school, I’m sure this would not have been a smooth transition.

Be sure to plan your forever home in a location you are sure will truly be your dream location. Although we love our beach cottage and have been spending time there for 30 years, after spending an entire summer there, I knew it was not where my forever home should be located.

What Style Is Your Forever Home?

Step 3

You know by now that I love Old White Farmhouses. However, our property didn’t come with one! So I already had a pretty good idea of what I wanted my farmhouse home to look like. However, since this was my forever home, it was my last chance to get it right. So here’s what you should do to be sure of yourself.

It would be best if you started a Pinterest idea board and scrolled Instagram, saving your favorite posts as you go. Grab a few magazines and create a folder of all the photos that your dream home would include.

This is a screenshot of my Pinterest Board from when I was planning my Forever Home.

As you collect the images, a common style will begin to emerge. So, what is your dream style? What style do you save over and over again? Is it a cozy cottage, farmhouse, rustic, modern, loft, etc.??? Once you realize what you love, you can begin to search for a dream plan.

This was my favorite pin when I was planning my forever home. I quickly realized that I wanted a farmhouse style with a modern industrial feel.

Can you see how my saved images influenced me?

How To Find A House Plan For Your Dream Home?

The Plan – Step 4

There are so many sources for finding plans online. However, you do want to refer back to the last 3 steps. First, make sure it includes all of your Must Have List. Next, does this style of homework well with my location? And most importantly, is it truly my dream home? Will I be happy here forever?

I was personally unable to find exactly what I was looking for. Several factors contributed to this. One was the unusual entry to the property, and two was finding the open plan I desired.

You Can Design Your Own Plan

Fear not; I designed my plan approximately 100 times on graph paper. Then, armed with my favorite exterior pics and my final design, I hired a draftsman to draw the house plan according to the required specifications. Things like whether this wall supports that ceiling become important and are beyond my amateur capabilities.

You can hire an architect to draw your dream home or if you find a plan close to your dream, have it reconfigured by the original architect.

You will need a professionally executed plan to receive building permits, etc.

Step 5 – Stick To Your Plan

Once you have your contractor or if you’re adventurous and plan to build it yourself, that’s when the real fun begins.

You will want to refer back to step one over and over again. What are you willing to compromise on? If budget isn’t an issue, you can include everything on your must-have and dream list. However, in the heat of the planning, you may forget some priorities, so keep your list handy.

In addition, it’s so much fun picking out everything until it’s not! LOL! I’m so not kidding! When you are tired, frustrated, and don’t care anymore, the list you made is very important.

Remember that dream, Pinterest Pin? That is the staircase I was told wasn’t possible. This is my compromise.

By following these 5 Steps to Plan Your Forever Dream Home, you will avoid having regrets at the end of your building process.

Remember these key elements…

• What is your style? 
• What are your priorities?  I’ve been a rule-breaker from day one.  Go with what you love.  Don’t let others talk you out of your vision. 
• If you don’t have a natural eye for design, ask for help.  Find someone who likes what you like!  Hiring a professional designer who loves a modern sleek design style when you love a vintage, eclectic look, may not be the best choice.

Best of luck on this exciting adventure!  And many blessings during your process…….. I promise it’s worth it in the end.  

Open Floor Plan View of our Forever Home

You can see more details about my home decor in Shop My Home.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you’ll share your thoughts on downsizing, building a forever home, or remodeling your existing home.

Have a blessed day.

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