Features to Enhance Your New Pennsylvania House
The design process can be one of the most challenging aspects of new home construction. Sometimes, you may not know what should be included in your new home in Pennsylvania that makes living there more enjoyable. You could include multiple things in both your house’s interior and exterior that will increase the functionality, appearance, and inviting atmosphere of your property. Here are some popular features that will enhance your new Pennsylvania house.
Exterior Features
Outdoor Deck or Patio
Having an outdoor living space will increase the use of your backyard and increase your home’s visual appeal. A deck will provide another area of your home for you to relax or host parties, increasing your property’s usable square footage. With this, you will add value to your home for when the time comes to sell it. You can further enhance your outdoor living space by adding an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, TV, and/or seating areas to make the space usable year-round.
Along with new home construction, Deer Ridge is also experienced in building high-quality decks that will last for decades. Check out our featured deck projects to get an idea of what we can do to make your property stand out.
Front Porch
Your front porch and door are the first impressions people will have of your home. This area should stand out to showcase the personality of your house and give guests an idea of what everything else will look like. Make your front door noticeable by painting it a bold color or using glass and windows for a unique design. In our experience, you can increase your curb appeal even more by having a decorated, eye-catching front porch that frames your door. These will make your home look more inviting and welcoming for guests.
Landscaping
Landscaping will make your home look complete and finished. Along with your front porch, your home’s landscaping is a part of the first impression of your home, serving as a preview of the rest of your house. Use Pennsylvania-native greenery and flowers that will work in our climate, stones, and pavements to add life to your space, further enhancing your curb appeal. Most of the time, mulching, planting, and weeding can be done yourself, but we recommend hiring a professional landscaper for any detailed landscape or hardscape elements.
Interior Features
Smart Home Technology
Recent technological advancements have made smart home technology a must-have in modern Pennsylvania homes. They allow for seamless connectivity throughout your entire house, making life simpler. We’ve found that this feature can require some preliminary planning, so make sure you know what smart systems you want in your house. Some ideas include smart security systems with cameras and locks, and Wi-Fi-controlled lights, garage openers, and thermostat settings. You can even get an assistant-enabled system like Alexa to make your life easier and more secure.
Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors are a great and easy upgrade that enhances the overall appearance of your home. Carpet can wear out quickly, especially if you host lots of parties and people often walk on it. Hardwood floors have a more durable, polished look, and you can add unique rugs to the space to add warmth and personality to the space.
Have Lots of Storage 
One of the most common complaints we hear about a house is that there isn’t enough storage space. When designing a custom home with us, you can decide for yourself how much storage you’ll need for everything you have. Including pantries, walk-in closets, built-in shelves, and coat closets in your floor plan will add ample storage space to your home. Storage is important as it makes your home feel less cluttered and more organized, maximizing the space you have while letting the space feel more inviting.
Sustainable Features
There are many sustainable ways you can enhance your new home. Find energy-efficient windows, insulation, and appliances to reduce your energy bills. Windows with low-emissivity coatings reduce heat transfer, maintaining your home’s inside temperature. High R-value insulations better control your house’s temperature, so you’re not using up too much energy to keep your house cool or warm. Install solar panels on your roof for a renewable energy source, and consider using sustainable building materials to reduce your environmental impact. If you have smart home technology installed, this will also optimize your energy usage.
Building a custom home means you have full control over the features you want for your Pennsylvania home. Deer Ridge Construction can take any design ideas and build them up to specs. Check out our featured projects for inspiration for your build. Have some ideas? Contact our team to let us know about your design. We’ll work with you every step of the way to bring you your dream home.
