Whether you're buying an existing home or building your own, you'll have design needs and design wants. Design needs include number of bedrooms, size of your home (roomy for guests or small to encourage teenagers to move out), while design wants cover items like whirlpool tub, gourmet kitchen, romantic master bedroom. To keep these essentials in mind, make two lists:
Five design elements my new home must have
Five design elements I'd like my new home to include if my budget allows
Keep both lists on hand when you review stock plans or meet with your architect or designer.
