Choosing Your Home’s Design

There are so many things to consider when choosing the more foundational design elements of the inside of your new house. What kind of lifestyle do you lead? Do you love entertaining family and guests? Are there young children in the home? What about pets? All these questions can help you determine what type of carpeting, flooring, countertops and even faucets you may want in your new home.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry — we’ve got a list of ideas catered to your lifestyle.

Flooring

Extending the hard surface to more areas in your home can make your rooms look larger, says Amber Shay, National Vice President of Design Centers at Meritage Homes. Plus, she adds, hard flooring has the ability to hide normal wear and tear.

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Carpeting

Carpet can be a good option to “up” the coziness factor and help with noise reduction in the home. “It’s a lot less noisy than having hard floors throughout the entire house,” says Shay.

 

  • For families with pets, “Berber or patterned carpet - a combination of low-cut fibers and tightly wound loops - can be tricky if you have animals with nails,” says Shay. In this case, textured carpet may be a better choice. Plus, it offers some stain resistance, making it more durable and easier to clean.
  • For young families, low pile carpet such as loop carpet, which has tight loops of fabric and shorter fiber, is great for kids, especially on stairs due to the texture.
  • Patterned carpet is great in high-traffic areas like the stairs because it doesn’t matte as much as textured carpet does, making it more durable.
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Countertops

When it comes to countertops, homeowners usually choose between two options: quartz and granite.

  • “Very low maintenance is part of the appeal of quartz countertops,” says Shay. Even though it’s typically more expensive than granite, quartz is harder, making it more durable and very difficult to damage. It’s also nonporous, which means it’s more resistant to bacteria and stains.
  • Granite is also difficult to damage and is one of the most heat resistant countertops on the market. It does have to be sealed, so there is maintenance involved. And, “because it’s a natural stone, no two pieces are going to look the same,” says Shay.
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Cabinets

  • For families with kids, Shay suggests you get a mid-tone color, such as a wood-stained cabinet, which are great at hiding fingerprints.
  • If you are looking for something moody with a lot of contrast, consider installing dark cabinets in the kitchen. “Most homeowners don’t want their cabinets and countertops to match too much, so they lean towards a darker cabinet color,” says Shay.
  • For a timeless, bright look, install light-colored cabinets in the kitchen.
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Faucets

  • When it comes to faucets, “a chrome finish is the most popular because it really goes with everything,” says Shay. However, because of its polished look, it can show more water spots.
  • A great alternative to chrome is brushed nickel. It has a less shiny finish so there won’t be as many water spots, making it more low maintenance.
  • “Bronze has taken a backseat to matte black,” says Shay. A dark matte finish hides water spots well. It also creates a nice contrast in the bathroom or kitchen.
  • As for the design style, homeowners are leaning toward straight lines with subtle curves versus faucets with more traditional details, according to Shay.
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Taking your lifestyle or family’s needs into consideration can help ensure you end up with a home that works well for you for years to come, without expensive updates. If you’re moving into a Meritage home, talk to your Sales Counselor for available options and support in choosing the best finishes for your family and lifestyle.

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