Cost-Effective Luxury: Two Storey Homes That Won’t Break the Bank

Building a two-storey home is the ultimate dream for many Perth families. Given the mostly flat landscape, a second storey provides a stunning view in most suburbs. With more space for the kids to have their own bedrooms, as well as luxurious master suites and open plan living, 2-storey homes offer the ideal family layout. However, they also come with a hefty price tag. Or do they? Here in Perth, it’s possible to build a 2-storey house on a budget with some clever design and material choices.

While single storey homes are usually cheaper, two storey homes in Perth are more sought after and can elevate your lifestyle. Here are some budget-friendly ideas for two storey home designs.

One of the best ways to reduce your build costs is to buy a narrow lot and build up instead of out. Though the block will be skinnier, you still get all the floorspace you need across two levels. Focus on a minimalist, contemporary façade to enhance the vertical dimensions. Box-shaped exteriors with clean lines are perfect for narrow two storey homes. Opting for a narrow lot can reduce land purchase costs substantially, leaving you more room in your budget for the build itself. With additional floorspace gained by building upwards, you maximise land value in a cost-effective way.

Be sure to factor in the block orientation to optimise natural light as part of your land selection criteria too.

Opting for a monochrome, streamlined exterior allows you to save on façade materials. For a contemporary edge, try bold battens over the render in black or charcoal grey. The dark battens create definition and visual interest on plain rendered walls. This adds style while retaining cost-effectiveness by minimising more expensive finishes.

Careful floor plan design is crucial for any home, but even more so when building on a budget. Focus on straight walls, stack wet areas over each other, and minimise hallways. This allows you to reduce costs by avoiding angled walls or plumbing pipework that has to zigzag. Cleverly designed, efficient spaces reduce waste, keep construction simple and ensure affordability.

As a rule of thumb, ensure the perimeter of the house is as regular as possible. Excessive indents and direction changes extend the perimeter and substantially increases the build cost. Too many edges mean more walls, so use basic shapes that maximise internal space like squares and rectangles. Abnormal angles and curves can add visual appeal, but they’re likely to inflate construction costs.

Furthermore, consider open floor plans which provide a smoother connection between dining and living areas. These can create an illusion of more space while enhancing the total floor space and reducing the total cost.

Embrace minimalism inside your new two storey home. White walls, concrete floors and a neutral colour palette create a sleek, modern feel without breaking the bank. Large statement floor to ceiling windows provide ample natural light and a feeling of space, while black accents and pops of colour in furnishings keep things interesting without raising costs. Avoid expensive wallpapers, ornate trims, or intricate tiling patterns. Basic double storey homes in Perth can be made more affordable without the bells and whistles.

Just because you’re building on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. There are plenty of ways to get a luxury look and feel without overspending. Carefully chosen features like a statement light fixture over dining tables, stone benchtops in the kitchen or timber floors in bathrooms add a touch of class without costing a fortune. Use these judiciously to elevate the overall style quotient.

That being said, to effectively reduce the overall cost, prioritise must-haves over luxury features, especially those that can be added post construction.

Get clever with scaling back luxury finishes in areas that don’t impact daily family life too much. For example, opt for carpet in bedrooms rather than more premium floorboards, limit stone benchtops to just the kitchen or install more affordable taps and basins. Saving in the right places goes often goes unnoticed by homeowners.

A big cost saver is reducing the size of some rooms. If a room is unnecessarily big, and you can’t foresee using it all, scale it back. However, only make this decision if you’re certain you have no need for the space down the track as fixing structural mistakes are costly.

Consider multi-purpose rooms that pull double or triple duty to provide functionality without blowing out the floor plan. For instance, a games room could also serve as a home theatre and a kids’ study area. Similarly, a guest room may also work well as a home office. This allows you to design with purpose and avoid wasted space.

Choose from our expertly designed two storey homes in Perth and save. In most cases, the more structural customisations you make, the higher the final cost, so pre-designed floorplans will help the budget.

A visually impressive 3 bed and 2 bathroom 2-storey house featuring plenty of storage in its compact design. There’s plenty to love with about the Zest Nest, in particular its ability to be scaled down to spare the budget.

The Dark Side Of The Moon features a unique elevation between its narrow 10m frontage. Complete with an open plan living room area that spreads to a stunning courtyard, this 2-storey house packs a punch for its size.

Another compact yet groovy 2-storey house design is the Still Disco. This design makes use of every corner to truly maximise effective living while looking amazing inside and out. Who said bigger is always better?

With clever design, savvy material choices and strategic spending, building your dream two storey home in Perth doesn’t have to break the bank Infuse your own personality over both floors rather than just one! Get more tips and inspiration for budget-friendly ideas for two-storey home designs by contacting our team of expert builders at Residential Attitudes.

Explore all designs for two storey homes Perth.