Whether you found your perfect lot with a not-so-perfect home already on it or your current home is starting to feel dated but you don’t want to move, don’t settle for a space that doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Here’s the geat news: You don’t have to start from scratch to get a house you love.

Transform a dated residence into a harmonious space that is as beautiful as it is functional by envisioning a new layout, enhancing key areas like the bath and kitchen, and infusing personal touches to reflect your individuality. Explore five inspiring ideas for crafting your ideal home remodel, surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of the American Southwest.

1. Modernize Your Home by Reimaging Layouts

When you are thinking about how to modernize your house, don’t let walls curb your imagination. Instead, focus on the goals of each space and what would make you want to be in that room every day.

Expand your living areas with an open floor plan. Remove non-load-bearing walls between your great room and kitchen to provide ample space to entertain. Open-plan living in spaces made for entertaining creates fluidity, connecting your kitchen, dining area, living room, and patio for a cohesive, comfortable, and socially inviting atmosphere.

Bring in natural light by adding or enlarging windows. Create a seamless indoor-outdoor transition with disappearing glass walls. Not only will you get relaxing fresh air when the temperatures are still crisp, but you can also control the tint so the intense Arizona sun doesn’t cause your air conditioning to work overtime.

If you enjoy an organic flow, consider adding curves and arches throughout your living spaces. Arched doorways make it easy to transition from one space to another with minimal visual disruption. Include niches to highlight favorite sculptures or pieces from your art collection.

For the Shade Villa home, all the walls were stripped to the studs to create a flowing floor plan. The impractical sunken living room was brought up to meet the rest of the space, establishing a reimagined great room that melded cleanly with the patio and the surrounding desert landscape.

2. Create a Spa Experience in Your Bathroom

Everyone likes to feel pampered. Give your bathroom the literal spa treatment during your remodel. Make your main bathroom the perfect spot to energize your mornings and relax your soul after a long day.

Use natural materials like stone and wood to create a warm, welcoming ambiance. Choose a calming, neutral color palette with accents in hues that bring you joy, like hand poured tiles or your favorite art piece.

A free-standing tub not only creates a beautiful focal point for your bathroom, but it also invites you to soak your troubles away. For your shower, install multiple shower heads for a meditative and relaxing experience. Add a steam unit and a built-in bench for a sauna-like feel.

Incorporate technology to enhance your experience, like heated floors and smart mirrors with built-in lighting, and tvs and Bluetooth capabilities. You can even add towel warmers with app-controlled timers so you can step out of a soothing shower into a perfectly toasty towel. And don’t forget heated toilet seats.

Complete the spa experience with aromatherapy. Freshen towels with a fabric spray, use a sculptural diffuser, or add eucalyptus or lavender bundles to your shower and bath.

3. Spice up Your Kitchen

Whether you prefer cooking a three-course meal or grabbing snacks between activities, elevate your kitchen with custom storage, modern appliances, and layers of lighting.

The best kitchen remodel ideas start with your goals for the space. If you love cooking, you’ll want state-of-the-art appliances and customized storage for all of your accouterments. Look for app-controlled options so you can pre-heat the oven on your way back from the golf course or quickly see what is in your fridge while you are at the grocery store.

Include custom cabinetry to not only provide a new look for your kitchen but to also put your favorite supplies in easy reach. Glass-front built-ins, like in the Stone Wash home, are a great way to showcase heirloom china, elegant serving dishes, and artistic vases. Work with your designer to add specialized storage to fit your needs, such as a baking pantry, a place to dry herbs, or custom wine cabinets.

Like the rest of your home, lighting is crucial for your remodeled kitchen. In addition to a statement piece, include windows or a skylight to bring in the warmth of the Arizona sunshine. Make sure all windows include automatic shades or app-controlled tinting to help with temperature control. A breakfast nook nestled next to floor-to-ceiling windows is a perfect way to start or end your day.

If the space allows, consider installing two islands to help with meal prep, supply extra storage, and provide a great spot for casual entertaining. Also have fun with backsplashes and flooring to bring in color and personality.

4. Update Your Color Palette

Don’t underestimate the benefits of a new color palette for an updated look. A fresh coat of paint and new accessories can breathe new life into a drab space. Even if most of your remodel budget will be spent in other areas of your home, treat all your rooms to new colors and wall treatments.

Take your pick from one of the colors of the year, like Benjamin Moore’s Blue Nova or Behr’s Cracked Pepper, or consider a more classic neutral. Tone-on-tone hues provide additional depth to your room. Use your room accessories, such as pillows or artwork to bring in complementary colors like reds or golds.

5. Add Your Personal Touches

The best part of a remodel is that you can make your home exactly the way you want it. If you need built-in shelving in your master closet for your extensive shoe collection, you can have it. So as part of your remodel, include your personality in every room, from a favorite piece of furniture to materials and artwork that represent your hobbies and places you love.

Find a classic piece you can build a room around, from a piece of traditional furniture to an attention-grabbing art piece. Highlight the pieces that remind you of your favorite people, places and things. Perhaps you have a gorgeous antique curio cabinet or an overstuffed armchair you love. Create alcoves or dedicated ledges for favorite sculptures or souvenirs from your recent travels.

This is also a chance to bring in accents from local makers or materials that are native to your area, such as reclaimed floors or a table made from repurposed wood. Not only does it help support your local artisans, but it is also more sustainable.

Lean on Professionals for Your Ideal Remodel

Whether you enjoy redesigning your rooms or you struggle to find exactly what you are looking for, it always helps to have a professional in your corner. Turn to any of Scottsdale’s talented architects and interior designers to give you pointers or to make your rooms perfect. From reconfiguring spaces to suggesting the best color combinations, these professionals can bring a keen eye and new resources to your remodel project.

If you are ready to reimagine your Southwest home as a more open, functional, and beautiful space, get inspired with our portfolio of remodel projects and enjoy our complimentary remodel guide with expert tips to help you plan every step of the renovation process.

5 Ideas for Adding Luxury and Comfort to Your Southwest Home Remodel