Make the best use of every new space

New construction homes in Northern California meet the contemporary needs of homebuyers. Builders invest a vast amount of research and analysis into floor plan design and finishes.

In doing so, builders ensure that homes maximize every possible square inch of living space, counter space, storage space, visibility and privacy throughout the home.

But the new-home buyer can make spaces function even better for their needs by incorporating a few tips when planning paint colors, furnishings and decor for the new home.

Meet with the design experts

First, plan to speak with each builder’s design center experts. Ask which color schemes and home decor finishes are still on-trend and which are losing their luster.

Before the design consultations, measure and take photos of existing furniture that will be making the move to the new house, especially any larger items such as dining sets, sofas, sectionals, bed frames, ottomans and side or end tables.

Ask about ways to couple modern trends with more enduring styles for longer-lasting appeal. Blending styles may even eliminate the need to replace existing furniture with more contemporary furniture.

Choose lighter paint color

After choosing cabinetry, hard surface flooring and counter materials in styles that will stand the test of style changes over time, consider lighter colors for wall paint and trim.

Even in a room with richer wood tones in cabinets or flooring, light taupe or mixtures of whites with soft grays or tans in the same spaces will open up lines of sight and allow light to move more freely through spaces.

Certain rooms may call for a more intimate or cozy atmosphere. Keep the paint simple and neutral, but consider warm area rugs on luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or wood flooring. Where needed, look at carpeting in neutral colors, noting that loop-and-cut style carpet hides wear but adds texture and depth without color variation.

Reflect with mirrors

No matter the size of any room, corridor or bonus space, mirrors amplify light, making rooms feel larger and brighter. We’re not suggesting entire walls or rooms of mirrors; simply well-positioned and stylish, framed mirrors.

In open living spaces, consider hanging mirrors on walls that are at 90-degree angles to windows or doors. In smaller or more private spaces such as a home office, consider placing the mirrors opposite the window but not in view of a videoconferencing setup.

Keep an eye on the flow

Avoid blocking traffic in the home. A home with good flow not only allows household members to move around more freely but adds visual appeal. When planning furniture placement within the home, keep track of measurements in order to allow for the best movement throughout the home.

Also avoid using darker colored or large furniture in the middle of any room. Doing so compartmentalizes the space.

Instead, keep larger or darker colored pieces to the perimeters of the room and accent them with lighter or more delicate elements such as area rugs, pillows, throws or accent tables with glass or lighter colors.

Ask the builder’s designers for examples of furniture layouts in your home’s plan. Using their virtual design technology, they can show different ways to create or embrace flow in the home.

Mix angles, lines, curves and circles

Not only do items with rounded edges offer more flexibility in their placement, but they take up less space physically and visually.

Where possible, replace some straight lines with curved edges or mix angles with roundness. If the chairs in the living room have straight edges, consider round end tables or an oval coffee table.

If the family room includes built-ins with shelves that pick up on the straight lines of the side tables or the ottoman where you keep games or blankets, consider an oval or round rug and round throw pillows.

Sometimes a table lamp with clear glass or rounded edges can make all the difference when placed between furnishings with angles. And remember those mirrors? In rooms with lots of straight lines, consider oblong or round mirrors delicately framed in woods or metals that accent your home design style.