E170 – House Design Decisions That Are Hard to Change Later

Some home design decisions are easy to update later, while others can be incredibly difficult and costly to change. In this episode, Frances explores the permanent decisions to prioritise early in your renovation or new build, from ceiling heights and window placement to plumbing, power points and room layouts, so your Forever Home™ remains comfortable, functional and flexible for years to come.

1. Prioritising the Decisions That Are Hard to Change

Before focusing on furniture, styling and finishes, consider the fundamental elements of your home that will be difficult to alter later.

• Maximise insulation where possible, particularly within walls and under floors.
• Consider cladding carefully, as replacing it later is a significant undertaking.
• Give windows proper consideration – their size, position and orientation all matter.
• Think about the overall orientation of your home and how it performs throughout the seasons.
• Prioritise permanent elements before paint colours, furniture and styling.
• Consider how these decisions will affect your home 10–20 years from now.

2. Getting the Structure and Layout Right

Structural decisions influence how spacious your home feels, how you arrange furniture and how easily rooms can adapt over time.

• Ceiling heights: Frances recommends avoiding ceilings below 2.7m in downstairs and open-plan living areas where possible.
  • Higher ceilings create a greater sense of space.
  • They allow more natural light into the home.
  • Low ceilings can restrict pendant and feature lighting.
• Internal walls: Consider room proportions, furniture placement and future uses for each space.
• Door positions: Door openings and swing directions can restrict furniture layouts.
  • Sliding doors may work better where space is limited.
• Furniture clearances: Allow enough room to comfortably move through and around furniture.
  • Frances recommends around one metre between furniture where possible.
• Avoid designing rooms that only work with one furniture configuration.

3. Windows: More Glazing Isn’t Always Better

Windows are a significant investment and have a major impact on comfort, natural light, ventilation, privacy and how you furnish a room.

• Consider window size and position alongside the furniture layout.
• Floor-to-ceiling glazing isn’t always necessary, particularly in bedrooms.
• Avoid paying for glazing that will simply have furniture placed in front of it.
• Think about orientation and how north- and west-facing windows will affect the room.
• Position windows to support cross ventilation.
• Consider privacy, overlooking and important views.
• Highlight windows can capture views or sky without taking up an entire wall.
• Leave sufficient wall space for furniture and meaningful artwork.
• Oversized windows can actually reduce the flexibility of a room.

4. Plan Plumbing, Electrical and Other Services Early

Once services have been roughed in – and particularly once plastering begins – moving them becomes considerably more difficult and expensive.

• Use internal elevations to confirm plumbing locations before construction.
• Plan sink, dishwasher and appliance positions in the kitchen.
• Resolve plumbing locations for bathrooms and laundries.
• Consider plumbing requirements for:
  • Fridges with water or ice dispensers
  • Plumbed-in coffee machines
  • Toilets and bathroom fixtures
• Position toilets with privacy and room layout in mind.
• Resolve heating and cooling systems early, as these are expensive to change later.
• Consider provisions for future technology and upgrades.
  • Smart home technology
  • Solar panels and DC conduit
  • Water tanks and grey water systems
• Future-proof where possible, even if you don’t intend to install everything immediately.

5. Small Details That Make a Big Difference

Some seemingly minor decisions can have a surprisingly large impact on everyday functionality.

• Power points: Consider where furniture, lamps and appliances will actually be positioned.
  • Allow power points on multiple walls in bedrooms for greater flexibility.
  • It is generally easier and less expensive to add them during construction.
• Charging stations: Decide where phones and other devices will be charged.
• Kitchen appliances: Make sure power points correspond with where appliances will actually be used.
• Floor power points: Consider these early if lamps will sit away from walls.
• Shower niches: Resolve their size and placement at frame stage.
  • Make sure they are large enough for the products you use.
  • Coordinate their position with the shower and tile layout.
• Think through everyday routines, including where you’ll put your keys, plug in a vacuum or place a lamp.

6. Think Beyond Move-In Day

A successful Forever Home™ should work for your lifestyle today while giving you flexibility for whatever comes next.

• Mentally walk through each room before plans are finalised.
• Test your everyday routines against the floor plan.
• Consider how furniture could be rearranged in the future.
• Think about lifestyle changes you can anticipate – and allow flexibility for those you can’t.
• Review the home again when the frame is up, before services and plaster make changes more difficult.
• Ask questions and challenge your plans before construction starts.
• Consider getting an experienced second set of eyes on your floor plan.
• Remember: changing a drawing is far more cost-effective than changing something on site.

Creating a Forever Home™ That Lasts

The best Forever Home™ isn’t created by choosing the most expensive fittings and finishes. It comes from getting the fundamental decisions right – creating a home that is comfortable throughout the year, functional for everyday life and flexible enough to adapt as your needs change.

Tiles, paint colours and even benchtops can eventually be replaced. Your structure, windows, services and other permanent decisions are far harder to undo, which is why thoughtful planning at the beginning can make such a difference to how you experience your home for years to come.