6 Holiday-friendly Home Design Features

Whether you're shopping for a new traditional, manufactured or modular home or just attempting a renovation project, it's important to consider the functionality of key spaces like kitchens and living rooms. These most-frequented rooms will host meals, family gatherings, movie nights, homework sessions and holiday celebrations, so they need to include features that facilitate all these uses and more. If the layout of your current apartment or house isn't working for you as well as you would like, it can seem even more unlivable during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. As you consider which home elements will be the best investment for your money, the home experts at Clayton suggest keeping these features in mind: * Kitchen island - With the exception of galley kitchens, virtually every kitchen can benefit from an island. Kitchen islands are the perfect spot for serving Christmas morning breakfast, setting out dishes for a Thanksgiving buffet, food prep for a New Year's celebration or a staging area for an all-night wrapping party after the kids are in bed. Utilize generous under-island cabinet space to store large items like a crock pot or large serving bowls. The island also makes a great space to add additional seating if you are expecting guests. * Farmhouse sink - Also called apron sinks, farmhouse-style sinks are perfect sinks for holiday entertainers and very trendy in new homes. Larger and deeper than standard under-mount or top-mount sinks, a farmhouse sink gives you plenty of room for washing large kitchen items. The baking sheets you used to whip up a batch of holiday cookies, the big pot where you simmered chili and even the racks from your oven will fit easily into a farmhouse sink. What's more, farmhouse sinks give any kitchen a comforting, homey, yet elegant look. * Sweeping technology - With all the cooking and entertaining you'll be doing in the kitchen, crumbs and spills are inevitable. The last thing you want to do with a houseful of guests is wrestle with a full-sized vacuum cleaner or risk having a hand vac prove inadequate for your needs. Sweeping technology like a central dirt-removal vacuum system can make cleanup much quicker and easier. The central dirt-removal vacuum system unit installs at the base of a kitchen cabinet, and you simply use a broom to move debris in front of the unit. A tap of the toe turns the vacuum on, and the unit sucks the dirt inside a pull-out pan. You can open the drawer and ditch the dirt immediately, or leave it for later while you entertain guests. Central dirt-removal vacuum systems are an optional kitchen appliance in select Clayton home designs. * Fireplace - Few home features are more appropriate for the holidays than a fireplace that will add warmth and ambiance to any celebration, no matter how large or small. Gas log fireplaces set a festive atmosphere with the flick of a switch. It's possible to install one in virtually any style home, from site-built to manufactured, and some versions can even work on interior walls of a home. Many homes will even feature a hand-laid stone or tile fireplace for a stylish, sophisticated look. * Pet-friendly features - Four-legged friends are part of the family - and every holiday celebration. Homebuilders now offer a variety of features to make life more pleasant for pets and easier for homeowners. Clayton Built™ homes can be customized with a pet dish drawer that allows you to hide feeding dishes when they're not needed. A windowseat or hideaway cubby can be the perfect escape spot for pets who feel overwhelmed by holiday activities and guests. And a built-in grooming station in a mudroom or utility room makes it easy to primp your pet before holiday guests arrive. * Single-level construction - If you're thinking of getting into a new home in time to celebrate the holidays, remember that a single-level design and an open floor plan will make holiday entertaining easier and more enjoyable. Having all rooms on one floor ensures guests never have to climb stairs to find a restroom or go to bed. Plus, an open floor plan allows you to work in the kitchen and interact with guests - or keep an eye on kids - in the living room. Choosing a manufactured home can be a smart, affordable way to get all the holiday-friendly features you want - and be in your new home before the New Year. Because a manufactured home is constructed indoors, bad weather won't delay the construction schedule. A manufactured home can be completed and set up on-site in a matter of weeks. To learn more, visit www.claytonhomes.com.