A step-by-step guide to choosing your colours
Are you dreaming of a beachy oasis to relax in after work? Or perhaps an edgy contemporary interior is more your vibe?
One of the most exciting phases of building your first home is choosing your colour scheme. Your colour appointment is where you’ll select your internal and external pre-determined colour schemes, and decide whether you want to upgrade any fixtures or finishes.
‘We know what a milestone and investment it is to build a new home, especially for first homebuyers,’ says Customer Experience Team Manager, Leah Harrison, who has been helping Homebuyers Centre customers create their first home for the past four years.
‘It’s important that you feel involved in the process and you’re able to create a cohesive home that still represents your unique personality.’
With significant choices to be made at the colour appointment, it’s important to prepare ahead of time. Here’s Leah’s step-by-step guide to choosing your colours:
1. Scope the pre-determined colour boards
Designing your dream home can be overwhelming, especially for first homebuyers. Thankfully, Homebuyers Centre customers get exclusive access to the design experts.
‘We provide six different colour schemes for you to choose from, created by design duo Alisa and Lysandra,’ explains Leah. ‘This takes the stress out of your selections and gives you the confidence that your colour schemes have been selected by professional interior designers.’
Design Duo Alisa and Lysandra first came to the attention of the Australian public through their appearance and triumphant win on Channel Nine’s The Block in 2013. Following on from their success, the twins founded their own interior design company working on residential and commercial projects.
You get to choose one palette for your external and one for your interiors. Or you can have the same scheme inside and out – it’s completely up to you. Just keep in mind that you can’t mix and match schemes. ‘Every item in each scheme has been professionally selected to make sure the overall colours are cohesive, so it’s best to stick to what’s available within the scheme’.
Check out Homebuyers Centre’s Colour Studio brochure and Colour Studio website page for imagery and descriptions of each scheme.
2. Visit Homebuyers Centre’s display homes
If you’re the type of person that prefers seeing things in person, make sure you head to one of our display homes where each colour scheme is bought to life.
‘All our display homes across Victoria showcase how the colours and materials work together to create the overall look and feel of the home,’ says Leah. ‘Often customers will be leaning towards one palette, and then change their mind once they see it in real life. You just don’t know what you’ll love until you imagine yourself living in the home.’
Each pre-curated colour scheme on the Colour Studio page is linked to display homes that feature that scheme. So, choose some of your favourites and visit the display homes near you. Short on time? Take a virtual tour of display homes instead.
3. Get inspired
See how other customers have put their personal touch on the Colour Studio’s colour schemes. The Homebuyers Centre blog has a wealth of helpful info, including customer testimonials. The Homebuyers Centre YouTube channel is also a great resource, offering a virtual look inside customer homes and expert design advice.
Blogs
The Homebuyers Centre blog has a wealth of helpful info including customer testimonials, design tips, expert advice & so much more.
Brochure library
For our latest Home Design Collection to Build Guide, browse our entire brochure library online.
YouTube
The Homebuyers Centre YouTube channel is a great resource, offering a virtual look inside customer homes and expert design advice.
Customer stories
Need some inspo? Read through our customer testimonials and learn their top tips and tricks.
4. Work out your budget
Make sure you don’t head into your colour appointment ‘budget blind’. Homebuyers Centre offers a range of upgrades available for customers who want to further personalise their home, but it’s important you have a clear idea of how much you can afford to spend on upgrades before your appointment.
‘If you get in quick enough, you may be able to include these upgrades in your mortgage loan, which can be beneficial for some customers. If not, these upgrades are paid for further down the build journey,’ says Leah.
Once you have a clear understanding of your budget, your Customer Experience Coordinator will be able to show you the upgrades that will provide you the best bang for buck and suit your specific needs.
5. Write a list of your must-have and nice-to-have upgrades
Think about your must-have upgrades and those that would be nice, but you could do without. That way you’ll know the upgrades to prioritise in your colour appointment.
‘Common upgrades include more permanent selections that are difficult to change down the track,’ says Leah. ‘Think tiles, flooring, cabinetry and benchtops. But you can also upgrade fittings and fixtures such as tapware, or purchase one of our upgraded electrical and appliance packages.’
You can find a list of available upgrades in the Homebuyers Centre Colour Studio brochure.
6. Read your estate guidelines
Councils and estates set strict guidelines on what homes in their area can look like, including the colours and materials they’ll allow. Make sure you read through these guidelines carefully before your colour appointment.
This will help to streamline the pre-construction process and avoid delays down the track. Your New Homes Consultant will also be able to provide guidance and answer any questions you might have.
7. Don’t stress, we’ve got you!
Done your research but still feel a little lost? Don’t panic. Your Customer Experience Coordinator is with you throughout the appointment and will guide you in the right direction.
‘We help first homebuyers with their colours every day, and will help narrow down your selections based on your personal taste and preferences,’ says Leah. ‘We will also show you a 3D render of your home and façade with your selected colour schemes applied which is a great way to visualise your choices before you commit.’
Looking for some more information?
Find everything you need to prepare for your colour appointment on the Colour Studio web page, including links to the Homebuyers Centre brochure library, display homes and customer testimonials.