Delivering Emotional Impact on a Tight Budget

As our industry holds its breath, hoping for a springtime bump in production and sales, builders look for ways to move product amid recent data indicating that 40% of consumers consider it a bad time to buy a home¹.

With this divide, what can design do to help shift shoppers to buyers?

Beyond rate buydowns and incentives, builders can offer new homes that live better than the competition, while also keeping costs in check.

Instead of luxury upgrades to (maybe) move the needle, think smaller and more practical, yet still impactful: A built-in coffee bar that turns an otherwise wasted niche into a daily ritual; a wood accent wall that warms up a flex space; an arched doorway that softens a modern plan; or a bold cabinet color that adds a moment of delight.

Far from budget-busters, these small touches add personality and a sense of intention across the price point spectrum. 

Function in Found Spaces

As homes get more efficient and increasingly smaller, every square foot matters. Getting creative with a home’s design can help shoppers not only remember your products but more likely choose it over your competition.

While storage under the stairs isn’t a new thing, it’s a wonderful way to find additional space to utilize. 

Regency at Meadowbrook by Sekisui House and Saltus Architecture + Urban Design in American Fort, Utah, benefits from clever, convenient, and much-needed storage space on all levels.

A coat closet adjacent to the staircase and space underneath (shown above) give residents ample storage on the ground floor—especially with space-saving organizational solutions—while the second floor features a walk-in pantry and linen closet and the third floor offers a walk-in closet, laundry room, and linen closet. 

In a world of hybrid and full-time telecommuting, we can’t forget about the home office … but where do you put it in a 19-foot-wide plan?

When every square foot needs to work, Garman Homes and architect Design Story Spaces tucked a 32-square-foot pocket office (shown above) with a window for light and views off the great room at the Archetype Collection at Allen Park in Raleigh, N.C.

The team staged the space with a stand-alone desk setup, which allowed buyers to imagine that use or another that would suit their needs. 

Designer-Added Accents

Designed-added accents could be aesthetic like an accent wall or smart merchandising like a coffee bar. Great merchandising helps potential buyers see the opportunities in rooms and become inspired by how they could personalize them.

Accent walls can be vibrant and colorful or sometimes they are neutral and textured. 

At Southridge Pointe by Tri Pointe Homes and WHA in Las Vegas, Pacific Dimensions added easy and cost-conscious color and textures (shown above) to these townhomes: accents that create interest without overwhelming these spaces (or the budget).

My team and I walk a lot of models, and I always say that you know it’s really great design if I pull out my phone to take a photo.

Case in point: An optional bedroom cabinet merchandised as a small coffee bar in a ground floor bedroom suite (shown below) of a model at Vista Walk by Olson Homes and KTGY in La Habra, Calif. 

The detail takes advantage of otherwise unused space and delivers convenience for those who want (or need) a quick hit of caffeine without climbing the stairs to the kitchen on the floor above.

Features That Inspire

Not everyone wants floating stairs or a wet bar, but for those who value them, they become points of everyday joy showcasing their personality.

The Townhomes Collection at Nexton by Brookfield Residential and KTGY in Summerville, S.C., keeps that effect simple and attainable with a built-in butler’s pantry (shown above) that delivers function and style with simple cabinets, shelving, and a subway-tile backsplash.

When the kitchen is on the second floor and the roof deck is on the fourth floor, the last thing you want to do is walk down two flights of stairs for a snack or a drink.

For the Flora on Spring Mill Rooftop Townhomes by Onyx + East and Collier Architects in Carmel, Ind., an optional entertainment center on the fourth-floor landing includes a sink and fridge, as well as counter space and storage (shown above)—ideal for hosting guests on the roof deck.

¹ New Home Trends Institute by John Burns Research and Consulting, LLC, September 2025 survey of 1,274 US homeowners and renters